Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Blunder'

English Word: blunder

Key Russian Translations:

• ошибка [oˈʂɨbkə] - [Formal, Neutral]
• промах [prɐˈmax] - [Informal, Often Figurative]
• ляп [lʲap] - [Colloquial, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ошибка: [oˈʂɨbkə]

Note on ошибка: Stress on the second syllable; the "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English "sh".

промах: [prɐˈmax]

Note on промах: Stress on the second syllable; "х" is a voiceless uvular fricative, similar to a harsh "h".

ляп: [lʲap]

Note on ляп: Stress on the single syllable; "л" is palatalized (soft), pronounced with the tongue near the palate.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A Mistake or Error (General)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ошибка - Used for general mistakes, often in formal or neutral contexts (e.g., academic, professional).

Usage Examples:

• Я допустил ошибку в расчётах.

  I made a blunder in the calculations.

• Это была серьёзная ошибка с его стороны.

  It was a serious blunder on his part.

• Исправьте ошибки в тексте.

  Correct the blunders in the text.

2. A Clumsy or Embarrassing Mistake

Translation(s) & Context:

• промах - Often used for a miss or blunder in a figurative sense, like a social or tactical error.
• ляп - Colloquial, refers to a careless or silly mistake, often verbal or visible.

Usage Examples:

• Его промах на переговорах стоил нам контракта.

  His blunder during the negotiations cost us the contract.

• Какой ляп! Я сказал это при всех!

  What a blunder! I said it in front of everyone!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ошибка (Feminine Noun): Follows the standard feminine declension pattern in Russian.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	ошибка	ошибки
Genitive	ошибки	ошибок
Dative	ошибке	ошибкам
Accusative	ошибку	ошибки
Instrumental	ошибкой	ошибками
Prepositional	об ошибке	об ошибках

промах (Masculine Noun): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern.

ляп (Masculine Noun): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern, though rarely used in plural.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for ошибка:

• неточность (inaccuracy)
• погрешность (error, often technical)

Synonyms for промах/ляп:

• оплошность (oversight)
• просчёт (miscalculation)

Antonyms:

• успех (success)
• достижение (achievement)

Related Phrases:

• допустить ошибку - to make a blunder/mistake.
• сделать промах - to commit a blunder (often in strategy or social context).
• ляпнуть что-то - to blurt out something carelessly (colloquial).

Usage Notes:

• "Ошибка" is the most neutral and widely applicable term for "blunder" or "mistake," suitable for formal and written contexts.
• "Промах" often implies a figurative or strategic error, like missing an opportunity or making a social misstep.
• "Ляп" is highly informal and typically used for verbal slips or obvious, embarrassing mistakes.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

1. Overusing "ляп" in formal contexts: English learners often use "ляп" in serious or professional discussions, which sounds inappropriate. For example, saying "Это был ляп в отчёте" (This was a blunder in the report) is too colloquial; use "ошибка" instead.

2. Misapplying "промах" for literal errors: "Промах" is rarely used for literal mistakes like typos. Avoid saying "У меня промах в тексте"; use "ошибка" instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, admitting a mistake or "ошибка" openly is often seen as a sign of honesty, though it may depend on the context. Social blunders ("промах") can be particularly sensitive in hierarchical or formal settings, where saving face is important.

Related Concepts:

• недоразумение (misunderstanding)
• неудача (failure)
• упущение (omission)