Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'outcast'

English Word: outcast

Key Russian Translations:

• изгой [ɪzˈɡoj] - [Informal]
• отверженный [ɐtˈvʲerʐənːɨj] - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, discussions of social issues, but not in everyday casual conversation).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract social concepts and noun inflections in Russian, making it suitable for upper-intermediate learners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

изгой: [ɪzˈɡoj]

Note on изгой: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the 'г' sound, which is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go" but softer in some dialects.

отверженный: [ɐtˈvʲerʐənːɨj]

Note on отверженный: This word has a palatalized 'т' and a soft 'ж' sound; pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech, potentially softening the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person rejected or excluded from a social group or society.

Translation(s) & Context:

• изгой - Used in informal contexts to describe someone socially isolated, often with a sense of pity or criticism.
• отверженный - Applied in formal or literary contexts, emphasizing rejection or abandonment, such as in historical or philosophical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал изгоем в своем родном городе после скандала. (He became an outcast in his hometown after the scandal.)

  Translation: He became an outcast in his hometown after the scandal.

• В обществе отверженных люди часто ищут способы вернуться в нормальную жизнь. (In the society of outcasts, people often seek ways to return to normal life.)

  Translation: In the society of outcasts, people often seek ways to return to normal life.

• Изгой бродил по улицам, избегая взглядов прохожих. (The outcast wandered the streets, avoiding the gazes of passersby.)

  Translation: The outcast wandered the streets, avoiding the gazes of passersby.

• Отверженный герой романа символизирует несправедливость социального строя. (The outcast hero of the novel symbolizes the injustice of the social system.)

  Translation: The outcast hero of the novel symbolizes the injustice of the social system.

• После изгнания она почувствовала себя полным изгоем среди друзей. (After the expulsion, she felt like a complete outcast among her friends.)

  Translation: After the expulsion, she felt like a complete outcast among her friends.

Meaning 2: Someone cast out from their home or country, often implying exile.

Translation(s) & Context:

• изгой - Informal usage in contexts of personal exile or voluntary isolation.
• отверженный - Formal usage, especially in literary or historical narratives of forced exclusion.

Usage Examples:

• Изгой из своей страны, он поселился в чужой земле. (An outcast from his country, he settled in a foreign land.)

  Translation: An outcast from his country, he settled in a foreign land.

• Отверженный народ ищет убежища в новых странах. (The outcast people seek refuge in new countries.)

  Translation: The outcast people seek refuge in new countries.

• Как изгоя, его вынудили покинуть родные края. (As an outcast, he was forced to leave his native lands.)

  Translation: As an outcast, he was forced to leave his native lands.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For изгой (a masculine noun, 3rd declension):

Note: This noun follows standard masculine patterns with no irregularities.

For отверженный (an adjective, which agrees with the noun it modifies):

It declines like other adjectives. Example in masculine singular: отверженный (nominative), отверженного (genitive), etc. In plural: отверженные (nominative). No table needed due to standard adjectival inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: пария (more emphatic, implying extreme exclusion), отшельник (hermit-like outcast)
• Antonyms: принятый (accepted), интегрированный (integrated)

Related Phrases:

• Социальный изгой - A social outcast; used to describe someone marginalized in society.
• Отверженный судьбой - Cast out by fate; a phrase implying inevitable exclusion in narratives.
• Жизнь изгоя - Life of an outcast; common in literary contexts to discuss themes of isolation.

Usage Notes:

The English word "outcast" most closely aligns with "изгой" in informal settings and "отверженный" in formal ones. Choose "изгой" for everyday conversations or modern contexts, as it carries a neutral to sympathetic tone, while "отверженный" is better for literary or historical discussions due to its dramatic connotation. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical gender and case requirements; for example, "изгой" must agree in case with its sentence position. In social contexts, these words often imply deeper emotional or societal issues, so use them carefully to avoid insensitivity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "изгой" in formal writing as a direct substitute for "outcast" without adjustment. Correct: In formal contexts, opt for "отверженный" to maintain an appropriate tone. Example of error: *Он изгой общества* (incorrectly casual); Correct: Он отверженный общества.
• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., saying "изгой" in the wrong case. Example of error: *Я видел изгой* (wrong case); Correct: Я видел изгоя (accusative). This often confuses English speakers due to English's lack of cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "изгой" and "отверженный" often evoke themes from literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where outcasts represent societal flaws or personal redemption. Historically, during the Soviet era, these terms were used metaphorically for dissidents or exiles, adding a layer of political connotation that English speakers should consider when using them in cross-cultural contexts.

Related Concepts:

• изоляция (isolation)
• отчуждение (alienation)
• эмигрант (emigrant)