Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'petulant'

English Word: petulant

Key Russian Translations:

• капризный [kɐˈprʲiznɨj] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday contexts to describe childish or unreasonable behavior]
• раздражительный [rɐzdrɐʐɨˈtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal; used in more serious or professional discussions to indicate irritability]

Frequency: Medium; these words appear regularly in literature, conversations, and media but are not among the most everyday Russian vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1-Intermediate for 'капризный' (basic adjective forms are straightforward), B2-Upper Intermediate for 'раздражительный' (requires understanding of nuanced emotional descriptors).

Pronunciation (Russian):

капризный: [kɐˈprʲiznɨj]

Note on капризный: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'рʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. It can vary slightly in rapid speech.

раздражительный: [rɐzdrɐʐɨˈtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on раздражительный: Pronounce the 'ж' as a soft, voiced fricative; the word has multiple syllables, so practice breaking it down: raz-dra-zhi-tel-nyj. Regional accents may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Irritable or impatient in an unreasonable way, often with a childish quality.

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'капризный' - Used in informal settings, such as describing a child's tantrums or an adult's petty complaints in casual conversations.
• 'раздражительный' - Applied in formal contexts, like psychological discussions or professional evaluations of behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Он был капризным ребёнком, который плакал из-за любой мелочи.

  He was a petulant child who cried over every little thing.

• Её капризное поведение на встрече разозлило всех коллег.

  Her petulant behavior at the meeting annoyed all her colleagues.

• Раздражительный начальник часто кричал на сотрудников без причины.

  The petulant boss often yelled at employees for no reason.

• В старости он стал ещё более капризным и требовательным.

  In his old age, he became even more petulant and demanding.

• Её раздражительный тон в разговоре показал, что она была в плохом настроении.

  Her petulant tone in the conversation showed that she was in a bad mood.

Petty and unreasonable in demands or complaints.

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'капризный' - Common in familial or social contexts to describe someone who is fussy or spoiled.
• 'раздражительный' - Used in more analytical contexts, such as in literature or therapy, to denote deeper irritability.

Usage Examples:

• Капризный гость отказался от ужина, потому что суп был недостаточно горячим.

  The petulant guest refused dinner because the soup wasn't hot enough.

• Её капризные требования к подаркам раздражали семью.

  Her petulant demands for gifts irritated the family.

• Раздражительный писатель не терпел никаких изменений в своём тексте.

  The petulant writer wouldn't tolerate any changes to his text.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'капризный' and 'раздражительный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow regular patterns for most cases, agreeing with the nouns they modify.

These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • взбалмошный (vzbalmoshnyy) - More chaotic or unpredictable connotation.
  • капризульный (kaprizul'nyy) - A diminutive form, often used for lighter, playful contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (spokoynyy) - Calm and composed.
  • терпеливый (terpelivyy) - Patient and enduring.

Related Phrases:

• капризный ребёнок - A spoiled or petulant child; often used to describe demanding behavior in kids.
• раздражительный характер - An irritable temperament; refers to a personality trait in formal descriptions.
• быть капризным, как ребёнок - To be petulant like a child; a common idiom for adult regression.

Usage Notes:

'Петulant' closely aligns with 'капризный' in informal English-Russian contexts, especially for everyday frustrations, but 'раздражительный' is better for more intense or clinical scenarios. Always consider the context: use 'капризный' for light-hearted or familial situations, and 'раздражительный' in professional or emotional discussions. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case, which is a key Russian feature. When choosing between translations, opt for 'капризный' if the behavior seems childish, and 'раздражительный' if it's more about general irritability.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'капризный' with 'капризный' forms: Learners often misuse the genitive case, e.g., saying "у капризный человек" instead of "у капризного человека" (of the petulant person). Correct: Use the proper case agreement to avoid sounding unnatural.
• Overusing in formal contexts: English speakers might use 'раздражительный' too broadly, e.g., translating "He's petulant" as "Он раздражительный" when "Он капризный" fits better for minor annoyances. Error example: "Раздражительный друг" for a slightly moody friend; better: "Капризный друг" for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'капризный' often carry a connotation of indulgence or spoiling, especially in child-rearing, reflecting historical influences from literature like Chekhov's stories where petulant characters symbolize societal flaws. This can imply a need for discipline, differing from English usage where it's more neutral.

Related Concepts:

• взрывной (vzryvnoy) - Explosive or hot-tempered.
• нервный (nervnyy) - Nervous or edgy.
• эмоциональный (emotsional'nyy) - Emotional, often linked to expressive behavior.