Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'snivel'

English Word: snivel

Key Russian Translations:

• хныкать /xɨˈnɨkatʲ/ - [Informal, often used for whining or sniveling in everyday speech]
• шмыгать носом /ʂmɨˈɡatʲ ˈnosəm/ - [Informal, literal for sniffling or sniveling with a runny nose]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are not extremely common in everyday Russian but appear in informal narratives or literature describing emotional weakness.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 level, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and contextual nuances; for 'хныкать', the difficulty is slightly higher due to its imperfective aspect.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

хныкать: /xɨˈnɨkatʲ/ (The 'x' sound is a guttural fricative, similar to the Scottish 'ch' in 'loch'. Stress on the second syllable.)

шмыгать носом: /ʂmɨˈɡatʲ ˈnosəm/ (The 'ʂ' is a retroflex fricative, like 'sh' in 'shoe' but more emphatic. Stress on the first syllable of each word.)

Note on хныкать: Be careful with the initial 'x' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's softer in casual speech. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To cry or whine feebly, often with a connotation of weakness or annoyance (as a verb).

Translation(s) & Context:

• хныкать - Used in informal contexts to describe someone whining persistently, often in family or casual settings.
• шмыгать носом - Applied when sniveling involves physical symptoms like a runny nose, such as in cold weather or emotional distress.

Usage Examples:

• Дети часто хныкают, когда им не покупают игрушки.

  Children often snivel when they don't get the toys they want.

• Он шмыгает носом во время фильма, но старается не плакать.

  He snivels during the movie but tries not to cry outright.

• Не хныкай из-за мелких неудач; лучше попробуй снова.

  Don't snivel over minor setbacks; try again instead.

• Она хныкала целый вечер, жалуясь на работу.

  She sniveled all evening, complaining about work.

• Малыш шмыгает носом от холода, но не хочет надеть шарф.

  The toddler is sniveling from the cold but doesn't want to wear a scarf.

2. As a noun, referring to mucus or a sniveling sound (less common).

Translation(s) & Context:

• шмыг (from шмыгать носом) - Used metaphorically in informal speech for a sniveling sound or act.

Usage Examples:

• Его постоянный шмыг раздражал всех в комнате.

  His constant snivel was annoying everyone in the room.

• Шмыг от простуды может быть заразным.

  A snivel from a cold can be contagious.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'хныкать' (an imperfective verb), it follows standard first-conjugation patterns with irregularities in some forms. It is intransitive and changes based on tense, aspect, and person.

For 'шмыгать носом' (also a verb), it is similar but can be used as a phrase. As a noun derivative like 'шмыг', it is invariant and doesn't inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: рыдать (rydat' - more intense crying), плакать (plakat' - general crying; less whining-focused), скулить (skulit' - whimpering like a dog)
• Antonyms: смеяться (smeyat'sya - to laugh), ликовать (likovat' - to rejoice)

Related Phrases:

• хныкать и жаловаться - To snivel and complain (often used for persistent whining in daily life).
• шмыгать носом от обиды - To snivel from hurt feelings (implies emotional distress with physical symptoms).
• не хныкать, а действовать - Don't snivel, take action (a motivational phrase to encourage resilience).

Usage Notes:

'Хныкать' directly corresponds to the informal, derogatory sense of 'snivel' in English, emphasizing emotional weakness, and is best used in spoken Russian rather than formal writing. 'Шмыгать носом' is more literal and physical. Choose 'хныкать' for psychological contexts and 'шмыгать носом' for health-related ones. Be aware of aspect: 'хныкать' is imperfective, implying ongoing action, so pair it with contexts showing duration.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse 'хныкать' by confusing it with 'плакать', thinking they are identical. Error: Saying "Я плачу" when meaning "snivel" in a whining context. Correct: "Я хныкаю" – Explanation: 'Плакать' is neutral crying, while 'хныкать' adds a layer of complaint.
• Another error is incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "хныкаетс" instead of "хныкает". Correct form: Ensure proper endings based on person and tense, as shown in the inflections table.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'хныкать' often carries a negative connotation, linked to stereotypes of weakness or childishness, especially in literature like Chekhov's works. It reflects a cultural value of stoicism, where excessive sniveling is discouraged in favor of resilience, particularly in historical contexts like wartime stories.

Related Concepts:

• плакса (plaksa - crybaby)
• жаловаться (zhalovat'sya - to complain)
• скулить (skulit' - to whimper)