Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'peevish'

English Word: peevish

Key Russian Translations:

• раздражительный [rɐzdrɐˈʐitʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday contexts to describe temporary irritability]
• капризный [kɐˈprʲiznɨj] - [Informal; implies a more whimsical or petulant nature, often in childlike behavior]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in standard Russian conversations but not as frequently as basic adjectives like "happy" or "sad".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, suitable for learners with basic conversational skills. For "раздражительный", it's B1; for "капризный", it's also B1 due to similar grammatical patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раздражительный: [rɐzdrɐˈʐitʲɪlʲnɨj]

капризный: [kɐˈprʲiznɨj]

Note on раздражительный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("ʐitʲ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' and soft consonants; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Easily irritated, bad-tempered, or fretful, often in response to minor annoyances.

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - Used in informal settings to describe someone's mood during stress or fatigue, such as in family or work conversations.
• капризный - Applied in contexts involving stubbornness or moodiness, like describing a child's behavior or in literary descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Он был раздражительным после долгого рабочего дня и не терпел никаких вопросов.

  He was peevish after a long workday and couldn't tolerate any questions.

• Её капризный характер проявился, когда она отказалась от еды из-за мелкой детали.

  Her peevish nature showed when she refused the food over a minor detail.

• В жару люди становятся раздражительными и менее терпеливыми.

  In the heat, people become peevish and less patient.

• Капризный ребёнок плакал по малейшему поводу, что раздражало родителей.

  The peevish child cried over the slightest thing, which irritated the parents.

• Его раздражительный тон в разговоре указывал на усталость.

  His peevish tone in the conversation indicated fatigue.

Meaning: Whimsical or unreasonably irritable in a petty way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - In narrative or descriptive contexts, emphasizing emotional volatility.
• капризный - Often in psychological or character descriptions, highlighting capricious behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Капризный сосед жаловался на каждый шум, даже если он был незначительным.

  The peevish neighbor complained about every noise, even if it was insignificant.

• Раздражительный менеджер отреагировал на опоздание сварливо.

  The peevish manager responded to the lateness with irritability.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "раздражительный" and "капризный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

These adjectives follow regular inflection patterns, so they change endings based on the noun's gender, number, and case. There are no irregular forms for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нервный [nʲɛrfnɨj] - More general, implying nervousness; often used interchangeably but with a focus on anxiety.
  • раздраженный [rɐzdrɐˈʐɛnnɨj] - Similar to peevish but temporary, like being annoyed in the moment.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный [spɐˈkoj.nɨj] - Calm and composed, the opposite of irritable behavior.
  • терпеливый [tʲɪrˈpʲe.lʲɪ.vɨj] - Patient, contrasting with peevish reactions to minor issues.

Related Phrases:

• раздражительный характер - A peevish temperament; refers to a person's inherent irritable nature in personality descriptions.
• капризный ребёнок - A peevish child; commonly used in parenting contexts to describe fussy behavior.
• быть в раздражительном настроении - To be in a peevish mood; indicates a temporary state of irritability.

Usage Notes:

"Peevish" corresponds closely to "раздражительный" in informal Russian, but "капризный" adds a nuance of whimsy or stubbornness not always present in English. Use "раздражительный" for everyday emotional states and "капризный" in more descriptive or literary contexts. Be mindful of gender agreement with nouns, as Russian adjectives must inflect accordingly. In formal writing, opt for "раздражительный" to avoid sounding too casual.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "раздражительный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "раздражительный женщина" instead of "раздражительная женщина".
  Correct: Always match the adjective's ending to the noun's gender and case.
  Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement, unlike English, which can lead to grammatical errors.
• Mistake: Confusing "раздражительный" with "раздраженный", thinking they mean the same.
  Correct: Use "раздраженный" for a momentary state (e.g., "он раздраженный" - he is annoyed now), while "раздражительный" describes a trait.
  Explanation: This distinction prevents misuse in context, as English "peevish" often implies a personality trait.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "раздражительный" can reflect the emphasis on emotional expressiveness in interpersonal relationships. For instance, it's common in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's characters) to portray peevish behavior as a sign of inner turmoil, tied to historical themes of resilience in the face of adversity.

Related Concepts:

• гнев [gnʲɛf] - Anger
• раздражение [rɐzdrɐˈʐɛnʲɪje] - Irritation
• настроение [nɐˈstroʲɪnʲɪje] - Mood