Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pesky'

English Word: pesky

Key Russian Translations:

• досадный [ˈdosədnɨj] - [Informal, used for minor, everyday irritations]
• назойливый [nəˈzojlivɨj] - [Formal, used for persistent or intrusive annoyances]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in casual conversations and literature, but not as frequent as basic adjectives)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (requires understanding of adjective inflections; 'досадный' is straightforward, while 'назойливый' may vary slightly by context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

досадный: [ˈdosədnɨj]

Note on досадный: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound can be challenging for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in "bit".

назойливый: [nəˈzojlivɨj]

Note on назойливый: Stress falls on the third syllable; the 'ой' diphthong is pronounced like 'oy' in "boy", with a soft 'й' sound at the end.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Annoying or irritating, often in a persistent but minor way

Translation(s) & Context:

• досадный - Used in informal settings for everyday nuisances, such as insects or minor inconveniences.
• назойливый - Applied in more formal or descriptive contexts for something that is persistently bothersome, like unwanted attention.

Usage Examples:

• Это досадный комар, который не дает спать ночью.

  This pesky mosquito that doesn't let me sleep at night.

• Назойливый сосед постоянно звонит в дверь без предупреждения.

  The pesky neighbor keeps ringing the doorbell without warning.

• Досадная ошибка в программе вызвала сбои в работе.

  The pesky error in the program caused glitches in operation.

• Этот назойливый вопрос повторяется на каждом собрании.

  This pesky question keeps coming up at every meeting.

Meaning 2: Troublesome or vexing in a playful or light-hearted context

Translation(s) & Context:

• досадный - Informal, often in affectionate or humorous descriptions, like a child's behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Твой досадный юмор всегда заставляет всех смеяться.

  Your pesky humor always makes everyone laugh.

• Досадный дождь испортил наш пикник, но мы не расстроились.

  The pesky rain ruined our picnic, but we didn't get upset.

• Назойливый щенок бегает по дому, мешая работать.

  The pesky puppy is running around the house, getting in the way of work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'досадный' and 'назойливый' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow the standard first-declension adjective pattern, with some irregularities in spelling for 'назойливый' due to its soft consonants.

Note: These adjectives do not change for verb conjugations as they are not verbs, but they must agree with the nouns they modify.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: раздражающий (razdrazhayushchiy) - More intense irritation; неприятный (nepriyatnyy) - General unpleasantness, with a subtle difference in that it's less persistent than 'назойливый'.
• Antonyms: приятный (priyatnyy) - Pleasant or agreeable; удобный (udobnyy) - Convenient, often used in opposition to minor annoyances.

Related Phrases:

• Досадная помеха - A pesky obstacle (refers to something that hinders progress in a minor way, often in everyday situations).
• Назойливый гость - A pesky guest (describes someone who overstays their welcome or is intrusive).
• Досадный инцидент - A pesky incident (used for trivial but irritating events, like a small accident).

Usage Notes:

'Досадный' is best for informal, light-hearted contexts and directly corresponds to 'pesky' in its playful sense, while 'назойливый' aligns more with formal or serious uses where persistence is key. Always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For English speakers, note that Russian adjectives don't have degrees like 'peskier', so use adverbs like 'очень' (very) for emphasis. Choose 'досадный' for minor irritations and 'назойливый' for more invasive ones to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

• In spoken Russian, these words are common in complaints or descriptions, but overuse can make speech sound negative.
• Grammar tip: Always inflect properly; for example, use 'досадную' for feminine nouns.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake 'досадный' for a verb like 'досадить' (to annoy someone), leading to incorrect sentences. For example:

• Error: *Досадить комар* (Incorrect: This implies "to annoy the mosquito," which is wrong).
• Correct: Досадный комар (Right: "A pesky mosquito"). Explanation: 'Досадный' is an adjective, not a verb, so it must describe a noun directly.
• Another error: Using 'назойливый' in informal contexts where 'досадный' fits better, e.g., *Назойливый дождь* instead of *Досадный дождь*, which sounds overly formal for casual talk.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'досадный' and 'назойливый' reflect a common way of expressing everyday frustrations, often with a touch of humor or resignation. They appear frequently in literature and proverbs, such as in stories by Chekhov, where minor annoyances highlight human resilience against life's 'pesky' challenges.

Related Concepts:

• раздражение
• неприятность
• помеха