Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pettish'

English Word: pettish

Key Russian Translations:

• капризный [kəˈprʲiznɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]
• раздражительный [rəzdrʲiˈʐitʲilʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in psychological or emotional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about personality traits, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "happy" or "sad").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and emotional vocabulary, which may vary by context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

капризный: [kəˈprʲiznɨj] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'р' is rolled, and the 'ы' sound is a back vowel unique to Russian.)

Note on капризный: Be cautious with the soft 'рʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. It softens the preceding consonant.

раздражительный: [rəzdrʲiˈʐitʲilʲnɨj] (Stress on the fourth syllable; note the palatalized 'тʲ' and the fricative 'ʐ' sound.)

Note on раздражительный: This word has a more formal tone; the ending may vary in speech based on regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Easily irritated or peevish, often in a childish or petty way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• капризный - Used in informal settings to describe someone who is capricious or petulant, especially children or in light-hearted conversations.
• раздражительный - Applied in more formal or serious contexts, such as describing personality disorders or adult behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Мой младший брат всегда капризный, когда устаёт. (My younger brother is always pettish when he's tired.)

  Translation: My younger brother is always pettish when he's tired.

• Она становится капризной, если не получает то, что хочет. (She becomes pettish if she doesn't get what she wants.)

  Translation: She becomes pettish if she doesn't get what she wants. (This shows the adjective in a predicative position.)

• В стрессовых ситуациях он может быть раздражительным и капризным. (In stressful situations, he can be irritable and pettish.)

  Translation: In stressful situations, he can be irritable and pettish. (Demonstrates combination with synonyms for nuance.)

• Капризный ребёнок отказывается есть, если еда не идеальна. (The pettish child refuses to eat if the food isn't perfect.)

  Translation: The pettish child refuses to eat if the food isn't perfect. (Illustrates use in describing behavior.)

• Её раздражительный характер делает её капризной в отношениях. (Her irritable nature makes her pettish in relationships.)

  Translation: Her irritable nature makes her pettish in relationships. (Shows adverbial or descriptive usage.)

Meaning 2: Showing a slight or temporary annoyance, often without serious intent.

Translation(s) & Context:

• капризный - Informal, often used humorously for minor mood swings.

Usage Examples:

• Он был капризным из-за мелкой ошибки, но быстро успокоился. (He was pettish because of a minor mistake, but quickly calmed down.)

  Translation: He was pettish because of a minor mistake, but quickly calmed down.

• Капризная погода в России иногда портит планы. (The pettish weather in Russia sometimes ruins plans.)

  Translation: The pettish weather in Russia sometimes ruins plans. (Extended metaphorically to non-human subjects.)

• Её капризное настроение прошло, как только она улыбнулась. (Her pettish mood passed as soon as she smiled.)

  Translation: Her pettish mood passed as soon as she smiled.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "капризный" and "раздражительный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives.

For "раздражительный," the inflections are identical in pattern but may vary slightly in pronunciation due to its longer structure. These adjectives do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вспыльчивый (more intense, sudden temper)
  • нервозный (nervous or edgy, often with anxiety)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (calm)
  • терпеливый (patient)

Related Phrases:

• Капризный ребёнок - A pettish child; used to describe typical childish behavior in family contexts.
• Быть капризным на пустом месте - To be pettish over nothing; an idiomatic expression for unfounded irritability.
• Раздражительный характер - An irritable nature; often in psychological or self-help discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Pettish" corresponds closely to "капризный" in informal English-Russian translation, but "раздражительный" is better for more serious or clinical contexts. Use "капризный" in everyday speech to avoid sounding overly formal. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. For example, choose "капризный" for masculine subjects and "капризная" for feminine ones. When deciding between translations, opt for "раздражительный" if the irritability implies a deeper emotional issue.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "капризный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "капризный женщина" instead of "капризная женщина."
  Correct: Ensure adjective agrees with the noun; explanation: Russian requires full agreement to maintain grammatical accuracy.
• Mistake: Confusing it with "гневный" (angry), leading to overuse in intense situations.
  Correct: Use "капризный" for petty annoyance, not rage; explanation: "Петтиш" implies mildness, so don't equate it to stronger emotions.
• Mistake: Omitting stress in pronunciation, e.g., misstressing "капризный."
  Correct: Always stress the second syllable; explanation: Incorrect stress can change perceived meaning or make you sound non-native.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "капризный" are often associated with childhood or familial dynamics, reflecting a societal emphasis on emotional expression in close relationships. Historically, such words appear in literature like Chekhov's works, where characters' pettish behaviors highlight human flaws in a humorous or satirical way.

Related Concepts:

• нервозность (nervousness)
• эмоциональность (emotionality)
• терпение (patience)