Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'calumniate'

English Word: calumniate

Key Russian Translations:

• клеветать [klʲɪˈvʲetətʲ] - [Formal, often used in legal or serious contexts]
• очернять [ɐˈt͡ɕɛrnʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, implies deliberate character assassination]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in legal, journalistic, and literary texts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal language nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клеветать: [klʲɪˈvʲetətʲ]

Note on клеветать: The stress is on the second syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

очернять: [ɐˈt͡ɕɛrnʲɪtʲ]

Note on очернять: The initial 'о' is reduced in unstressed positions, sounding like a schwa; practice the soft 'ч' for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make false and defamatory statements about someone, often with malicious intent.

Translation(s) & Context:

• клеветать - Used in formal or legal contexts, such as court cases or accusations of slander.
• очернять - Applied in broader contexts, like media or personal attacks, emphasizing long-term damage to reputation.

Usage Examples:

• Он клеветал на своего коллегу, утверждая, что тот украл деньги.

  He calumniated his colleague by claiming that he had stolen money.

• Журналист очернял известного политика в своей статье.

  The journalist calumniated the famous politician in his article.

• Не стоит клеветать на людей без доказательств; это может привести к судебным искам.

  Don't calumniate people without evidence; it can lead to lawsuits.

• Она очерняла бывшего партнера, распространяя ложные слухи в социальных сетях.

  She calumniated her ex-partner by spreading false rumors on social media.

• В романе автор клеветает на исторических фигур, чтобы подчеркнуть социальную несправедливость.

  In the novel, the author calumniates historical figures to highlight social injustice.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "клеветать" and "очернять" are imperfective verbs in Russian, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard first-conjugation patterns for Russian verbs, with variations based on tense, aspect, and person. Below is a table for "клеветать" as an example; "очернять" follows similar rules but with its own root changes.

For "очернять": It is irregular in some aspects due to root vowel changes (e.g., present: очерняю, очерняешь). These verbs do not change for gender in the past tense but must agree with the subject in person and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: очернять (similar but emphasizes blackening character), порочить (to discredit or tarnish, often in moral contexts)
• Antonyms: хвалить (to praise, directly opposite in intent)

Related Phrases:

• Распускание клеветы - Spreading slander, often used in legal or social discussions.
• Очернять репутацию - To blacken someone's reputation, highlighting the long-term effects of defamation.
• Клеветнические обвинения - Calumnious accusations, a common phrase in courtroom settings.

Usage Notes:

Both "клеветать" and "очернять" closely correspond to "calumniate" in English, but "клеветать" is more precise for legal slander, while "очернять" conveys a broader sense of character assassination. Use "клеветать" in formal, written contexts like journalism or law to avoid ambiguity. Be cautious of the imperfective aspect, which implies ongoing action—pair with perfective forms like "наклеветать" for completed acts. In everyday speech, these words are rare; opt for simpler terms like "обвинять несправедливо" if targeting informal audiences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "клеветать" with "обвинять" (to accuse), leading to overuse in non-defamatory contexts. Correct: Use "клеветать" only for false statements; e.g., Incorrect: "Он обвиняет меня в краже" (if false), Correct: "Он клеветает на меня, утверждая, что я украл."
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, such as saying "клеветать" in the wrong person (e.g., *клеветает for first person). Correct: Always conjugate based on subject; e.g., "Я клевещу" instead of *Я клеветает.
• Error: Using "очернять" interchangeably with "ругать" (to scold), which lacks the defamatory intent. Explanation: "Очернять" implies malice and falsehood, so reserve it for serious accusations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "клеветать" carry significant legal weight due to strict anti-slander laws, stemming from Soviet-era regulations. Defamation can lead to criminal charges, reflecting a cultural emphasis on protecting personal honor and reputation, which differs from more litigious approaches in some English-speaking countries.

Related Concepts:

• сплетни (gossip)
• ругательства (insults)
• диффамация (diffamation, a direct borrowing)