Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'niggle'

English Word: niggle

Key Russian Translations:

• придираться [prɪdʲɪˈrat͡sə] - [Informal; often used in everyday conversations for minor complaints]
• копошиться [kɐˈpoʂɨt͡sə] - [Informal; typically in contexts involving fussing over trivial matters]

Frequency: Medium; the word is commonly encountered in casual speech and literature but not in highly formal contexts.

Difficulty: B2; Intermediate level, as it requires understanding nuanced expressions and verb conjugations. For "придираться," it may be B2, while "копошиться" could be A2 for basic forms.

Pronunciation (Russian):

придираться: [prɪdʲɪˈrat͡sə]

Note on придираться: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ra"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns.

копошиться: [kɐˈpoʂɨt͡sə]

Note on копошиться: Pay attention to the palatalized "sh" sound [ʂ], which is softer than in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To complain or worry about trivial matters (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• придираться - Used in informal settings, such as family discussions or casual criticisms, to describe nitpicking behavior.
• копошиться - Applied in contexts involving unnecessary fussing, like over minor details in daily life.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда придирается к мелочам в работе.

  He always nitpicks about trifles at work.

• Не стоит копошиться из-за такой ерунды.

  There's no need to niggle over such nonsense.

• Она начала придираться к стилю письма в эссе.

  She started niggling about the writing style in the essay.

• Дети копошатся, когда им нечем заняться.

  The kids niggle when they have nothing to do.

• Почему ты придираешься к каждому слову?

  Why are you niggling at every single word?

As a noun: A trivial worry or complaint

Translation(s) & Context:

• придирка - In contexts of petty criticism, often in interpersonal relationships.
• мелочь - For minor issues, but less directly tied to complaining; used more broadly.

Usage Examples:

• Его придирка к еде испортила ужин.

  His niggle about the food ruined dinner.

• Не превращай мелочь в большую проблему.

  Don't turn a niggle into a big problem.

• Придирка к деталям иногда полезна.

  A niggle about details can sometimes be useful.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "придираться" (verb, imperfective): This is a reflexive verb that follows standard Russian conjugation patterns. It is irregular in some aspects due to its reflexive ending (-ся).

For "копошиться" (verb, imperfective): Similar reflexive patterns apply. It is more regular but still requires attention to reflexive endings.

Note: Nouns like "придирка" (feminine) decline as follows: Nominative - придирка; Genitive - придирки; etc. It is a standard first-declension noun with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: мелочиться (focuses on being petty), придирчивый (adjective for nitpicky nature; differs by being descriptive rather than action-oriented)
• Antonyms: игнорировать (to ignore; used when contrasting with over-attention to details)

Related Phrases:

• придираться к чему-то - To nitpick about something; often used in arguments to highlight unnecessary criticism.
• копошиться из-за пустяков - To fuss over trifles; implies wasting time on minor issues.
• мелкая придирка - A petty niggle; a common phrase for insignificant complaints.

Usage Notes:

"Придираться" and "копошиться" are informal equivalents of "niggle" and should be avoided in formal writing or professional settings. Choose "придираться" for contexts involving criticism, as it directly mirrors the English verb's connotation of fault-finding. "Копошиться" is better for situations involving internal fussing. Grammatically, both are reflexive verbs, so always include the "-ся" ending. English learners should note that Russian often pairs these with prepositions like "к" (to) for specificity.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Omitting the reflexive ending, e.g., saying "придирать" instead of "придираться." Correct usage: "придираться" – This changes the word from reflexive to non-reflexive, altering the meaning entirely.

• Another error: Confusing with similar verbs like "придирчивый" (an adjective), leading to incorrect sentence structure. For example, incorrect: "Он придирчивый к еде" (should be "Он придирается к еде" for the verb form).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "придираться" often reflect a societal emphasis on precision and detail in daily life, such as in family dynamics or workplace interactions. However, excessive nitpicking can be viewed negatively as a sign of impatience or perfectionism, contrasting with the more relaxed attitudes in some Western cultures.

Related Concepts:

• мелочь
• придирка
• мелочиться