Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'supercilious'

English Word: supercilious

Key Russian Translations:

• надменный [nɐdˈmʲenːɨj] - [Formal]
• высокомерный [vɨsəkɐˈmʲernɨj] - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (These words are commonly encountered in literary, formal, or intellectual contexts but not in everyday casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced adjectives and their inflections, suitable for upper-intermediate learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

надменный: [nɐdˈmʲenːɨj]

Note on надменный: The stress falls on the second syllable; the 'мʲ' indicates a palatalized 'm', which can be tricky for English speakers used to non-palatalized consonants.

высокомерный: [vɨsəkɐˈmʲernɨj]

Note on высокомерный: Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the 'ы' sound, which is a central vowel not directly equivalent in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Arrogant or disdainful behavior, often implying a sense of superiority over others.

Translation(s) & Context:

• надменный - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone exhibiting haughty or condescending attitudes.
• высокомерный - Applied in similar contexts, emphasizing a more overt sense of superiority, often in social or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Его надменный взгляд ясно показывал, что он считает себя выше остальных.

  His supercilious gaze clearly showed that he considered himself above the others.

• В обществе она всегда была высокомерной, избегая простых разговоров.

  In society, she was always supercilious, avoiding simple conversations.

• Надменный тон его речи отпугивал собеседников.

  The supercilious tone of his speech repelled his interlocutors.

• Высокомерный менеджер отказался обсуждать идеи подчиненных.

  The supercilious manager refused to discuss his subordinates' ideas.

• Её надменное поведение на вечере шокировало гостей.

  Her supercilious behavior at the party shocked the guests.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "надменный" and "высокомерный" are adjectives, which follow standard Russian adjective inflections. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They have short and long forms, but the long form is more common in modern usage.

These adjectives do not have suppletive forms and change predictably across cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • горделивый (gordelivyy) - Emphasizes prideful arrogance, often with a sense of self-satisfaction.
  • спесивый (spesivyy) - Similar to supercilious but with a connotation of boastfulness in informal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • скромный (skromnyy)
  • смиренный (smirennyy)

Related Phrases:

• надменная улыбка - A supercilious smile; used to describe a smug or condescending facial expression.
• высокомерный тон - A supercilious tone; refers to speech that conveys superiority in conversations.
• надменное отношение - Supercilious attitude; a common phrase for describing arrogant behavior in social dynamics.

Usage Notes:

"Надменный" and "высокомерный" are precise equivalents for "supercilious" in Russian, but "надменный" is often preferred in literary or formal writing for its subtlety, while "высокомерный" is more direct in everyday professional contexts. Both are formal and should be avoided in casual speech to prevent sounding overly dramatic. When translating, consider the context: if the English word implies intellectual snobbery, "надменный" fits best. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case, so always check the surrounding sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "надменный" interchangeably with "гордый" (proud), assuming they mean the same thing. Correct usage: "Гордый" can be positive (e.g., national pride), while "надменный" is always negative. Example of error: "Он гордый лидер" (intended as supercilious, but it might not convey disdain). Correct: "Он надменный лидер" – This ensures the negative connotation is clear.

• Error: Failing to inflect the adjective properly, e.g., using "надменный" with a feminine noun without changing to "надменная." Correct: In a sentence like "Она была supercilious," say "Она была надменной" to match the feminine gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "надменный" often carry echoes of historical class distinctions, such as those in 19th-century literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky), where aristocratic characters display supercilious behavior. This can reflect societal critiques of elitism, helping users understand the word's deeper connotations in Russian media and history.

Related Concepts:

• гордость (pride)
• спесь (haughtiness)
• высокомерие (superciliousness)