Scumbag, bastard, sod. A highly common, derogatory noun historically derived from the verb сволакивать (“to drag together,” “to gather”), originally referring to garbage, debris, or a rabble of low-life people dragged into one place. In contemporary speech, it functions as a versatile insult for a despicable, untrustworthy, or malicious person. Depending on the intonation and context, it can range from a harsh expression of deep hatred to a mild, almost affectionate grumble among close friends (e.g., Ах ты, старая сволочь! — “You old sod!”).
Ты — последняя сволочь,
Скажу сразу, чтоб знала,
Предпоследняя может,
Шар земной не объять…
You’re the last scoundrel,
I’ll say it straight away so you know,
The second to last maybe,
The Earth can’t be embraced…
(С. Аксененко)
