Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'viperous'

English Word: viperous

Key Russian Translations:

• Ядовитый [jaˈdovʲɪtɨj] - [Formal; used for describing something poisonous or malicious, often in a literal or metaphorical sense]
• Коварный [kɐˈvarnɨj] - [Informal; implies deceitful or insidious behavior, suitable for interpersonal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literature, discussions on nature, and metaphorical language, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and contextual nuances; for "Ядовитый," it's straightforward, but "Коварный" may vary slightly in usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Ядовитый: [jaˈdovʲɪtɨj]

Note on Ядовитый: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'в' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in fast speech might soften the vowels.

Коварный: [kɐˈvarnɨj]

Note on Коварный: Pronounce with a soft 'р' and emphasis on the second syllable; this word often has a rolling 'р' in some dialects.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Poisonous or venomous, like a snake (Literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ядовитый - Used in scientific or natural contexts to describe actual toxins, e.g., in biology or chemistry.
• Коварный - Less common here, but could imply hidden danger in a metaphorical way.

Usage Examples:

• Эта змея ядовитая и может быть смертельно опасной в тропических лесах.

  This snake is viperous and can be deadly in tropical forests.

• Ядовитый укус насекомого вызвал сильную аллергическую реакцию.

  The viperous bite of the insect caused a severe allergic reaction.

• В лабораторных условиях ученые изучают ядовитые вещества, чтобы создать антидоты.

  In laboratory conditions, scientists study viperous substances to create antidotes.

• Коварный яд этой ядовитой лягушки используется в традиционной медицине.

  The viperous poison of this frog is used in traditional medicine.

• Ядовитый газ в воздухе сделал область непригодной для жизни.

  The viperous gas in the air made the area uninhabitable.

Meaning 2: Malicious or spiteful in behavior (Metaphorical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Коварный - Often used for people or actions that are deceitfully harmful, in social or literary contexts.
• Ядовитый - Applied metaphorically to describe bitter words or attitudes.

Usage Examples:

• Его коварные интриги разрушили дружбу между коллегами.

  His viperous intrigues destroyed the friendship between colleagues.

• Ядовитые замечания на собрании вызвали конфликт в команде.

  The viperous remarks at the meeting sparked conflict in the team.

• Коварный план политика был разоблачен журналистами.

  The viperous plan of the politician was exposed by journalists.

• Ее ядовитый юмор обижал друзей, хотя она не осознавала этого.

  Her viperous humor offended friends, though she didn't realize it.

• Коварные сплетни в офисе создали атмосферу недоверия.

  Viperous gossip in the office created an atmosphere of distrust.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Ядовитый" and "Коварный" are adjectives, which in Russian undergo regular inflection based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify.

These follow standard first-declension adjective patterns with no irregularities. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not change form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Ядовитый: Злобный (zlobnyy) - More intense, implying pure malice.
  • Коварный: Хитрый (khitryy) - Subtle difference; implies clever deception rather than outright harm.
• Antonyms:
  • Ядовитый: Безвредный (bezvrednyy) - Harmless, safe in contrast.
  • Коварный: Честный (chestnyy) - Honest, straightforward in opposition.

Related Phrases:

• Ядовитый укус - A viperous bite; refers to the sting or harm from something toxic.
• Коварный замысел - A viperous scheme; used for deceitful plans in narratives.
• Ядовитая атмосфера - A viperous atmosphere; describes a hostile environment, e.g., in social settings.

Usage Notes:

• "Ядовитый" directly corresponds to the literal "viperous" meaning, especially in nature-related contexts, while "Коварный" aligns more with metaphorical spitefulness. Choose based on context: use "Ядовитый" for physical danger and "Коварный" for psychological harm.
• In formal writing, these words are common in literature or scientific texts; in informal speech, they might sound dramatic, so opt for simpler alternatives like "опасный" (opasnvy) if needed.
• Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, as per Russian syntax rules.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Ядовитый" interchangeably with "Коварный" without context. Incorrect: "Его ядовитый план" when meaning deceit (should be "Коварный план"). Correct: "Коварный план" for sneaky schemes. Explanation: "Ядовитый" implies toxicity, not deception, leading to confusion in metaphorical uses.
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Ядовитый женщина" instead of "Ядовитая женщина." Incorrect: "Ядовитый женщина." Correct: "Ядовитая женщина." Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common mistake for English speakers used to invariant adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

Words like "Ядовитый" often evoke Russian folklore, where snakes and poisons symbolize betrayal or danger, as seen in tales like those of Baba Yaga. "Коварный" reflects cultural emphasis on interpersonal cunning in literature by authors like Dostoevsky, highlighting themes of deceit in society.

Related Concepts:

• Змеиный (zmeinyy) - Snake-like.
• Опасный (opasnvy) - Dangerous.
• Хитрый (khitryy) - Cunning.