Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'poor'

English Word: poor

Key Russian Translations:

• бедный [ˈbʲednɨj] - [Informal, often used for financial or emotional poverty]
• плохой [ˈpɫoxoj] - [Formal or neutral, typically for quality or condition]
• несчастный [nʲɪsˈʂastnɨj] - [Emotional context, implying pitiful or unfortunate]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'poor' is commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp basic usages, but nuances in context may require A2-B2 practice. For 'бедный', it's B1; for 'плохой', it's A2.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бедный: [ˈbʲednɨj]

Note on бедный: The initial 'б' is a voiced bilabial stop, and the stress falls on the first syllable. Be cautious with the palatalized 'д' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

плохой: [ˈpɫoxoj]

Note on плохой: The 'л' is a dark 'l' sound, and the ending 'ой' softens to [oj]. This word has minimal variations in pronunciation across dialects.

несчастный: [nʲɪsˈʂastnɨj]

Note on несчастный: The 'щ' is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'shch' in "fresh cheese." Stress on the second syllable adds emphasis in emotional contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Financially disadvantaged or lacking wealth

Translation(s) & Context:

• бедный - Used in everyday contexts to describe someone in poverty, often with sympathy.
• несчастный - In emotional or narrative contexts, emphasizing misfortune rather than just finances.

Usage Examples:

• Он живёт в бедной семье, но всегда остаётся оптимистом.

  He lives in a poor family, but he always remains optimistic.

• Бедные люди часто сталкиваются с дискриминацией в обществе.

  Poor people often face discrimination in society.

• В этой деревне многие семьи бедные, но дружные.

  In this village, many families are poor but close-knit.

• Несчастный старик потерял всё своё состояние.

  The poor old man lost all his fortune.

• Бедные дети не могут позволить себе хорошее образование.

  Poor children cannot afford a good education.

Meaning 2: Of low quality or inferior

Translation(s) & Context:

• плохой - Commonly used for objects, services, or abstract qualities, in neutral or critical contexts.
• бедный - Less common here, but possible in informal speech to imply subpar condition metaphorically.

Usage Examples:

• Эта машина плохая; она постоянно ломается.

  This car is poor; it keeps breaking down.

• Плохой урожай в этом году из-за засухи.

  The poor harvest this year is due to drought.

• Его плохая работа привела к потере клиентов.

  His poor work led to the loss of clients.

• Бедная еда в этом ресторане не стоит своих денег.

  The poor food in this restaurant isn't worth the money.

• Плохой сигнал на телефоне раздражает меня.

  The poor signal on the phone is frustrating me.

Meaning 3: Pitiful or deserving sympathy

Translation(s) & Context:

• несчастный - Often in literary or emotional contexts to evoke pity.
• бедный - Informal, similar to English "poor thing."

Usage Examples:

• Несчастный пёс бродит по улицам в поисках еды.

  The poor dog wanders the streets in search of food.

• Бедная женщина потеряла ребёнка и нуждается в поддержке.

  The poor woman lost her child and needs support.

• Несчастный герой романа вызывает сочувствие читателей.

  The poor hero of the novel evokes sympathy from readers.

• Бедный мальчик всегда одинок в школе.

  The poor boy is always lonely at school.

• Несчастная судьба этого персонажа трогает до слёз.

  The poor fate of this character is touching to tears.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These adjectives follow standard Russian adjectival declension patterns, which vary by gender, number, and case. 'Бедный' and 'плохой' are first-declension adjectives, while 'несчастный' follows similar rules.

Form	Бедный (bednyy)	Плохой (plokhoy)	Несчастный (neschastnyy)
Masculine Singular Nominative	бедный	плохой	несчастный
Feminine Singular Nominative	бедная	плохая	несчастная
Neuter Singular Nominative	бедное	плохое	несчастное
Plural Nominative	бедные	плохие	несчастные

Note: These words do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Бедный: нищий (nischiy) - More extreme poverty; бедолага (bedolaga) - Informal, pity-evoking.
  • Плохой: скверный (skvernyy) - Negative connotation; некачественный (nekachestvennyy) - Specifically for quality.
  • Несчастный: жалкий (zhalkiy) - Pitiful; несчастливый (neschastlivyy) - Unlucky.
• Antonyms:
  • Бедный: богатый (bogatyi)
  • Плохой: хороший (khoroshyi)
  • Несчастный: счастливый (schastlivyy)

Related Phrases:

• Бедный, как церковная мышь - Meaning: As poor as a church mouse (indicating extreme poverty).
• Плохая погода - Meaning: Bad weather (a common phrase for poor conditions).
• Несчастный случай - Meaning: An accident (often used in legal or everyday contexts).

Usage Notes:

'Poor' translates variably in Russian based on context: 'бедный' for financial or emotional poverty, 'плохой' for quality issues, and 'несчастный' for sympathy. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender and case with the noun. For formal writing, 'плохой' is preferred for criticisms, while 'бедный' carries more emotional weight. When choosing between translations, consider the nuance: use 'бедный' for people to avoid sounding harsh.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'бедный' interchangeably with 'плохой' without context. Incorrect: "Плохой человек" translated as "Бедный человек" (implying poverty instead of bad character). Correct: Use 'плохой' for moral or quality judgments. Explanation: This confuses the core meanings, leading to miscommunication.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement. Incorrect: "Бедный семья" (should be "бедная семья" for feminine noun). Correct: Always match gender and case. Explanation: Russian grammar requires this for natural speech.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'бедный' often evoke themes from literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's portrayals of poverty), reflecting historical contexts of inequality. 'Несчастный' can carry a fatalistic tone, influenced by Russia's literary tradition of emphasizing human suffering and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• Богатый (wealthy)
• Хороший (good)
• Счастливый (happy)
• Нищета (poverty)