Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'avow'

English Word: avow

Key Russian Translations:

• признать [prɪzˈnatʲ] - [Formal, used in official or legal contexts]
• заявить [zɐˈjavʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, often in everyday declarations]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing and speech, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "сказать")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugation and formal language; for 'признать', it's B1; for 'заявить', it's A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

признать: [prɪzˈnatʲ]

заявить: [zɐˈjavʲɪtʲ]

Note on признать: The stress falls on the second syllable, and the final 'тʲ' sound is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers—similar to the 't' in 'nature'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: To openly declare, affirm, or acknowledge something, often with conviction.

Translation(s) & Context:

• признать - Used in formal contexts, such as legal confessions or public statements.
• заявить - Applied in informal or assertive everyday situations, like making a bold claim.

Usage Examples:

• Я признаю свою ошибку в публичном заявлении. (Ya priznayu svoyu oshibku v publichnom zayavlenii.)

  I avow my mistake in a public statement. (This example shows formal acknowledgment in a professional setting.)

• Он заявил о своей лояльности во время встречи. (On zayavil o svoyey loyalnosti vo vremya vstrechi.)

  He avowed his loyalty during the meeting. (Illustrates informal usage in interpersonal contexts.)

• Мы признаем важность этого решения для будущего. (My priznayem vazhnost' etogo resheniya dlya budushchego.)

  We avow the importance of this decision for the future. (Demonstrates plural subject and forward-looking context.)

• Она заявила о своих правах на собрании. (Ona zayavila o svoyikh pravaikh na sobranii.)

  She avowed her rights at the assembly. (Shows usage in advocacy or rights-related scenarios.)

• В суде он признал факт преступления. (V sude on priznat fakt prestupleniya.)

  In court, he avowed the fact of the crime. (Highlights legal or judicial application.)

Secondary meaning: To confess or admit fault, often with sincerity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• признать - Preferred in contexts involving remorse or accountability.

Usage Examples:

• Я признаю, что был не прав в споре. (Ya priznayu, chto byl ne prav v spore.)

  I avow that I was wrong in the argument. (Emphasizes personal confession.)

• Она признала свою вину перед друзьями. (Ona priznala svoyu vinu pered druz'yami.)

  She avowed her guilt in front of friends. (Shows social or relational context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'признать' and 'заявить' are verbs in Russian, which means they undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; 'признать' is perfective, indicating a completed action, while 'заявить' can be used in both aspects depending on context.

For 'признать' (perfective of 'признавать'):

For 'заявить' (perfective):

These verbs are irregular in some aspects but follow standard patterns. Note: In negative forms, add 'не' before the verb, e.g., 'не признать'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: утверждать (utverzhdat' - to assert, with a nuance of confirmation), декларировать (deklaruirovat' - to declare formally)
• Antonyms: отрицать (otrtsat' - to deny), скрывать (skryvat' - to conceal, often used when avoiding declaration)

Related Phrases:

• Признать вину (Prizonat vinu) - To avow guilt; used in legal or personal accountability contexts.
• Заявить о намерениях (Zayavit o namereniyakh) - To avow intentions; common in business or planning discussions, implying a bold statement.
• Признать правоту (Prizonat pravotu) - To avow correctness; often in debates, emphasizing agreement.

Usage Notes:

'Avow' corresponds closely to 'признать' in formal English-Russian translation, but 'заявить' is better for assertive, everyday use. Be mindful of context: 'признать' implies a completed action and is ideal for confessions, while 'заявить' suits proactive declarations. In Russian, these verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, and they often require prepositions like 'о' (about) for topics. When choosing between translations, opt for 'признать' in written or official scenarios to match the bold, open nature of 'avow'.

• Grammar note: Always conjugate based on tense; perfective aspect (like in 'признать') is used for finished actions.
• Register tip: Avoid 'заявить' in highly formal settings, as it can sound less polished than 'признать'.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse 'признать' by treating it as imperfective, leading to incorrect tense usage. For example:

• Error: *Я признает свою вину (incorrect conjugation; should be 'признаю').
• Correct: Я признаю свою вину. (Explanation: Verbs must match the subject; 'признает' is for third person.)
• Another error: Confusing with 'заявить' in formal contexts, e.g., *Я заявит о факте (wrong form; should be 'заявлю' for future). Correct: Я заявлю о факте. (This highlights the need for proper aspect and tense alignment.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, openly 'avowing' something like guilt or loyalty ('признать вину') is often tied to concepts of honor and transparency, influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era confessions. However, in modern Russia, such declarations can carry undertones of vulnerability, as public admissions are less common in individualistic settings compared to collective traditions.

Related Concepts:

• утверждать (utverzhdat' - to assert)
• отвергать (otvergat' - to reject)
• декларировать (deklaruirovat' - to declare)