Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scoff'

English Word: scoff

Key Russian Translations:

• насмехаться [nəsmʲɪˈxat͡sə] - [Informal, often used in everyday conversations for mocking or deriding]
• издеваться [ɪzˈdʲevat͡sə] - [Formal, implies more cruel or sarcastic mocking]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in literature, media, and casual speech, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuances in tone, which may vary by translation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

насмехаться: [nəsmʲɪˈxat͡sə]

Note on насмехаться: The stress is on the third syllable ("xat"), and the 'x' sound is a guttural fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. It often involves a reflexive form.

издеваться: [ɪzˈdʲevat͡sə]

Note on издеваться: Stress on the second syllable ("dʲev"), with a soft 'dʲ' sound; this verb also has a reflexive ending, common in Russian for actions directed at oneself or others.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To mock or deride someone or something (the primary sense of 'scoff')

Translation(s) & Context:

• насмехаться - Used in informal settings, such as casual conversations or literature, to express light-hearted or derisive laughter.
• издеваться - Applied in more serious or formal contexts, like debates or criticisms, to indicate cruel mockery.

Usage Examples:

• Он насмехался над её идеями на собрании. (He scoffed at her ideas during the meeting.)

  Translation: He mocked her ideas at the meeting. (This example shows the verb in a past tense, informal context.)

• Дети издевались над новым учеником в школе. (The children scoffed at the new student in school.)

  Translation: The children derided the new student in school. (Illustrates use in a group setting with a more negative connotation.)

• Не стоит насмехаться над чужими ошибками. (It's not worth scoffing at other people's mistakes.)

  Translation: It's not worth mocking other people's mistakes. (Demonstrates an imperative form, advising against the action.)

• Она издевалась над его страхами, чтобы подшутить. (She scoffed at his fears just to tease.)

  Translation: She derided his fears just to tease. (Shows the verb in a reflexive context with emotional undertones.)

• В интернете люди часто насмехаются над знаменитостями. (On the internet, people often scoff at celebrities.)

  Translation: On the internet, people often mock celebrities. (Highlights modern usage in digital media.)

Meaning 2: To eat something quickly or greedily (less common sense of 'scoff')

Translation(s) & Context:

• съесть (to eat up) - Informal, everyday language for consuming food hastily.

Usage Examples:

• Он быстро съел свой обед. (He scoffed down his lunch.)

  Translation: He quickly ate his lunch. (Simple past tense example in a casual meal context.)

• Дети съели все пирожные за минуту. (The children scoffed all the cakes in a minute.)

  Translation: The children ate all the cakes in a minute. (Plural subject, showing greedy eating.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For the key translations, both 'насмехаться' and 'издеваться' are reflexive verbs (ending in -ся), which follow imperfective aspect patterns in Russian. They are conjugated based on tense, person, and number. 'Съесть' is a perfective verb.

Here is a conjugation table for 'насмехаться' (imperfective):

For 'издеваться', the conjugation is similar: e.g., Present: издеваться, Past: издевался(ась).

For 'съесть' (perfective): It is irregular and typically used in perfective contexts; e.g., Past: съел(а), Future: съем.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • смеяться (to laugh) - More neutral, less derisive.
  • пошучивать (to joke around) - Lighter, playful mocking.
• Antonyms:
  • восхищаться (to admire)
  • уважать (to respect)

Related Phrases:

• Насмехаться над кем-то (To scoff at someone) - A common phrase for deriding individuals.
• Издеваться над идеями (To scoff at ideas) - Used in intellectual or critical contexts.
• Съесть на ходу (To scoff something on the go) - Refers to eating quickly, often informally.

Usage Notes:

'Scoff' in English often carries a tone of disdain, which aligns closely with 'насмехаться' in informal Russian speech. However, 'издеваться' is preferred in formal or written contexts to convey a stronger sense of mockery. Be cautious with reflexive verbs like these, as they require the -ся ending. When choosing between translations, consider the intensity: use 'насмехаться' for light-hearted derision and 'издеваться' for more malicious intent. In eating contexts, 'съесть' is straightforward but implies completion.

Common Errors:

• Error: Forgetting the reflexive ending, e.g., saying "насмешать" instead of "насмехаться". Correct: Always include -ся for reflexive actions. Explanation: This changes the meaning entirely, as "насмешать" means "to mix with laughter," which is incorrect.

• Error: Using 'издеваться' in casual settings where 'насмехаться' is more appropriate, making speech sound overly harsh. Correct: Opt for 'насмехаться' in everyday talk. Explanation: Misjudging tone can lead to misunderstandings in social interactions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, mocking or scoffing (e.g., via 'насмехаться') is often seen in satirical literature and media, reflecting a tradition of sharp wit and criticism, as in the works of authors like Gogol. This can stem from historical contexts where humor was a way to cope with adversity, so it's not always purely negative.

Related Concepts:

• сарказм (sarcasm)
• ирония (irony)
• презрение (contempt)