Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tantrum'

English Word: tantrum

Key Russian Translations:

• Истерика [ˌɪs.tʲɪˈrʲi.kə] - [Informal, often used for emotional outbursts, especially in children]
• Каприз [ˈka.prʲɪz] - [Informal, typically for childish whims or minor tantrums]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about emotions, parenting, or psychology, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "гнев" (anger).)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of emotional expressions and basic noun declensions. For "Истерика," it may lean towards B2 due to its nuanced connotations, while "Каприз" is closer to B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Истерика: [ˌɪs.tʲɪˈrʲi.kə] (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft consonants 'тʲ' and 'рʲ', which can be challenging for English speakers due to Russian palatalization.)

Каприз: [ˈka.prʲɪz] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'рʲ' sound is softened, similar to a rolled 'r' with palatal influence.)

Note on Истерика: This word has a strong emotional weight; be cautious with the 'и' vowel, which sounds like a short 'i' in "bit." Variations in regional accents may soften the ending.

Note on Каприз: Pronounce the 'з' as a voiced 'z' sound, and avoid over-rolling the 'рʲ' to prevent it from sounding like a French 'r'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A sudden outburst of anger or frustration, often by a child

Translation(s) & Context:

• Истерика - Used in informal settings to describe intense emotional displays, such as crying or shouting in public; common in family or psychological contexts.
• Каприз - Applied in lighter, everyday situations, especially with children, to indicate a temporary mood swing or demand; less intense than "Истерика."

Usage Examples:

• Мой ребёнок устроил истерику в магазине, потому что я не купил ему игрушку.

  My child threw a tantrum in the store because I didn't buy him a toy. (This example shows "Истерика" in a familial context, highlighting emotional escalation.)

• Она закатила каприз, когда ей отказали в десерте, но быстро успокоилась.

  She had a tantrum when she was denied dessert, but quickly calmed down. (Here, "Каприз" illustrates a minor, fleeting outburst typical of children.)

• В офисе коллега устроил настоящую истерику из-за задержки зарплаты.

  In the office, my colleague threw a full tantrum because of the delayed salary. (This demonstrates "Истерика" in an adult, professional setting with emotional intensity.)

• Детские капризы иногда бывают милыми, но их нужно правильно управлять.

  Children's tantrums can sometimes be endearing, but they need to be managed properly. (This uses "Каприз" to discuss common parenting scenarios with a positive nuance.)

• После истерики подростка родители решили обратиться к психологу.

  After the teenager's tantrum, the parents decided to consult a psychologist. (This example extends "Истерика" to adolescent behavior, showing its use in more serious contexts.)

A metaphorical or exaggerated display of anger in adults

Translation(s) & Context:

• Истерика - In figurative contexts, such as arguments or public disputes, to emphasize dramatic behavior; avoid in formal writing.

Usage Examples:

• Политик устроил истерику на пресс-конференции, крича на журналистов.

  The politician threw a tantrum at the press conference, shouting at the journalists. (This highlights "Истерика" in a public, metaphorical sense.)

• Его истерика в соцсетях привлекла много внимания, но не решила проблему.

  His tantrum on social media drew a lot of attention but didn't solve the issue. (This shows "Истерика" in modern digital contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Истерика" and "Каприз" are feminine nouns in Russian, following standard declension patterns for first-declension nouns. They exhibit regular changes based on case, number, and gender.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregular forms. In plural, "Истерика" can imply multiple episodes, while "Каприз" often refers to various whims.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Срыв (sryv) - Sudden breakdown, similar to a tantrum but more general.
  • Взрыв гнева (vzryv gneva) - Explosion of anger, emphasizing intensity; often used interchangeably with "Истерика."
  • Капризы (kaprizy) - Whims, a plural form with a slightly playful connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • Спокойствие (spokoystvo) - Calmness, directly opposite in emotional state.
  • Сдержанность (sderzhannost') - Restraint, highlighting emotional control.

Related Phrases:

• Детская истерика - A child's tantrum; used in parenting contexts to describe typical behavior in young kids.
• Закатить истерику - To throw a fit; an idiomatic expression for starting a dramatic outburst.
• Каприз судьбы - A whim of fate; extends "Каприз" metaphorically to unpredictable life events.
• Приступ капризов - An attack of whims; refers to repeated minor tantrums, often in humorous settings.

Usage Notes:

"Tantrum" corresponds most closely to "Истерика" in emotional intensity, but "Каприз" is better for lighter, playful scenarios, especially with children. In Russian, these words are informal and should be avoided in formal writing or professional contexts; opt for "приступ гнева" (attack of anger) instead. Grammatically, both are feminine nouns, so they agree with feminine adjectives and verbs. When choosing between translations, use "Истерика" for severe cases and "Каприз" for minor ones to ensure natural expression.

• Common in spoken Russian but rare in literature.
• Be mindful of cultural nuances: Russians may view tantrums as signs of immaturity, influencing word choice in social settings.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "Истерика" with "Гистерика" (a misspelling), but the correct form is without the 'г'. For example:

• Error: Using "Истерика" in formal contexts, e.g., "В докладе он устроил истерику" (incorrect for professional settings).
  Correct: "В докладе он проявил раздражение" (He showed irritation).
  Explanation: "Истерика" is too informal; it can make the speaker sound unprofessional.
• Error: Overusing "Каприз" for adult behavior, e.g., "Он закатил каприз на работе" (implying childishness unnecessarily).
  Correct: "Он устроил истерику на работе."
  Explanation: Reserve "Каприз" for childlike whims to maintain accuracy and avoid understating the situation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, tantrums like "Истерика" are often associated with emotional expressiveness, which can be seen as a release of pent-up feelings in family dynamics. Historically, this ties into broader Slavic traditions of overt emotional display, contrasting with more reserved Western norms. However, in modern urban settings, such behavior is increasingly viewed as something to manage, especially in child-rearing, reflecting influences from Western psychology.

Related Concepts:

• Гнев (gnev) - Anger
• Раздражение (razdrazhenie) - Irritation
• Эмоциональный срыв (emotsional'nyy sryv) - Emotional breakdown
• Детская психология (detskaya psikhologiya) - Child psychology