Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'believe'

English Word: believe

Key Russian Translations:

• верить [ˈvʲerʲɪtʲ] - [Neutral, General Use]
• полагать [pəlɐˈɡatʲ] - [Formal, Intellectual Context]
• думать [ˈdumətʲ] - [Informal, Often Used for Opinion]

Frequency: High (especially "верить")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "верить" is A2, "полагать" is B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

верить: [ˈvʲerʲɪtʲ]

Note on верить: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

полагать: [pəlɐˈɡatʲ]

Note on полагать: Stress on the second syllable. The soft "л" sound requires tongue positioning near the palate.

думать: [ˈdumətʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To have faith or trust in something or someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• верить - Used when expressing belief in a person, idea, or religion.

Usage Examples:

• Я верю в тебя.

  I believe in you.

• Она верит в Бога.

  She believes in God.

• Мы верим в лучшее будущее.

  We believe in a better future.

2. To think or suppose something is true

Translation(s) & Context:

• думать - Common in casual speech for expressing opinions or assumptions.
• полагать - Used in formal or intellectual contexts to express a considered opinion.

Usage Examples:

• Я думаю, что он прав.

  I believe he is right.

• Он полагает, что это правильное решение.

  He believes this is the right decision.

• Мы думаем, что она придёт.

  We believe she will come.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

верить (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in the first conjugation group. Used with the dative case for the object of belief (e.g., верить кому-то/чему-то).

полагать (Verb, Imperfective): Follows regular conjugation but is less commonly used in spoken language.

думать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation, widely used across contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for верить:

• доверять (to trust)
• надеяться (to hope)

Note: "доверять" implies trust in a person, while "надеяться" often relates to hope for an outcome.

Antonyms for верить:

• сомневаться (to doubt)
• не верить (to disbelieve)

Related Phrases:

• верить на слово - to take someone’s word for it
• верить в чудеса - to believe in miracles
• думать о будущем - to think (or believe) about the future

Usage Notes:

• "верить" is the most direct translation of "believe" and is used for faith, trust, or belief in abstract concepts. It requires the dative case for the object of belief (e.g., верить другу - to believe a friend).
• "думать" is more colloquial and often translates to "think" rather than "believe," but it can be used interchangeably in casual contexts.
• "полагать" is formal and often used in written or academic contexts to express a reasoned belief or supposition.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "верить" without the dative case (e.g., *верить друг instead of верить другу). Correction: Always use the dative case for the object of belief.
• Error: Confusing "верить" and "думать" in formal contexts (e.g., *Я думаю, что это научный факт instead of Я полагаю). Correction: Use "полагать" for formal or intellectual statements.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions of belief, especially in religious or spiritual contexts (using "верить"), carry significant weight. Publicly declaring belief in something (e.g., God, miracles) can be seen as a deeply personal statement, and such topics are often approached with caution in conversation.

Related Concepts:

• вера (faith)
• доверие (trust)
• мнение (opinion)