Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'avowal'

English Word: avowal

Key Russian Translations:

• признание [prʲɪzˈnanʲɪjə] - [Formal, used in legal or serious contexts]
• обещание [ɐbʲɪˈʂːanʲɪjə] - [Formal, when implying a promise or commitment]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing, legal documents, and discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

признание: [prʲɪzˈnanʲɪjə]

обещание: [ɐbʲɪˈʂːanʲɪjə]

Note on признание: The stress is on the third syllable ('na'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'r' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A formal statement or declaration of truth, often in a legal or personal context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• признание - Used in formal settings, such as courtrooms or confessions, to denote an admission of fact.
• обещание - Applied when the avowal involves a promise, like in vows or commitments.

Usage Examples:

• Его признание вины шокировало всех в зале суда. (His avowal of guilt shocked everyone in the courtroom.)

  English Translation: His avowal of guilt shocked everyone in the courtroom.

• В письме она сделала обещание вернуться к семье. (In the letter, she made an avowal to return to her family.)

  English Translation: In the letter, she made an avowal to return to her family.

• Политическое признание лидером страны было встречено аплодисментами. (The political leader's avowal was met with applause.)

  English Translation: The political leader's avowal was met with applause.

• Его публичное обещание изменить политику вызвало дебаты. (His public avowal to change the policy sparked debates.)

  English Translation: His public avowal to change the policy sparked debates.

• Признание в любви на церемонии было трогательным моментом. (The avowal of love at the ceremony was a touching moment.)

  English Translation: The avowal of love at the ceremony was a touching moment.

2. An acknowledgment of one's beliefs or intentions, often publicly.

Translation(s) & Context:

• признание - In contexts like testimonials or public speeches, emphasizing openness.
• обещание - When it involves future commitments, such as in oaths.

Usage Examples:

• Её признание в вере вдохновило многих последователей. (Her avowal of faith inspired many followers.)

  English Translation: Her avowal of faith inspired many followers.

• Обещание улучшить образование было ключевым в его речи. (His avowal to improve education was key in his speech.)

  English Translation: His avowal to improve education was key in his speech.

• Признание ошибок помогает в личностном росте. (Avowal of mistakes aids in personal growth.)

  English Translation: Avowal of mistakes aids in personal growth.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns and follow standard Russian inflection patterns for third-declension nouns.

For признание (neuter noun):

For обещание (neuter noun): It follows a similar pattern with no irregularities.

These nouns do not change in gender and are invariant in form across most contexts, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • заявление (zayavlenie) - More general statement, often official.
  • декларация (deklaratsiya) - Formal declaration, with a legal connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • отрицание (otritsanije) - Denial or refusal to admit.
  • сокрытие (sokrytie) - Concealment or hiding of truth.

Related Phrases:

• Признание вины (Priznanie viny) - Confession of guilt; used in legal contexts to mean admitting a crime.
• Публичное обещание (Publichnoye obeshchaniye) - Public avowal; refers to promises made openly, such as in politics.
• Клятвенное признание (Klyatvennoye priznaniye) - Solemn avowal; a formal oath or pledge.

Usage Notes:

Avowal in English often implies a sincere and public declaration, which aligns closely with "признание" in Russian for factual admissions or "обещание" for commitments. Use "признание" in formal or legal scenarios to match the gravity of avowal, while "обещание" is better for promises. Be mindful of Russian's case system; for example, in sentences like "He made an avowal," you might use the genitive case for possession. English learners should note that Russian equivalents can vary by context, so choose based on whether the avowal is about truth-telling or future action.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "признание" with "обвинение" (obvineniye, accusation): Learners might misuse it to mean blaming someone. Correct usage: Say "Его признание было честным" (His avowal was honest) instead of "Его обвинение было честным" (His accusation was honest). The error stems from similar-sounding roots, but "признание" is about admitting, not accusing.
• Neglecting case inflections: For instance, using nominative "признание" in all contexts, like "Я думаю о признание" (incorrect; should be "признании" in prepositional case). Correct: "Я думаю о признании" – This highlights the need to adjust for grammatical roles.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, an avowal like "признание" often carries a weight of honesty and vulnerability, as seen in literature (e.g., in Dostoevsky's works, where confessions reveal deep psychological truths). It can symbolize redemption or moral integrity, contrasting with Western individualism by emphasizing communal or state acknowledgment in legal settings.

Related Concepts:

• исповедь (ispoved')
• клятва (klyatva)
• декларация (deklaratsiya)