Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stingy'

English Word: stingy

Key Russian Translations:

• скупой [ˈskupəj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• жадный [ˈʐadnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations and literature, but not as frequent as basic adjectives).

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; suitable for beginners with basic vocabulary, as the words follow standard adjective patterns).

Pronunciation (Russian):

скупой: [ˈskupəj]

жадный: [ˈʐadnɨj]

Note on скупой: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the 'у' sound, which is a short vowel similar to 'oo' in "book".

Note on жадный: The 'ж' is a voiced fricative like 's' in "measure"; pronounce with a soft, buzzing quality.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Describing someone who is unwilling to spend money or share resources.

Translation(s) & Context:

• скупой - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as describing financial habits in writing or serious discussions.
• жадный - Applied in informal settings, often with a stronger negative connotation, like in casual conversations about greed.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой скупой, что никогда не делится едой с друзьями.

  He is so stingy that he never shares food with his friends.

• Моя тётя жадная до денег и редко дарит подарки.

  My aunt is stingy with money and rarely gives gifts.

• В этой компании老板 скупой на премии, поэтому сотрудники недовольны.

  In this company, the boss is stingy with bonuses, so the employees are unhappy.

• Не будь жадным, раздели конфеты с детьми.

  Don't be stingy; share the candies with the children.

• Скупой человек часто остаётся одиноким из-за своей скупости.

  A stingy person often ends up lonely because of their stinginess.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "скупой" and "жадный" are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. They follow the standard first-declension adjective pattern, with no irregularities.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form usage, which is common in predicates (e.g., "Он скуп" meaning "He is stingy").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • жмот - More colloquial, implying extreme stinginess.
  • сберегательный - Neutral, often used in financial contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • щедрый - Generous, commonly used in positive contexts.
  • богатый - Wealthy, but not directly opposite in behavior.

Related Phrases:

• скупиться на расходы - To be stingy with expenses; used when someone avoids spending money unnecessarily.
• жадный до денег - Greedy for money; implies an obsessive stinginess towards finances.
• быть скупым как скряга - To be as stingy as a miser; a proverbial expression for extreme frugality.

Usage Notes:

• "Скупой" is a more neutral and formal equivalent to "stingy" in English, often used without strong emotional undertones, whereas "жадный" carries a pejorative connotation similar to "greedy" or "miserly."
• In Russian, these words are context-dependent: use "скупой" in professional or written settings, and "жадный" in everyday speech to emphasize selfishness.
• Grammatically, always agree the adjective with the noun in gender, number, and case, as shown in the inflections table.
• When choosing between translations, opt for "жадный" if the context involves moral judgment, but "скупой" for straightforward descriptions of thriftiness.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "скупой" with "скромный" (modest), thinking it means being humble rather than stingy. Correct usage: "Он скупой" (He is stingy) vs. Error: "Он скромный" (He is modest).
• Another mistake is failing to inflect the adjective properly, e.g., saying "скупой женщина" instead of "скупая женщина" (stingy woman). Always match gender and case for grammatical accuracy.
• Overusing "жадный" in formal contexts, which can sound too harsh; instead, use "скупой" in professional settings to avoid offense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "скупой" or "жадный" is often viewed negatively, reflecting poorly on one's character, as generosity is highly valued in social interactions. This stems from historical influences like communal living in rural communities, where sharing resources was essential for survival.

Related Concepts:

• богатство (wealth)
• щедрость (generosity)
• экономия (economy or saving)