???‹?‚????: whiner
As we head into the holiday season, the frozen mud and bare trees, pitch-black mornings — remind me again why staying in daylight time was such a good idea — and nonstop traffic jams might be making you a wee bit crabby. If you’re so grumpy that you’re working up to a full-blown Scrooge impersonation, here is a short guide to grumbling in Russian.
?–?°?»?????°?‚?????? (to complain). A neutral word for complaining of all kinds. A doctor might ask you: ???° ?‡?‚?? ?¶?°?»???µ?‚?µ????? (“What seems to be the problem?” or “Where does it hurt?”) Or your significant other might ask you: ???° ?‡?‚?? ?‚?‹ ?¶?°?»???µ????????? (literally, “what are you complaining about?”). This really means: “I’m working my fingers to the bone for you at a job I hate with an endless commute and putting up with your grandfather living with us — and you think you have something to complain about?” Only possible response: ?”?° ???µ?‚, ?????»?‹??. ?•????. (Of course not, dear. Have something to eat.)
???‹?‚?? (to ache, to whine). When the doc asks you what hurts, you might reply: ?????µ?‚ ?????????????†?°. (My lower back aches.) But if you keep nattering on about your aching back from long hours at the computer, your family might say: ?????°?‚???‚ ???‹?‚??! (Quit your bellyaching!) Or worse, they might start calling you a ???‹?‚???? (a whiner). ?????? ???µ?????????° — ???‹?‚????. ???? ?? ???µ???? ?????‘ ?±???»???‚, ?‚?? ???µ?€???†?µ ???‚???‡???‚, ?‚?? ?????»???? ?????·??????, ?‚?? ???‹??????????. (My grandfather is a whiner. Either he’s got aches all over, or his heart is pounding, or his pulse is too slow or too fast.) Only possible response: ???°?? ?¶?°?»??! ?•????. (I’m so sorry! Have something to eat.)
?‘?€???·?¶?°?‚?? (to grumble). Lovely onomatopoetic word that used to describe an annoying buzzing, as in: ?????…?? ?±?€???·?¶?°?‚. (Flies are buzzing around.) Describes grumbling, often muttered under the breath. ?”?µ?????????° ?¶?????‘?‚ ?? ???°??, ?????µ?? ???µ?????????»?µ??, ???????‚?????????? ?±?€???·?¶???‚. (My grandfather is living with us. He’s unhappy with everything and constantly grumbles.) Only possible response: ?”?µ??! ?????? ???° ?????…???? ?? ?????µ???? ?‡?‚??-?????±??????. (Grandpa! Go to the kitchen and have something to eat.)
?’???€?‡?°?‚?? (to whimper, whine). This is what dogs do when they want that sandwich you just made for Grandpa. Also said of querulous or peevish griping by humans, often uttered ?????? ?????? (literally “under his nose”) so that no one can make out the words. ?”?µ?? ???° ?????µ?… ?????€?‡???‚. ???µ?»???·?? ?€?°?·???±?€?°?‚??, ?‡?‚?? ???? ?????€?‡???‚ ???µ?±?µ ?????? ??????. (Grandpa grouses at everyone. You can’t hear what he’s muttering about.) Only possible response: ?”?µ??! ?§?°?? ?????‚????! ?????? ?? ???°???? ???µ?€?µ?????????‚??. (Grandpa! Tea is ready! Come have a bite to eat with us.)
?‘???…?‚?µ?‚?? (to whine). Same as ?????€?‡?°?‚??, only slangier. ?§?‚?? ???? ?‚?°?? ?±???…?‚???‚? (What is he griping about?) Only possible response: ?”?µ??! ???° — ???????€???±???? ?????€?????°. (Grandpa! Here — try some pie.)
?¤?‹?€???°?‚?? (to snort, snap, or sniff). ?¤?‹?€???°?‚?? is what horses do — blow air through their nose. It can be used to describe any snort or sniff of disdain. ?”?µ?? ?„?‹?€???°?» ???? ???????????? ?±?µ?????±???»?°, ???‡???‚?°?? ?µ???? ?°?±?????€?????‹?? ?·?°?????‚???µ??. (Grandpa snorted about baseball, which he thought was a ridiculous game.) It can also describe a short, ill-tempered outburst. ?????µ ???‚?‹??????, ???? ?????????° ???? ?????‘ ???€?µ???? ?????µ?‚, ?? ?„?‹?€???°?? ???° ???µ????. (I’m ashamed of myself, but when he grouses all the time I snap at him.)
Only possible response: ?????? ???° ?????…????. ?? ?‚?µ?±?µ ???°?»????. (Come into the kitchen, and let me pour you a drink.)
Michele A. Berdy, a Moscow-based translator and interpreter, is author of “The Russian Word’s Worth” (Glas), a collection of her columns.
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