Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'paranoid'

English Word: paranoid

Key Russian Translations:

• параноидный [pərəˈnɔɪdnɨj] - [Formal, Psychological context]
• паранойя [pərəˈnɔɪjə] - [Formal, Medical or psychological term]

Frequency: Medium (Common in psychological discussions but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves specialized vocabulary; for 'параноидный' and 'паранойя', both require understanding of adjective and noun forms in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

параноидный: [pərəˈnɔɪdnɨj]

Note on параноидный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('nɔɪ'), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

паранойя: [pərəˈnɔɪjə]

Note on паранойя: The final vowel is often softened in spoken Russian, sounding like a schwa [ə] in informal contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Excessively suspicious or distrustful (Primary meaning in psychological contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• параноидный - Used in formal or clinical settings to describe a state of excessive suspicion, often in psychology or everyday descriptions of behavior.
• паранойя - Refers specifically to a mental condition involving delusions of persecution, typically in medical or therapeutic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он стал параноидным после того, как его ограбили, и теперь проверяет замки несколько раз в день.

  He became paranoid after being robbed and now checks the locks several times a day.

• В фильме главный герой страдает от паранойи, постоянно подозревая окружающих в заговоре.

  In the movie, the main character suffers from paranoia, constantly suspecting those around him of conspiracy.

• Её параноидные мысли заставляют её избегать социальных ситуаций, где она чувствует угрозу.

  Her paranoid thoughts make her avoid social situations where she feels threatened.

• Друзья заметили, что он ведёт себя параноидно, проверяя телефон на прослушку.

  Friends noticed that he was acting paranoid, checking his phone for bugs.

• Паранойя может быть симптомом более серьёзного расстройства, такого как шизофрения.

  Paranoia can be a symptom of a more serious disorder, such as schizophrenia.

Related psychological state (Secondary meaning, e.g., in informal descriptions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• параноидный - Informally used to describe heightened anxiety in non-clinical settings, such as in literature or casual conversation.

Usage Examples:

• После просмотра триллера она почувствовала себя параноидной и не могла уснуть.

  After watching the thriller, she felt paranoid and couldn't fall asleep.

• В повседневной жизни параноидные люди часто переоценивают риски.

  In everyday life, paranoid people often overestimate risks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'параноидный' (adjective), it follows the standard pattern for first-declension adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective and changes accordingly.

For 'паранойя' (noun, feminine), it is a first-declension noun and inflects regularly based on case and number:

• Nominative: паранойя
• Genitive: паранойи
• Dative: паранойе
• Accusative: паранойю
• Instrumental: паранойей
• Prepositional: паранойе

It does not have irregularities but requires attention to soft endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • подозрительный (podozritel'nyj) - Similar but often implies general suspicion rather than clinical paranoia.
  • бдительный (bditel'nyj) - Used in contexts of vigilance, with a less negative connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • доверчивый (doverchivyj) - Indicates trustfulness, contrasting with excessive suspicion.
  • спокойный (spokojnyj) - Means calm or relaxed, opposing the anxious state of paranoia.

Related Phrases:

• паранойя преследования [paranoia presledovaniya] - Persecution complex; a specific type of paranoia involving fears of being pursued.
• быть параноидным [byt' paranoydnym] - To be paranoid; used in everyday expressions of distrust.
• синдром паранойи [sindrom paranoii] - Paranoia syndrome; refers to a set of symptoms in psychological contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Параноидный' directly corresponds to the adjectival form of 'paranoid' in English, making it suitable for describing behaviors, while 'паранойя' aligns with the noun form, often in clinical settings. Be cautious with register: 'параноидный' can sound formal or medical, so in casual speech, Russians might use 'подозрительный' instead. Grammatically, adjectives like 'параноидный' must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. When choosing between translations, opt for 'паранойя' for disorders and 'параноидный' for traits.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse 'паранойя' as a general adjective, saying something like "Я паранойя" instead of "Я параноидный". Correct: Use the adjective form for personal descriptions.
• Another error is incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "параноидный человек" in the wrong case, like "параноидный в" instead of "параноидном в" for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always check the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'паранойя' are often linked to historical contexts, such as the Soviet era's surveillance state, which fostered real paranoia in society. This adds a layer of cultural depth, where the word might evoke themes from literature like Dostoevsky's works, emphasizing existential distrust.

Related Concepts:

• шизофрения (schizophrenia)
• мания преследования (persecution mania)
• психоз (psychosis)