Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prurient'

English Word: prurient

Key Russian Translations:

• похотливый [pɐˈxotlʲɪvɨj] - [Formal, Literary]
• сальный [ˈsalʲnɨj] - [Informal, Colloquial, Used in everyday speech to imply sleazy or vulgar interest]

Frequency: Medium (This term appears in literary, formal, or media contexts but is not everyday vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and cultural connotations in Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

похотливый: [pɐˈxotlʲɪvɨj]

сальный: [ˈsalʲnɨj]

Note on похотливый: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on сальный: Pronounced with a hard 'с' and emphasis on the first syllable; it has a more casual, derogatory tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Having or encouraging an excessive, often improper interest in sexual matters

Translation(s) & Context:

• похотливый - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something or someone with lewd or lustful characteristics, often implying moral judgment.
• сальный - Applied in informal settings to denote something vulgar or sleazy, such as in conversations about media or behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Его похотливые взгляды на девушек вызвали скандал на вечеринке.

  His prurient stares at the girls caused a scandal at the party.

• Эта книга полна сальных описаний, которые могут шокировать читателя.

  This book is full of prurient descriptions that might shock the reader.

• В фильме показаны похотливые сцены, предназначенные для взрослой аудитории.

  The film features prurient scenes intended for an adult audience.

• Сальный юмор в комедии иногда переходит границы приличий.

  The prurient humor in the comedy sometimes crosses the boundaries of decency.

• Похотливый интерес к чужой личной жизни – это признак незрелости.

  A prurient interest in others' private lives is a sign of immaturity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "похотливый" and "сальный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns for first-declension adjectives.

Note: These adjectives follow regular patterns, so they change endings based on the noun's case. For example, in accusative case, they might become "похотливого" for masculine animate nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вожделенный (vozhdelennyy) - More neutral, implying desired or coveted, often with sexual undertones.
  • эротический (eroticheskiy) - Focuses on erotic appeal, less judgmental than похотливый.
• Antonyms:
  • целомудренный (tselomudrennyy) - Meaning chaste or pure, implying the opposite of lewd interest.
  • невинный (nevinyy) - Innocent or naive, contrasting with prurient curiosity.

Related Phrases:

• похотливые мысли (pohotlivyye mysli) - Prurient thoughts; refers to lewd or obsessive ideas.
• сальный анекдот (sal'nyy anekdot) - A prurient joke; a vulgar or off-color story often told in informal settings.
• похотливый взгляд (pohotlivyy vzglyad) - A prurient stare; used to describe a lustful look with negative connotations.

Usage Notes:

"Похотливый" directly corresponds to the more formal, judgmental sense of "prurient" in English, often used in literature or critiques to denote something morally questionable. In contrast, "сальный" is more colloquial and fits everyday conversations about vulgarity. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these words can carry strong negative implications, so they are rarely used in polite or professional settings. When choosing between translations, opt for "похотливый" in written or formal contexts and "сальный" for spoken language. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "похотливый" interchangeably with "эротический" without considering tone. Incorrect: "Эротический фильм" to mean something explicitly prurient. Correct: "Похотливый фильм" for a more judgmental description. Explanation: "Эротический" is neutral and artistic, while "похотливый" implies impropriety.
• Mistake: Failing to inflect the adjective properly, e.g., saying "похотливый женщина" instead of "похотливая женщина." Incorrect: "похотливый женщина" (wrong gender agreement). Correct: "Похотливая женщина." Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common error for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "похотливый" often reflect historical attitudes toward sexuality influenced by Orthodox Christianity and Soviet-era conservatism. They may carry a puritanical undertone, where expressions of sexual interest are viewed as sinful or low-class, contrasting with more open Western portrayals. This can affect usage in media, where such terms critique societal norms.

Related Concepts:

• эротика (erotika)
• похоть (pokhott')
• вожделение (vozhdelenie)