Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scold'

English Word: scold

Key Russian Translations:

• Ругать (/ruˈɡatʲ/) - [Informal, Common in everyday speech]
• Бранить (/ˈbranʲitʲ/) - [Formal, Often used in literary or parental contexts]
• Выговаривать (/vɨɡɐˈravʲitʲ/) - [Semi-formal, Implies a more structured reprimand]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly encountered in Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic daily verbs like "идти" (to go).)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this CEFR level should grasp basic conjugations, but irregular aspects may pose challenges for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ругать: /ruˈɡatʲ/ (The stress is on the second syllable; the 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go".)

Бранить: /ˈbranʲitʲ/ (Stress on the first syllable; the palatalized 'нʲ' requires softening the tongue against the palate.)

Выговаривать: /vɨɡɐˈravʲitʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the vowel reduction in unstressed positions, common in Russian.)

Note on Ругать: This word has a soft 'тʲ' at the end, which can be tricky for English speakers; practice with native audio to master the palatalization.

Note on Бранить: Variations in regional accents may soften the 'б' sound; it's often more emphatic in formal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To express strong disapproval or criticism verbally, often in an angry manner.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ругать - Used in informal, everyday situations, such as scolding a child for misbehavior.
• Бранить - Applied in more formal or authoritative contexts, like a teacher scolding a student.
• Выговаривать - Often in professional or disciplinary settings, implying a detailed explanation of faults.

Usage Examples:

• Мама ругает сына за плохие оценки в школе. (Mama rugayet syna za plokhie otsenki v shkole.)

  Mother scolds her son for bad grades at school. (This example shows 'ругать' in a familial context, highlighting everyday informal usage.)

• Начальник бранит сотрудников за опоздание на работу. (Nachalnik branit sotrudnikov za opozdanie na rabotu.)

  The boss scolds the employees for being late to work. (Here, 'бранить' demonstrates a formal, workplace scenario with an authoritative tone.)

• Учитель выговаривает ученику за нарушение дисциплины. (Uchitel vygovarivaet uchiniku za narushenie distsipliny.)

  The teacher scolds the student for breaking the rules. (This illustrates 'выговаривать' in an educational setting, emphasizing structured criticism.)

• Родители ругают детей, но делают это с любовью. (Roditeli rugayut detey, no delayut eto s lyubovyu.)

  Parents scold their children, but they do it with love. (This example varies the context to show 'ругать' with an emotional nuance, common in family dynamics.)

• В фильме герой бранит друга за глупое решение. (V fil'me geroy branit druga za glupoe reshenie.)

  In the movie, the hero scolds his friend for a foolish decision. (This uses 'бранить' in a narrative context, showcasing its application in storytelling.)

Secondary Meaning: To rebuke or criticize habitually (less common, but implied in ongoing behavior).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ругать - In contexts of repeated scolding, such as nagging.
• Выговаривать - For persistent correction, like in therapy or coaching.

Usage Examples:

• Она постоянно ругает мужа за беспорядок в доме. (Ona postoyanno rugayet muzha za besporyadok v dome.)

  She constantly scolds her husband for the mess in the house. (This highlights 'ругать' in a habitual, domestic context.)

• Тренер выговаривает игрокам после проигрыша. (Trener vygovarivaet igrokam posle proigrysha.)

  The coach scolds the players after losing. (This shows 'выговаривать' in a repetitive sports scenario.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Ругать' and 'Бранить' are imperfective verbs, while 'Выговаривать' can be used in both aspects. Below is a conjugation table for 'Ругать' in the present tense as an example:

For 'Бранить', it follows a similar pattern but is less commonly used in perfective forms. 'Выговаривать' has irregularities in past tenses. These verbs do not change in gender but adjust for aspect (e.g., perfective 'выругать' for a completed scolding).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Бранить (Similar to ругать but more formal)
  • Выговаривать (Emphasizes detailed criticism)
  • Укорять (ukoryat' - Implies moral reproach, often with a sense of disappointment)
• Antonyms:
  • Хвалить (khalit' - To praise)
  • Поощрять (pooshchryat' - To encourage)

Related Phrases:

• Ругать матом (Rugat' matom) - To swear or scold using profanity; often used in heated arguments.
• Бранить на чем свет стоит (Branit' na chem svet stoit) - To scold severely; literally "to scold on what the light stands on," meaning intensely.
• Выговаривать по душам (Vygovarivat' po dusham) - To have a heart-to-heart scolding; implies a constructive conversation.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'ругать' directly corresponds to 'scold' in informal English contexts, but it's important to choose the right verb based on formality—use 'бранить' for more authoritative situations to avoid sounding too casual. Grammatically, these verbs are often followed by the accusative case (e.g., ругать кого-то for scolding someone). Be mindful of aspect: imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., выругать) for completed ones. When multiple translations exist, select based on context; 'выговаривать' is ideal for educational or professional settings.

Common Errors:

• Mistaking aspect: English learners often use the imperfective 'ругать' when a perfective form like 'выругать' is needed for a one-time event. Error: "Я ругаю его вчера" (Incorrect: implies ongoing). Correct: "Я выругал его вчера" (I scolded him yesterday).
• Overusing in formal writing: Beginners might use 'ругать' in essays where 'бранить' is more appropriate, making the text sound too colloquial. Error: Using 'ругать' in official reports; Correct: Opt for 'выговаривать' for precision.
• Ignoring case agreement: Forgetting the accusative case, e.g., "Я ругаю дом" instead of "Я ругаю дом за..." (though context-dependent). Correct usage ensures the object is properly inflected.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, scolding (e.g., via 'ругать') is often seen as a form of care in family settings, reflecting the value placed on direct communication and correction. However, in public or professional environments, excessive scolding can be viewed as rude, emphasizing the importance of context and tone in interpersonal relations.

Related Concepts:

• Укор (ukor - Reproach)
• Критика (kritika - Criticism)
• Наказание (nakazanie - Punishment)