Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scurrilous'

English Word: scurrilous

Key Russian Translations:

• Клеветнический [klʲɪˈvʲet.nʲɪ.tɕɪ.skʲɪj] - [Formal; used in legal or written contexts to denote slanderous or defamatory content]
• Похабный [pɐˈxap.nɨj] - [Informal; commonly used in everyday speech to describe vulgar, obscene, or crude language]
• Скандальный [skɐnˈdalʲ.nɨj] - [Neutral; applied when referring to scandalous or sensational claims, often in media or public discourse]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in literature, news, and discussions, but not as commonly as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and context, as per CEFR standards. For 'Клеветнический', it may lean towards B2 due to legal connotations, while 'Похабный' is more straightforward at B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Клеветнический: [klʲɪˈvʲet.nʲɪ.tɕɪ.skʲɪj] (Note the stress on the third syllable; the 'тч' combination can be tricky for English speakers, sounding like a soft 'ch'.)

Похабный: [pɐˈxap.nɨj] (Emphasize the 'х' as a guttural 'kh' sound, similar to Scottish 'loch'.)

Скандальный: [skɐnˈdalʲ.nɨj] (The 'лʲ' is a palatalized 'l', which softens the sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Defamatory or slanderous language, often involving false and damaging claims.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Клеветнический - Used in formal settings like courtrooms or journalism to describe statements that harm someone's reputation.
• Скандальный - Applied in media contexts for sensational or controversial content that stirs public outrage.

Usage Examples:

• Его речь была полна клеветнических заявлений, которые оскорбили репутацию компании.

  His speech was full of scurrilous statements that offended the company's reputation.

• В газете опубликовали похабный комментарий о политике, что вызвало общественный резонанс.

  The newspaper published a scurrilous comment about the politician, which sparked public controversy.

• Скандальный репортаж в интернете содержал необоснованные обвинения против известного актёра.

  The scurrilous report on the internet contained unfounded accusations against the famous actor.

• Она отказалась отвечать на похабные вопросы журналистов во время пресс-конференции.

  She refused to answer the scurrilous questions from journalists during the press conference.

• Клеветнический тон его письма сделал его неприемлемым для публикации.

  The scurrilous tone of his letter made it unacceptable for publication.

Meaning 2: Vulgar or obscene language, emphasizing crudeness rather than falsehood.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Похабный - Common in informal conversations to describe crude humor or explicit content.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм содержит похабные сцены, которые могут шокировать зрителей.

  This film contains scurrilous scenes that may shock viewers.

• Его похабные шутки на вечеринке заставили гостей почувствовать неловкость.

  His scurrilous jokes at the party made the guests feel uncomfortable.

• В интернете часто встречаются похабные комментарии под видео.

  Scurrilous comments are often found under videos on the internet.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('Клеветнический', 'Похабный', 'Скандальный') are adjectives, which follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are invariable in form for predicative use but change in attributive positions.

Note: These adjectives are regular and follow the first declension pattern. For predicative use (e.g., "Это клеветнически"), they remain unchanged.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Обвинительный (obvinitel'nyy) - More neutral, emphasizing accusatory tone.
  • Оскорбительный (oskorbitel'nyy) - Focuses on insulting aspects, often interchangeable with 'Похабный' in informal contexts.
  • Грязный (gryaznyy) - Implies dirtiness or baseness, with a subtle vulgar connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • Вежливый (vezhlivyy) - Polite and respectful.
  • Приличный (prilichnyy) - Decent or proper.
  • Объективный (ob"ektivnyy) - Objective and factual, contrasting with defamatory claims.

Related Phrases:

• Клеветнические заявления - Slanderous statements; often used in legal contexts to refer to false accusations.
• Похабный юмор - Vulgar humor; common in casual conversations about comedy or entertainment.
• Скандальный материал - Scandalous material; refers to sensational content in media that could be defamatory.

Usage Notes:

'Клеветнический' is the most precise match for the formal, legal sense of 'scurrilous', while 'Похабный' better captures the vulgar aspect. Use 'Скандальный' for public or media-related contexts. Be cautious with register: 'Похабный' is informal and may offend in professional settings. In Russian, these adjectives must agree grammatically with the noun they modify, which differs from English. When choosing among translations, opt for 'Клеветнический' in written or official English-to-Russian conversions to maintain accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Клеветнический' interchangeably with 'Похабный' without considering context. For example, a learner might say "похабный статья" (incorrect form) instead of "похабная статья". Correct: Ensure adjective agreement, e.g., "похабная статья" for feminine noun. Explanation: Russian adjectives decline based on gender and case, unlike English, so always check the noun's form.

• Error: Overusing 'Скандальный' for any negative comment, leading to exaggeration. For instance, saying "скандальный отзыв" for a mildly critical review. Correct: Reserve it for truly sensational cases. Explanation: This can dilute the word's impact and misrepresent the situation in Russian discourse.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'Клеветнический' often appear in discussions of media freedom and defamation laws, influenced by historical events such as Soviet-era censorship. 'Похабный' reflects a broader tolerance for explicit humor in informal settings, as seen in Russian comedy and literature, but it can carry stigma in conservative contexts.

Related Concepts:

• Сплетня (gossip)
• Обвинение (accusation)
• Репутация (reputation)