Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Accuse'

English Word: accuse

Key Russian Translations:

• обвинять [ɐbˈvʲinʲatʲ] - [Formal, General Use]
• упрекать [ʊprʲɪˈkatʲ] - [Informal, Emotional Context]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "обвинять"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "упрекать" due to emotional nuance

Pronunciation (Russian):

обвинять: [ɐbˈvʲinʲatʲ]

Note on обвинять: Stress on the second syllable; the soft 'н' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

упрекать: [ʊprʲɪˈkatʲ]

Note on упрекать: Stress on the third syllable; the rolled 'р' requires practice.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To charge someone with a crime or wrongdoing (formal/legal context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обвинять - Used in formal or legal contexts, such as court proceedings or serious accusations.

Usage Examples:

• Его обвиняют в краже.

  He is accused of theft.

• Прокурор обвинил подсудимого в обмане.

  The prosecutor accused the defendant of fraud.

• Никто не может обвинять его без доказательств.

  No one can accuse him without evidence.

2. To blame or reproach someone (informal/emotional context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• упрекать - Used in personal or emotional contexts, often implying reproach or criticism.

Usage Examples:

• Она упрекала его за опоздание.

  She accused him of being late.

• Не упрекай меня в том, что я не сделал.

  Don’t accuse me of something I didn’t do.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обвинять (verb, imperfective): This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. It requires an object in the accusative case (кого/что) and often a prepositional phrase with "в" + prepositional case to indicate the reason for accusation.

упрекать (verb, imperfective): Similar to "обвинять," it follows regular first-conjugation patterns but is often used with a dative object (кому) to indicate the person being reproached.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for обвинять:

• винить
• осуждать

Note: "винить" is often softer and less formal than "обвинять," while "осуждать" implies moral judgment.

Antonyms for обвинять:

• оправдывать
• защищать

Related Phrases:

• обвинять в преступлении - to accuse of a crime
• упрекать в лени - to reproach for laziness
• бросать обвинения - to throw accusations

Usage Notes:

• "обвинять" is the primary translation for formal or legal accusations and should be used in serious contexts. It often requires the preposition "в" to specify the reason (e.g., "обвинять в краже" - accuse of theft).
• "упрекать" carries a more personal or emotional tone, often used in interpersonal conflicts. It can take a dative object to indicate the person being blamed.
• Be cautious about the aspect of the verb: "обвинять" is imperfective (ongoing or repeated action), while its perfective counterpart "обвинить" implies a completed accusation.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect preposition with "обвинять": English speakers often omit the preposition "в" or use the wrong case. Incorrect: *обвинять кражу* (should be "обвинять в краже").
• Confusing "обвинять" and "упрекать": Using "упрекать" in a legal context is inappropriate. Incorrect: *Суд упрекает подсудимого* (should be "Суд обвиняет подсудимого").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, direct accusations (using "обвинять") can be perceived as confrontational, especially in personal settings. It is often more polite to soften criticism or use indirect language unless the context is formal or legal. "упрекать" may carry a sense of emotional weight, often used between close individuals.

Related Concepts:

• вина (guilt)
• обвинение (accusation)
• упрёк (reproach)