Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cajole'

English Word: cajole

Key Russian Translations:

• уговаривать [ʊɡɐˈvarʲɪvətʲ] - [Informal, Often used in persuasion]
• убеждать [ʊbʲɪʐˈdatʲ] - [Formal, Often used in serious discussions]
• заманивать [zəmɐˈnʲivətʲ] - [Informal, Often implies enticing with promises]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific persuasive contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

уговаривать: [ʊɡɐˈvarʲɪvətʲ]

Note on уговаривать: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "r" sound is rolled, typical of Russian pronunciation.

убеждать: [ʊbʲɪʐˈdatʲ]

Note on убеждать: The "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in "measure".

заманивать: [zəmɐˈnʲivətʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To persuade someone gently or with flattery

Translation(s) & Context:

• уговаривать - Used when coaxing someone with kind words or gentle persistence.
• заманивать - Implies luring or enticing, often with promises or rewards.

Usage Examples:

• Она уговаривала ребёнка съесть суп.

  She cajoled the child into eating the soup.

• Он заманивал друзей на вечеринку обещаниями веселья.

  He cajoled his friends into coming to the party with promises of fun.

2. To convince someone through argument or reasoning

Translation(s) & Context:

• убеждать - Used in formal or serious contexts to persuade through logical arguments.

Usage Examples:

• Он убеждал коллег принять его план.

  He cajoled his colleagues into accepting his plan.

• Её речь убеждала всех в зале.

  Her speech cajoled everyone in the room.

• Мы пытались убедить его не уходить.

  We tried to cajole him into not leaving.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

уговаривать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation in the first conjugation group. Examples below are in present, past, and future tenses.

убеждать (verb, imperfective): Follows similar conjugation rules to уговаривать.

заманивать (verb, imperfective): Also follows first conjugation patterns, with similar forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for уговаривать:

• упрашивать
• склонять

Note: "упрашивать" often implies more pleading, while "склонять" can suggest stronger influence.

Antonyms for уговаривать:

• отговаривать
• отказывать

Related Phrases:

• уговаривать на что-либо - to cajole someone into doing something.
• убеждать в правоте - to cajole someone into believing in the rightness of something.
• заманивать в ловушку - to cajole someone into a trap (often metaphorical).

Usage Notes:

• "уговаривать" is the most common and versatile translation for "cajole", often used in everyday speech when gently persuading someone.
• "убеждать" carries a more formal tone and is used when persuasion is based on logic or reasoning, often in professional or serious contexts.
• "заманивать" has a slightly negative or playful connotation, often implying luring with promises or incentives, and should be used cautiously.
• All three verbs are imperfective, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Perfective forms (e.g., уговорить, убедить, заманить) imply completed actions and are often used in result-focused contexts.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up imperfective and perfective forms: English learners often confuse "уговаривать" (ongoing persuasion) with "уговорить" (successful persuasion). Incorrect: *Я уговаривал его вчера* (if the persuasion succeeded). Correct: Я уговорил его вчера (I successfully cajoled him yesterday).
• Using "заманивать" in formal contexts: This verb can sound inappropriate in serious discussions. Incorrect: *Мы заманивали клиентов на встречу*. Correct: Мы убеждали клиентов прийти на встречу.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, persuasion (as in "cajole") often involves a personal touch, such as emotional appeals or small gestures of kindness. Using "уговаривать" in family or friendly contexts reflects warmth and care, which are valued in interpersonal communication. However, over-persuasion or flattery (especially with "заманивать") can sometimes be viewed skeptically as manipulative.

Related Concepts:

• упрашивать (to plead or beg)
• убедить (to convince successfully)
• соблазнять (to tempt or seduce)