Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rancorous'

English Word: rancorous

Key Russian Translations:

• злобный /zlɐbˈnɨj/ - [Formal, often used in literary or descriptive contexts]
• озлобленный /ɐzlɐˈblɛnnɨj/ - [Informal, typically for people or emotional states]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing, literature, and discussions of emotions, but less frequent in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and emotional vocabulary. For "злобный", it's B2 due to its formal usage; for "озлобленный", it's similar but may feel slightly easier with context.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

злобный: /zlɐbˈnɨj/

Note on злобный: The stress falls on the second syllable ("bˈnɨj"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft "л" sound. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

озлобленный: /ɐzlɐˈblɛnnɨj/

Note on озлобленный: This word has a prefix "о-" that softens the initial sound; the stress is on the third syllable. Be mindful of the double "н" for proper pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Full of deep-seated resentment, bitterness, or malice, often describing a person's attitude or behavior.

Translation(s) & Context:

• злобный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe inherent malice, such as in character descriptions or critiques.
• озлобленный - Applied in informal settings to indicate a state of bitterness developed over time, often towards individuals or situations.

Usage Examples:

• Его злобный взгляд пугал всех в комнате. (Yego zlobnyy vzglyad pugal vsekh v komnate.)

  His rancorous glare frightened everyone in the room. (This example shows the word in a descriptive, formal context describing facial expression.)

• Озлобленный неудачами, он отказался от всех своих друзей. (Ozloblennyy neudachami, on otkazalsya ot vsekh svoikh druzey.)

  Bittered by failures, he turned away from all his friends. (Here, it illustrates an emotional state in an informal, personal narrative.)

• Злобный критик всегда находил недостатки в чужой работе. (Zlobnyy kritik vsegda nakhodil nedostatki v chuzhoy rabote.)

  The rancorous critic always found flaws in others' work. (This demonstrates usage in a professional or critical context.)

• Она стала озлобленной после многолетних обид. (Ona stala ozloblennoy posle mnogogodnikh obid.)

  She became rancorous after years of grievances. (This highlights the word in a biographical or reflective context.)

• В его злобном письме сквозила глубокая ненависть. (V yego zlobnom pis'me skvozilа glubokaya nenavist'.)

  His rancorous letter was laced with deep hatred. (This example shows the word in written communication, emphasizing emotional intensity.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "злобный" and "озлобленный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow regular patterns for most cases, but "злобный" is a standard hard-stem adjective, while "озлобленный" (a past passive participle used adjectivally) has similar inflections.

Note: These adjectives decline regularly according to Russian grammar rules. If used in other cases (e.g., accusative, dative), apply standard adjective endings. There are no irregular forms here.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • злой (zloi) - More general for "angry" or "wicked," but less intense than злобный.
  • враждебный (vrazhdebnyy) - Emphasizes hostility, often in interpersonal or political contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • дружелюбный (druzhelyubnyy) - Friendly and amicable.
  • добрый (dobryy) - Kind and benevolent.

Related Phrases:

• злобный взгляд (zlobnyy vzglyad) - Rancorous glare; used to describe an angry or malicious look.
• озлобленный человек (ozloblennyy chelovek) - Rancorous person; refers to someone harboring long-term resentment.
• злобная критика (zlobnaya kritika) - Rancorous criticism; common in literary or professional discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Злобный" is a more static adjective, best for describing inherent traits, while "озлобленный" implies a process of becoming resentful, making it suitable for dynamic contexts. For English users, "rancorous" aligns closely with "злобный" in formal settings, but choose "озлобленный" for emotional evolution. Be cautious with register: "злобный" is formal and avoids casual speech to prevent sounding overly dramatic. In grammar, ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, as per Russian rules.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "злобный" with "злой": English learners might use "злой" interchangeably, but it's less precise for deep resentment. Error: Saying "Он злой" for "He is rancorous." Correct: "Он злобный" to convey malice. Explanation: "Злой" means simply "angry," while "злобный" implies sustained bitterness.
• Incorrect inflection: Forgetting to change endings, e.g., using "злобный" for a feminine noun. Error: "Злобный женщина" (incorrect). Correct: "Злобная женщина." Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with nouns, so always adjust based on gender and case.
• Mispronouncing stress: Placing stress wrong, e.g., saying /ˈzlɐbnɨj/ instead of /zlɐbˈnɨj/. Error: This can alter meaning or comprehension. Correct: Practice with audio to master syllable stress.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "злобный" often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works), reflecting themes of inner turmoil and societal resentment. This vocabulary can carry a connotation of "soul-deep" malice, tied to historical contexts like the Soviet era, where bitterness towards authority was common in dissident writings.

Related Concepts:

• гнев (gnev) - Anger
• ненависть (nenavist') - Hatred
• вражда (vrazhda) - Enmity