Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Betray'

English Word: betray

Key Russian Translations:

• предавать [prʲɪdɐˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Often used for personal betrayal or treason]
• изменять [ɪzmʲɪˈnʲatʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for betrayal in relationships]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

предавать: [prʲɪdɐˈvatʲ]

Note on предавать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'р' is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

изменять: [ɪzmʲɪˈnʲatʲ]

Note on изменять: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'н' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To be disloyal to someone (personal betrayal or treason)

Translation(s) & Context:

• предавать - Used when referring to betraying trust, loyalty, or country.

Usage Examples:

• Он предал свою страну ради денег.

  He betrayed his country for money.

• Она чувствует, что её предали самые близкие люди.

  She feels that the closest people have betrayed her.

• Предать друга — это непростительно.

  Betraying a friend is unforgivable.

2. To be unfaithful in a relationship

Translation(s) & Context:

• изменять - Commonly used for romantic infidelity or changing loyalty.

Usage Examples:

• Он изменил своей жене с коллегой.

  He betrayed his wife with a colleague.

• Она узнала, что он ей изменяет.

  She found out that he was cheating on her.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

предавать (verb, imperfective aspect):

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter)
1st Singular (I)	предаю [prʲɪdɐˈju]	предавал/предавала/предавало
2nd Singular (You)	предаёшь [prʲɪdɐˈjoʂ]	предавал/предавала/предавало
3rd Singular (He/She/It)	предаёт [prʲɪdɐˈjot]	предавал/предавала/предавало

Note: Perfective form is предать.

изменять (verb, imperfective aspect):

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter)
1st Singular (I)	изменяю [ɪzmʲɪˈnʲaju]	изменял/изменяла/изменяло
2nd Singular (You)	изменяешь [ɪzmʲɪˈnʲajɪʂ]	изменял/изменяла/изменяло
3rd Singular (He/She/It)	изменяет [ɪzmʲɪˈnʲajɪt]	изменял/изменяла/изменяло

Note: Perfective form is изменить.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for предавать:

• обманывать (to deceive)
• подводить (to let down)

Note: "обманывать" focuses more on deception, while "подводить" implies failing someone.

Antonyms for предавать:

• поддерживать (to support)
• защищать (to protect)

Related Phrases:

• предать доверие - to betray trust
• изменить родине - to betray one’s homeland
• предать забвению - to betray to oblivion (forget intentionally)

Usage Notes:

• предавать is generally used for deeper, more serious betrayals, such as treason or breaking profound trust. It often carries a moral or ethical weight.
• изменять is more commonly associated with infidelity in personal relationships but can also mean "to change" in other contexts (e.g., изменять мнение - to change one’s opinion).
• Both verbs are imperfective, indicating an ongoing or repeated action. Use their perfective counterparts (предать, изменить) for completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using изменять when referring to betraying a country or cause. Incorrect: Он изменил свою страну. Correct: Он предал свою страну. Explanation: "изменять" is more personal and often tied to relationships, while "предавать" fits larger-scale or moral betrayals.
• Error: Ignoring aspect (imperfective vs. perfective). Incorrect: Я предаю его вчера. Correct: Я предал его вчера. Explanation: Use perfective "предал" for a specific past action.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, betrayal, especially of family or country, carries a heavy stigma, often reflected in literature and history (e.g., stories of traitors during wartime). The word "предавать" is frequently used in such contexts and evokes strong emotional responses.

Related Concepts:

• доверие (trust)
• верность (loyalty)
• обман (deception)