Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'believable'

English Word: believable

Key Russian Translations:

• убедительный [ʊˈbʲedʲɪtʲelʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• правдоподобный [prɐvdəpəˈdobnɨj] - [Informal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions and nuanced vocabulary, per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

убедительный: [ʊˈbʲedʲɪtʲelʲnɨj]

Note on убедительный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ди"). Be cautious with the soft consonants, as they can affect clarity in fast speech.

правдоподобный: [prɐvdəpəˈdobnɨj]

Note on правдоподобный: The word has a rolling 'r' and a soft 'д', which might be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Capable of being believed; plausible or convincing in nature.

Translation(s) & Context:

• убедительный - Used in formal contexts, such as debates, storytelling, or legal discussions, to describe something that persuades or seems credible.
• правдоподобный - Applied in informal or narrative settings, like casual conversations or fiction, to indicate something that appears realistic or likely.

Usage Examples:

• Эта история убедительная и заставляет задуматься. (Eta istoriya ubeditel'naya i zastavlyaet zadumatsya.)

  This story is believable and makes you think. (Demonstrates use in a narrative context with an adjective modifying a noun.)

• Его объяснение было правдоподобным, но я всё равно сомневался. (Yego ob'yasneniye bylo pravdopodobnym, no ya vsyo ravno somnevalsya.)

  His explanation was believable, but I still doubted it. (Shows informal usage in a personal anecdote, highlighting doubt.)

• В фильме главный герой рассказывает убедительную легенду о прошлом. (V fil'me glavnый geroy rasskazyvayet ubeditel'nuyu legendu o proshlom.)

  In the movie, the main character tells a believable legend about the past. (Illustrates adjective in a cultural or entertainment context.)

• Правдоподобный сценарий помог сделать книгу более увлекательной. (Pravdopodobnyy stsenariy pomog sdelat' knigu boleye uvlekatel'noy.)

  The believable scenario helped make the book more engaging. (Emphasizes use in creative writing or analysis.)

• Её улыбка была убедительной, но глаза выдавали ложь. (Yeyo ulыbka byla ubeditel'noy, no glaza vydavali lozh'.)

  Her smile was believable, but her eyes gave away the lie. (Demonstrates contrast in emotional or deceptive contexts.)

Meaning 2: Something that is credible or not exaggerated.

Translation(s) & Context:

• убедительный - In professional or academic settings, to describe evidence or arguments that hold up under scrutiny.
• правдоподобный - In everyday speech, for stories or excuses that seem reasonable without being overly dramatic.

Usage Examples:

• Учёные предоставили убедительные доказательства изменения климата. (Uchenyye predostavili ubeditel'nyye dokazatel'stva izmeneniya klimata.)

  Scientists provided believable evidence of climate change. (Shows formal, scientific usage.)

• Его alibi звучало правдоподобно, но полиция проверила детали. (Yego alibi zvuchalo pravdopodobno, no politsiya proyerila detali.)

  His alibi sounded believable, but the police checked the details. (Illustrates informal legal or investigative context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "убедительный" and "правдоподобный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most cases, but they can be irregular in certain forms. Below is a table outlining the key inflections for these adjectives in the nominative case; they decline fully like other adjectives.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections but must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. For example, in the genitive case, "убедительного" (of the convincing one) is used.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: правдоподобный (for "убедительный"), достоверный (reliable, credible) - "Достоверный" is often used in factual contexts, while "убедительный" implies persuasion.
• Antonyms: неправдоподобный (implausible), невероятный (incredible, unbelievable) - "Неправдоподобный" directly contrasts with believability in narratives.

Related Phrases:

• убедительная речь - A convincing speech; used in public speaking or rhetoric to describe persuasive delivery.
• правдоподобный сюжет - A believable plot; common in literature or film criticism to discuss realistic storytelling.
• убедительные аргументы - Convincing arguments; applied in debates or legal contexts for strong reasoning.

Usage Notes:

"Убедительный" is a more formal equivalent to "believable" and is often paired with nouns like "аргумент" (argument) or "доказательство" (evidence), emphasizing persuasion. In contrast, "правдоподобный" is less formal and focuses on plausibility in everyday scenarios. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they describe, which can affect sentence structure. For instance, choose "убедительный" for professional settings and "правдоподобный" for casual ones to match the appropriate register. Avoid direct word-for-word translations; instead, consider the context to select the best fit.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "убедительный" interchangeably with "правдоподобный" without considering formality, leading to awkward phrasing. For example, an English learner might say "Эта шутка убедительная" in a casual chat, but it's better as "Эта шутка правдоподобная" for humor. Correct: Use "правдоподобный" for light-hearted contexts. Explanation: "Убедительный" implies strong conviction, which can sound overly serious.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "убедительный история" instead of "убедительная история" for feminine nouns. Correct: Always decline the adjective to match the noun's gender and case. Explanation: This is a common grammatical slip for non-native speakers, as English lacks this feature.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "убедительный" often appear in contexts involving storytelling or propaganda, reflecting Russia's rich literary tradition (e.g., in works by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky). "Правдоподобный" can tie into the cultural emphasis on realism in art and media, where believable narratives are valued for their authenticity, especially in historical or folk tales.

Related Concepts:

• достоверность (authenticity)
• убеждение (conviction)
• реализм (realism)