Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wayward'

English Word: wayward

Key Russian Translations:

• непослушный [nʲɪ.pɐˈsluʂ.nɨj] - [Informal, often used for children or animals]
• упрямый [ʊˈpram.ɨj] - [Formal, implying stubbornness in adults or general behavior]
• своевольный [svʲɪ.ɐˈvolʲ.nɨj] - [Formal, emphasizing self-willed or independent actions]

Frequency: Medium - These terms appear regularly in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and media, but are not as common as basic vocabulary like "хороший" (good).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level should grasp these words with some practice, as they involve understanding nuances of behavior and context. For "непослушный," it's slightly easier (A2 for basic usage), while "упрямый" and "своевольный" may reach B2 due to their formal connotations.

Pronunciation (Russian):

непослушный: [nʲɪ.pɐˈsluʂ.nɨj]

Note on непослушный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("slu"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'n' sound. Pronounce it with a soft, rolling 'r' for authenticity.

упрямый: [ʊˈpram.ɨj]

Note on упрямый: The initial 'у' is a back vowel, similar to "oo" in "book," and the word has a hard stress on the second syllable. Avoid softening the 'р' sound.

своевольный: [svʲɪ.ɐˈvolʲ.nɨj]

Note on своевольный: Pay attention to the palatalized 'в' in "свʲе," which adds a soft 'y' glide; this is a common challenge for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Difficult to control or predict in behavior, often implying rebellion or unpredictability.

Translation(s) & Context:

• непослушный - Typically used in informal contexts for children, animals, or everyday situations involving disobedience.
• упрямый - Applied in more formal or serious contexts, such as describing persistent resistance in adults or decision-making.
• своевольный - Used for self-directed actions in literary or philosophical discussions, often with a negative connotation of recklessness.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Мой подросток непослушный и часто игнорирует правила дома.

  English translation: My teenager is wayward and often ignores the house rules.

• Русский пример: Она упрямая женщина, которая всегда следует своим путём, несмотря на советы.

  English translation: She is a wayward woman who always follows her own path, despite advice.

• Русский пример: В старой сказке герой был своевольным путником, блуждающим по лесам без плана.

  English translation: In the old tale, the hero was a wayward traveler, wandering through the forests without a plan.

• Русский пример: Непослушные дети в классе заставляют учителя нервничать.

  English translation: Wayward children in the class make the teacher nervous.

• Русский пример: Его упрямый характер привёл к конфликтам на работе.

  English translation: His wayward nature led to conflicts at work.

Meaning 2: Deviating from the expected path, such as in direction or course.

Translation(s) & Context:

• своевольный - Often used metaphorically for paths or journeys that veer off course.
• непослушный - Less common in this sense, but can apply to inanimate objects like a "wayward wind."

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Ветер был своевольным, и лодка снесло в открытое море.

  English translation: The wind was wayward, and the boat was carried out to the open sea.

• Русский пример: Этот своевольный ручей петляет через весь лес, игнорируя прямые пути.

  English translation: This wayward stream meanders through the entire forest, ignoring straight paths.

• Русский пример: Непослушная река часто выходит из берегов во время дождей.

  English translation: The wayward river often overflows its banks during rains.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjective patterns with some irregularities in spelling due to palatalization.

Note: These adjectives do not change in short form usage (e.g., in predicates), but always agree with the noun they modify. They are regular in most cases but may soften consonants in certain forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: капризный (kapriznыy) - More whimsical; своенравный (svoenravnыy) - Similar to упрямый but with a sense of innate temperament; бунтарский (buntarskij) - Rebellious, often in a group context.
• Antonyms: послушный (poslushnыy); покорный (pokornыy); сговорчивый (sgovorchivыy).

Related Phrases:

• непослушный ребенок - A wayward child (Refers to a disobedient kid in family or educational settings).
• упрямый как осёл - As wayward as a donkey (A idiomatic expression comparing stubbornness to a mule, often used humorously).
• своевольный путь - A wayward path (Describes an unpredictable journey or life choice, common in literature).

Usage Notes:

"Wayward" corresponds most closely to "непослушный" in informal, everyday English-Russian translation, especially for behavioral contexts, but "упрямый" is better for persistent defiance. Be mindful of context: "своевольный" is rarely used in casual speech and is more suited to formal or written Russian. In grammar, these adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case, which differs from English. When choosing among translations, opt for "непослушный" for children or animals, and "упрямый" for adults to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "непослушный" in formal contexts, e.g., saying "непослушный сотрудник" for a professional setting. Correct: Use "упрямый сотрудник" instead, as it conveys maturity. Explanation: "Непослушный" implies childish disobedience, which can sound condescending.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "непослушный женщина" (incorrect). Correct: "Непослушная женщина." Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this is a common oversight for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.
• Mistake: Overusing "своевольный" as a direct synonym, e.g., translating "wayward wind" as "своевольный ветер." Correct: Stick with "непослушный ветер" for naturalness. Explanation: "Своевольный" has a more abstract, willful connotation and may not fit literal descriptions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "упрямый" often carry a romanticized connotation in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy), portraying wayward characters as symbols of individualism against societal norms. However, in daily life, such traits are frequently viewed negatively, especially in hierarchical settings like families or the military, reflecting Russia's collectivist traditions.

Related Concepts:

• бунтарь
• свободолюбивый
• неуправляемый