сердиться vs злиться
serdít'sya vs zlít'sya — be cross/annoyed vs be angry
Register: neutral
What it really means
Сердиться means to be cross or mildly annoyed, often with на + accusative for the person concerned. Злиться expresses stronger anger and can suggest real irritation or hostility.
Examples in natural speech
Не сердись на меня.
Do not be cross with me.
Он злится из-за задержки.
He is angry about the delay.
Мама сердится, когда я опаздываю.
Mum gets annoyed when I am late.
Я не злюсь, просто устал.
I am not angry; I am just tired.
Она сердится недолго.
She is not cross for long.
Common mistakes
Do not treat the verbs as identical in tone. Сердиться suits ordinary, often temporary displeasure; злиться can sound sharper. Saying Не злись may imply that the listener is genuinely angry, while Не сердись can soften a minor quarrel.
Memory tip
A сердиться face is a frown over a small offence; злиться is the heat behind the frown when patience has run out.
Frequently asked questions
What preposition is used with the person I am cross with?
Use на + accusative: сердиться на брата, злиться на коллегу. For a cause, из-за + genitive is common: злиться из-за задержки.
Can злиться be used about oneself?
Yes. Я злюсь на себя means “I am angry with myself.” Сердиться на себя is also possible but usually sounds less intense.
Is сердиться always mild?
No. Context and intonation can make it serious, but its default everyday tone is less forceful than злиться.
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