Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vile'

English Word: vile

Key Russian Translations:

• Гадкий [ˈɡatkʲɪj] - [Informal, Adjective, Often used in everyday contexts to describe something unpleasant or morally repulsive]
• Подлый [ˈpodlɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used for actions or people that are treacherous or deceitful]
• Мерзкий [ˈmʲɛrskʲɪj] - [Informal, Adjective, Commonly applied to things that are disgusting or vile in a sensory or ethical sense]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in literature, media, and conversation, but not as common as everyday terms like "bad".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the nuances with some practice, as it involves understanding adjectives and their contextual applications, though variations in formality may pose challenges.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Гадкий: [ˈɡatkʲɪj]

Подлый: [ˈpodlɨj]

Мерзкий: [ˈmʲɛrskʲɪj]

Note on Гадкий: The stress is on the first syllable; be mindful of the soft 'к' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on Подлый: Pronounce the 'o' as a neutral vowel; this word has a harder 'л' sound, differing from softer variants in other words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Morally repulsive or wicked (e.g., describing a person's character or actions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Подлый - Used in formal or serious contexts, such as legal or ethical discussions, to emphasize betrayal or underhanded behavior.
• Гадкий - Applied in informal settings, like casual conversations about people or situations that are untrustworthy.

Usage Examples:

• Он подлый человек, который всегда предаёт друзей. (He is a vile person who always betrays his friends.)

  English Translation: He is a vile person who always betrays his friends. (This example shows the word in a narrative context, highlighting moral betrayal.)

• Её гадкие поступки шокировали всех в офисе. (Her vile actions shocked everyone in the office.)

  English Translation: Her vile actions shocked everyone in the office. (Demonstrates informal usage in a workplace scenario, with plural actions.)

• Подлый план был раскрыт полицией. (The vile plan was uncovered by the police.)

  English Translation: The vile plan was uncovered by the police. (Illustrates formal usage in a crime-related context.)

• Гадкий обман привёл к потере доверия. (The vile deception led to a loss of trust.)

  English Translation: The vile deception led to a loss of trust. (Shows the word in an emotional, interpersonal context.)

Meaning 2: Physically disgusting or repulsive (e.g., describing something unclean or offensive to the senses)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Мерзкий - Often used in everyday language for sensory experiences, like smells or tastes, in informal or neutral contexts.
• Гадкий - Can overlap here, but more focused on aesthetic or moral disgust in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Мерзкий запах заполнил комнату. (The vile smell filled the room.)

  English Translation: The vile smell filled the room. (This example highlights sensory disgust in a descriptive setting.)

• Гадкий вкус еды заставил меня отказаться от ужина. (The vile taste of the food made me refuse dinner.)

  English Translation: The vile taste of the food made me refuse dinner. (Demonstrates usage in a personal, everyday context.)

• Мерзкий вид улицы после дождя отпугивал прохожих. (The vile sight of the street after the rain deterred passersby.)

  English Translation: The vile sight of the street after the rain deterred passersby. (Shows the word in an environmental description.)

• Её гадкий внешний вид был результатом neglect. (Her vile appearance was the result of neglect.)

  English Translation: Her vile appearance was the result of neglect. (Illustrates physical description with a moral undertone.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations (Гадкий, Подлый, Мерзкий) are adjectives in Russian, which typically follow patterns of agreement in gender, number, and case. They are regular adjectives and inflect based on the noun they modify.

These adjectives do not have irregular forms; they follow standard Russian adjective declension rules. For unchangeable contexts (e.g., in fixed phrases), they remain in their base form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Пакостный (pakostnyj) - Similar to Гадкий, but often implies mischief or harm with a lighter connotation.
  • Отвратительный (otravitelʹnyj) - Overlaps with Мерзкий, emphasizing strong disgust.
  • Зловещий (zloveshchij) - Synonymous with Подлый in contexts of evil or ominous intent, but more dramatic.
• Antonyms:
  • Благородный (blagorodnyj) - The opposite of Подлый, meaning noble or honorable.
  • Привлекательный (privlekatelʹnyj) - Contrasts with Гадкий or Мерзкий, meaning attractive or appealing.

Related Phrases:

• Подлый трюк (podlyj triuk) - A vile trick; used in contexts of deception or betrayal.
• Гадкий утёнок (gadkij utyonok) - The ugly duckling; a common idiom referring to something or someone that appears vile at first but improves.
• Мерзкая погода (merzskaya pogoda) - Vile weather; describes unpleasant environmental conditions with a sensory twist.

Usage Notes:

"Vile" in English often carries a strong moral judgment, which aligns closely with Russian translations like Подлый for ethical contexts or Мерзкий for sensory ones. Choose Гадкий for informal, everyday speech to avoid sounding overly formal. Be cautious with gender and case agreements, as Russian adjectives must match the nouns they describe—e.g., use Гадкая for feminine nouns. In professional or written Russian, Подлый is preferred for its precision in describing deceit.

• Limit Мерзкий to physical or immediate disgust to prevent overuse in moral discussions.
• When translating from English, consider the context: "vile weather" might best use Мерзкий, while "vile behavior" suits Подлый.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse these adjectives by not adjusting for gender, number, or case. For example, they might say "Гадкий женщина" (incorrect) instead of "Гадкая женщина" (correct, for a feminine noun). Another error is overgeneralizing Подлый to mean any form of bad behavior, when it specifically implies treachery—contrast with using Гадкий for general unpleasantness. Correct usage: Instead of "Он подлый" for a mildly rude person, say "Он гадкий" to avoid exaggeration.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like Подлый often evoke themes from literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where moral vileness is explored in depth. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on personal integrity and the consequences of deceit, making such terms more poignant in interpersonal relationships.

Related Concepts:

• Злобный (zlobnyj)
• Презренный (prezrennyj)
• Отталкивающий (ottalkivayushchij)