Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pestilent'

English Word: pestilent

Key Russian Translations:

• вредный [ˈvrʲednɨj] - [Formal; used for general harmful or damaging contexts]
• пагубный [ˈpaɡubnɨj] - [Formal; emphasizes destructive or pernicious effects]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal writing, health, and environmental discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, suitable for learners with basic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вредный: [ˈvrʲednɨj]

Note on вредный: The stress falls on the first syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'д' sound.

пагубный: [ˈpaɡubnɨj]

Note on пагубный: Pronunciation is straightforward, but ensure the 'г' is guttural; common in formal contexts without significant variants.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Causing annoyance, harm, or a pestilence (e.g., in health, environmental, or metaphorical contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредный - Used in contexts involving physical or moral harm, such as environmental pollution or unhealthy habits (e.g., in formal reports or medical discussions).
• пагубный - Applied to more severe, long-term destructive effects, like addiction or societal issues (e.g., in literary or philosophical texts).

Usage Examples:

• Этот вредный газ оказывает негативное влияние на окружающую среду.

  This pestilent gas has a negative impact on the environment.

• Пагубный эффект курения известен всем, но многие продолжают эту привычку.

  The pestilent effect of smoking is well-known, but many continue the habit.

• Вредные насекомые могут уничтожить весь урожай за короткое время.

  Pestilent insects can destroy the entire harvest in a short time.

• Пагубные идеи, распространяемые в обществе, часто приводят к конфликтам.

  Pestilent ideas spread in society often lead to conflicts.

• Этот вредный обычай устарел и должен быть запрещен.

  This pestilent custom is outdated and should be banned.

Secondary Meaning: Morally or socially corrupting (e.g., in metaphorical or abstract uses)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вредный - In social or ethical discussions, to describe behaviors that erode well-being (e.g., in educational or advisory contexts).
• пагубный - For deeper, more insidious influences, such as in literature or psychology (e.g., in formal essays).

Usage Examples:

• Вредные привычки в детстве могут повлиять на всю будущую жизнь.

  Pestilent habits in childhood can affect one's entire future life.

• Пагубное влияние социальных сетей на молодежь обсуждается экспертами.

  The pestilent influence of social media on youth is discussed by experts.

• Этот вредный стереотип мешает равенству в обществе.

  This pestilent stereotype hinders equality in society.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "вредный" and "пагубный" are adjectives, which in Russian follow the standard adjectival declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are inflected based on the noun's characteristics and do not have irregular forms in this case.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form but can be used predicatively without inflection in some contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • опасный (opasnyj) - More general for 'dangerous'; used interchangeably in risk contexts.
  • вредоносный (vredonosnyj) - Emphasizes actively causing harm; suitable for technical or scientific language.
• Antonyms:
  • полезный (poleznyj) - 'Beneficial'; directly opposite in health or productivity contexts.
  • безвредный (bezvrednyj) - 'Harmless'; used when no negative effects are present.

Related Phrases:

• вредный фактор (vrednyy faktor) - Harmful factor; refers to elements causing damage in environmental or health contexts.
• пагубное влияние (pagubnoye vliyaniye) - Pestilent influence; commonly used in discussions about negative societal impacts.
• вредные привычки (vrednyye privychki) - Pestilent habits; describes unhealthy behaviors in personal development advice.

Usage Notes:

"Pestilent" translates most accurately to "вредный" for everyday harmful scenarios and "пагубный" for more profound, destructive ones. Choose "вредный" in formal or scientific contexts where immediacy is key, but opt for "пагубный" when emphasizing long-term consequences. These adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they describe, which is a common grammatical requirement in Russian. They are rarely used in informal speech; instead, prefer them in written or professional settings. For English learners, note that Russian often pairs these with abstract nouns like "влияние" (influence) to mirror metaphorical uses of "pestilent."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вредный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "вредный женщина" instead of "вредная женщина" (for feminine nouns). Correct: Always match the adjective's ending to the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree, unlike English, so this mismatch can confuse native speakers.

• Error: Confusing "вредный" and "пагубный" interchangeably, e.g., using "пагубный" for minor harms. Correct: Use "вредный" for general harm and reserve "пагубный" for severe cases. Explanation: Overgeneralization leads to imprecise language, as "пагубный" implies deeper ruin.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "вредный" and "пагубный" often carry echoes of historical events, such as the frequent plagues in Russian history (e.g., the Black Death). They are used in literature, like in Dostoevsky's works, to symbolize moral corruption, reflecting a cultural emphasis on the interplay between physical and spiritual health.

Related Concepts:

• болезнь (bolezn') - Disease
• заражение (zarazheniye) - Infection
• токсин (toksin) - Toxin