Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'turpitude'

English Word: turpitude

Key Russian Translations:

• пошлость [ˈpoʂləsʲtʲ] - [Formal; Literary context, often used to denote moral baseness or vulgarity]
• злонравие [zlənˈraviʲe] - [Formal; Legal or ethical discussions, emphasizing wickedness or moral depravity]
• порочность [pɐˈroʧnəsʲtʲ] - [Semi-formal; General contexts for inherent moral corruption]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations appear moderately in literary, legal, and philosophical texts but are not everyday vocabulary.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of abstract concepts and nuanced vocabulary; for злонравие and порочность, difficulty may vary slightly to C1 due to their specific contexts.

Pronunciation (Russian):

пошлость: [ˈpoʂləsʲtʲ]

злонравие: [zlənˈraviʲe]

порочность: [pɐˈroʧnəsʲtʲ]

Note on пошлость: The 'ш' sound is a soft, retroflex fricative, which can be challenging for non-native speakers; it softens in fast speech. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Moral depravity or wickedness (Primary meaning of 'turpitude')

Translation(s) & Context:

• пошлость - Used in formal or literary settings to describe actions or behaviors that reflect moral baseness, often in critiques of society or character.
• злонравие - Applied in legal or ethical contexts, such as discussions of crimes or personal flaws, to highlight deliberate moral corruption.
• порочность - Employed in general discussions of character defects, emphasizing an inherent flaw rather than a specific act.

Usage Examples:

• Его поступки полны пошлости, что делает его недостойным доверия.

  His actions are full of turpitude, making him unworthy of trust.

• В этом романе автор разоблачает злонравие главных героев через их тайные интриги.

  In this novel, the author exposes the turpitude of the main characters through their secret intrigues.

• Порочность его характера проявилась в мелких, но систематических обманах.

  The turpitude of his character was evident in his petty but systematic deceptions.

• Общество должно бороться с пошлостью, чтобы сохранить моральные ценности.

  Society must combat turpitude to preserve moral values.

• Злонравие политиков часто приводит к коррупции и потере общественного доверия.

  The turpitude of politicians often leads to corruption and loss of public trust.

Secondary meaning: Legal or ethical misconduct

Translation(s) & Context:

• злонравие - Common in legal contexts, such as court proceedings, to denote immoral behavior that violates ethical standards.
• порочность - Used in philosophical or everyday ethical discussions to describe flawed principles.

Usage Examples:

• Суд признал его виновным в злонравии, что повлекло за собой строгий приговор.

  The court found him guilty of turpitude, resulting in a severe sentence.

• Порочность системы образования становится очевидной при анализе коррупционных схем.

  The turpitude of the education system becomes evident when examining corrupt schemes.

• В контракте указано, что любое злонравие сотрудника приведёт к увольнению.

  The contract states that any turpitude by an employee will lead to dismissal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily nouns, which follow standard Russian declension patterns. Below is a table for each key translation, as they are all feminine nouns (for пошлость and порочность) or neuter (for злонравие in some contexts, but typically treated as a noun).

Plural forms are less common but follow standard patterns: e.g., пошлости (nominative plural for пошлость). These nouns do not change for gender but inflect regularly based on case and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • порок (porok) - Similar but more general, often implying a vice without the moral depth.
  • грех (greh) - Emphasizes sinfulness, with a religious connotation.
  • недостойность (nedostoynost') - Focuses on unworthiness, slightly less intense.
• Antonyms:
  • добродетель (dobrodetel) - Virtue or moral excellence.
  • честь (chest') - Honor, directly opposing moral baseness.

Related Phrases:

• Моральная пошлость - Moral turpitude; Used in ethical discussions to describe societal decay.
• Злонравие характера - Turpitude of character; Refers to inherent personality flaws.
• Порочность системы - Turpitude of the system; Common in critiques of institutions.

Usage Notes:

Turpitude translates to Russian words that emphasize moral or ethical flaws, but choose based on context: use "пошлость" for literary or cultural critiques, "злонравие" for legal scenarios, and "порочность" for general character assessments. Be mindful of formal register, as these are not casual terms. In Russian, they often pair with adjectives like "моральный" (moral) to clarify. English users should note that Russian lacks a direct one-to-one equivalent, so context guides selection.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "пошлость" with "пошлость" in a vulgar sense: Learners might misuse it for mere rudeness, but it's about deeper moral failure. Correct: Use in ethical contexts; Incorrect: "Его шутка полна пошлости" (if it's just a joke, not morally depraved) – instead, say "Его шутка вульгарна".

• Overusing in informal speech: These words are formal; Incorrect: In casual conversation, saying "Это злонравие" for a minor mistake; Correct: Reserve for serious discussions, e.g., "Это проявление злонравия".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "пошлость" carry echoes from literary figures such as Chekhov and Tolstoy, who critiqued societal hypocrisy. It often reflects a broader philosophical disdain for superficiality, rooted in 19th-century realism, helping users understand the word's connotation beyond mere "bad behavior."

Related Concepts:

• грех (sin)
• вина (guilt)
• мораль (morality)
• деградация (degradation)