Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'paltry'

English Word: paltry

Key Russian Translations:

• ничтожный [nʲɪˈʧojnɨj] - [Formal; used for something insignificant or worthless]
• скудный [ˈskudnɨj] - [Formal; often implies scarcity or meagerness]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are encountered in formal writing, literature, and discussions, but not in everyday casual speech.

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate - Learners at this level should grasp basic adjective usage, though understanding nuances requires familiarity with Russian declensions.

Pronunciation (Russian):

ничтожный: [nʲɪˈʧojnɨj]

скудный: [ˈskudnɨj]

Note on ничтожный: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on скудный: Pronunciation is straightforward, but ensure the 'у' is pronounced as a short 'u' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Of little value, importance, or significance (e.g., trivial or insignificant)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ничтожный - Used in formal contexts to describe something worthless or negligible, such as in legal or academic discussions.
• Скудный - Applied when emphasizing scarcity, like in economic or descriptive narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Его ничтожный вклад в проект был едва заметен. (His paltry contribution to the project was barely noticeable.)

  English Translation: His paltry contribution to the project was barely noticeable.

• Эта скудная сумма не покроет даже базовые расходы. (This paltry amount won't cover even the basic expenses.)

  English Translation: This paltry amount won't cover even the basic expenses.

• В его аргументах не было ничего, кроме ничтожных деталей. (There was nothing in his arguments except paltry details.)

  English Translation: There was nothing in his arguments except paltry details.

• Скудные ресурсы компании привели к провалу. (The company's paltry resources led to failure.)

  English Translation: The company's paltry resources led to failure.

Meaning 2: Trifling or petty (e.g., small in scale or unworthy of attention)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ничтожный - Common in contexts involving criticism, such as dismissing minor offenses or insignificant events.
• Скудный - Less common here, but used for meager quantities in everyday or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Не стоит тратить время на такие ничтожные проблемы. (Don't waste time on such paltry problems.)

  English Translation: Don't waste time on such paltry problems.

• Его скудные попытки оправдаться звучали неубедительно. (His paltry attempts to justify himself sounded unconvincing.)

  English Translation: His paltry attempts to justify himself sounded unconvincing.

• Эта ничтожная сумма премии разочаровала сотрудников. (This paltry bonus amount disappointed the employees.)

  English Translation: This paltry bonus amount disappointed the employees.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "ничтожный" and "скудный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, with some irregularities in certain cases. Below is a table outlining the key inflections:

Note: These adjectives do not change for short forms in modern usage, and they agree with the nouns they modify. They are regular in most cases but may vary slightly in poetic or archaic contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Незначительный (neznačitelʹnyj) - Similar to "insignificant," but often used for less emphatic contexts.
  • Мелкий (melkij) - Implies something small in scale, with a nuance of pettiness.
• Antonyms:
  • Значительный (značitelʹnyj) - Meaning "significant" or "important."
  • Обширный (obshirnyj) - Meaning "extensive" or "abundant."

Related Phrases:

• Ничтожная сумма - A paltry sum; used in financial contexts to describe an insignificant amount.
• Скудные ресурсы - Paltry resources; common in discussions about limitations or poverty.
• Ничтожный эффект - Paltry effect; refers to a negligible impact in scientific or everyday scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Paltry" corresponds closely to "ничтожный" in formal English-Russian translation, especially for abstract or evaluative contexts, while "скудный" is better for tangible scarcity. Always consider the gender and case of the noun it modifies in Russian sentences. For example, use the formal register in professional writing, but avoid it in casual conversation to prevent sounding overly dramatic. When choosing between translations, opt for "ничтожный" if emphasizing worthlessness and "скудный" if focusing on quantity.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "ничтожный" incorrectly in gender agreement, e.g., saying "ничтожная дом" instead of "ничтожный дом" for a masculine noun.
  Correct: Ничтожный дом (A paltry house). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun.
• Mistake: Confusing "скудный" with "скучный" (boring), leading to sentences like "Скудный фильм" meaning "A boring film" instead of "A paltry film."
  Correct: Use "скудный" only for scarcity. Explanation: Pay attention to vowel sounds to avoid homophonic errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "ничтожный" often carry a tone of disdain or criticism, reflecting the language's expressive nature in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky). This can stem from historical contexts where emphasizing insignificance highlighted social inequalities, helping users understand the emotional weight beyond literal translation.

Related Concepts:

• Неважный (nevažnyj) - Unimportant
• Мизерный (mizernyj) - Meager
• Тrivialʹnyj (trivjalʹnyj) - Trivial