Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'odious'

English Word: odious

Key Russian Translations:

• отвратительный /ɐtvrɐˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, commonly used in written or serious contexts]
• омерзительный /ɐˈmʲɛrzʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Informal, more emphatic in everyday speech]
• противный /prɐˈtʲivnɨj/ - [Informal, casual and less intense]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered regularly in literature, media, and conversations, but not as common as everyday adjectives like "good" or "bad").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; learners at this level should grasp the basic usage, but mastering inflections and nuances may require practice. For "отвратительный," it's B2; for "противный," it could be A2 due to its simplicity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

отвратительный: /ɐtvrɐˈtʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'тʲ' is a palatalized 't', which can be challenging for English speakers.)

Note on отвратительный: The word has a soft 'тʲ' sound, similar to 'ty' in "city," and the ending changes based on gender and case. Avoid overemphasizing the vowels.

омерзительный: /ɐˈmʲɛrzʲɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'мʲ' is palatalized, making it softer.)

Note on омерзительный: This word often has a more guttural feel due to the 'рʲ' sound; practice with native audio to capture the rolling 'r'.

противный: /prɐˈtʲivnɨj/ (Stress on the second syllable; straightforward for beginners.)

Note on противный: The 'тʲ' is palatalized, but the word is generally easier to pronounce as it's shorter.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Describing something extremely unpleasant or repulsive

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвратительный - Used in formal contexts, such as literature or criticism, to describe something morally or aesthetically repulsive (e.g., in ethical discussions).
• омерзительный - Applied in informal settings for strong emotional reactions, like disgust towards people or situations.
• противный - Common in everyday casual talk, often for minor annoyances, like bad weather or tastes.

Usage Examples:

• Этот отвратительный запах заполнил всю комнату. (This odious smell filled the entire room.)

  Translation: This odious smell filled the entire room. (Context: Describing a strong, repulsive odor in a formal narrative.)

• Его омерзительный характер отпугивает всех друзей. (His odious character repels all his friends.)

  Translation: His odious character repels all his friends. (Context: Informal discussion about personality traits, emphasizing emotional disgust.)

• Противный дождь испортил наш пикник. (The odious rain ruined our picnic.)

  Translation: The odious rain ruined our picnic. (Context: Casual conversation about minor inconveniences, showing everyday usage.)

• Отвратительная еда в этом ресторане сделала ужин невыносимым. (The odious food at this restaurant made dinner unbearable.)

  Translation: The odious food at this restaurant made dinner unbearable. (Context: Reviewing a bad experience, with "отвратительный" in a formal critique.)

• Её омерзительная привычка жевать с открытым ртом раздражает всех. (Her odious habit of chewing with her mouth open annoys everyone.)

  Translation: Her odious habit of chewing with her mouth open annoys everyone. (Context: Informal family discussion, highlighting behavioral disgust.)

Secondary Meaning: Morally offensive or hateful

Translation(s) & Context:

• омерзительный - In contexts involving ethics or politics, to describe actions that are detestable.
• отвратительный - For more formal moral judgments, such as in legal or philosophical texts.

Usage Examples:

• Омерзительная дискриминация на основе расы должна быть запрещена. (Odious discrimination based on race must be prohibited.)

  Translation: Odious discrimination based on race must be prohibited. (Context: Social commentary, emphasizing moral repugnance.)

• Этот отвратительный акт насилия шокировал общество. (This odious act of violence shocked society.)

  Translation: This odious act of violence shocked society. (Context: News report, in a formal tone.)

• Противный обман в бизнесе разрушает доверие. (Odious deception in business destroys trust.)

  Translation: Odious deception in business destroys trust. (Context: Everyday professional talk, using a milder form.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ("отвратительный," "омерзительный," "противный") are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard adjectival patterns.

These adjectives follow regular patterns, but watch for soft endings in certain cases. They do not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Гадкий (gadkiy) - Similar to "pротивный," but with a connotation of being sneaky or vile.
  • Мерзкий (merzkiy) - Close to "омерзительный," often used for something dirty or disgusting.
  • Отталкивающий (ottalkivayushchiy) - More neutral, implying repulsion without strong emotion.
• Antonyms:
  • Привлекательный (privlekatel'nyy) - Attractive or appealing.
  • Приятный (priyatnyy) - Pleasant or agreeable.
  • Любезный (lyubeznyy) - Kind or courteous.

Related Phrases:

• Отвратительный вкус (otvratitel'nyy vkus) - Odious taste; a phrase for something unpalatable in food or experiences.
• Омерзительная личность (omerzitel'naya lichnost') - Odious personality; used to describe repugnant character traits.
• Противный звук (protivnyy zvuk) - Odious sound; for annoying noises, with a casual tone.

Usage Notes:

"Odious" translates best to "отвратительный" in formal contexts, aligning closely with its English moral connotations, while "противный" suits everyday minor irritations. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in Russian sentences. In informal speech, Russians might opt for "омерзительный" for emphasis, but avoid it in professional settings to prevent sounding overly dramatic. When choosing among translations, consider the intensity: "противный" is milder, making it ideal for casual use.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "отвратительный" in casual conversations as a direct swap for "odious," which can sound too formal or exaggerated. Correct: Opt for "противный" in informal settings, e.g., instead of saying "Это отвратительный фильм" (This odious film), say "Это противный фильм" for a lighter tone.

• Error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "отвратительный женщина" instead of "отвратительная женщина." Correct: Always match gender, number, and case, as in "отвратительная женщина" (odious woman).

• Error: Confusing with similar words like "ужасный" (uzhasnyy, meaning terrible), which isn't as focused on disgust. Explanation: "Odious" implies moral repulsion, so stick to "отвратительный" for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "отвратительный" often carry a strong emotional weight, reflecting the language's emphasis on expressive communication. Historically, such terms were used in literature by authors like Dostoevsky to critique societal flaws, highlighting Russia's tradition of moral introspection in art and discourse.

Related Concepts:

• Гнусный (gnusnyy)
• Презирать (prezirat')
• Отвращение (otvrashcheniye)