Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Collude'

English Word: collude

Key Russian Translations:

• сговариваться [sgɐvɐˈrʲivətʲsə] - [Informal, Often used for secret agreements]
• вступать в сговор [fstʊˈpatʲ v ˈsgɐvɐr] - [Formal, Often legal or official contexts]
• состоять в сговоре [sɐˈstɐjətʲ v ˈsgɐvɐrʲe] - [Formal, Implies ongoing collusion]

Frequency: Medium (not everyday usage, but common in legal, political, or business contexts)

Difficulty: B2-C1 (Intermediate to Advanced, due to formal contexts and nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сговариваться: [sgɐvɐˈrʲivətʲsə]

Note on сговариваться: Stress falls on the third syllable. The reflexive ending "-ся" is pronounced softly.

вступать в сговор: [fstʊˈpatʲ v ˈsgɐvɐr]

Note on вступать в сговор: Stress is on the second syllable of "вступать" and the first of "сговор".

состоять в сговоре: [sɐˈstɐjətʲ v ˈsgɐvɐrʲe]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To secretly cooperate for illegal or deceitful purposes

Translation(s) & Context:

• сговариваться - Often used for informal or personal secret agreements (e.g., between individuals or small groups).
• вступать в сговор - Commonly used in legal or formal contexts (e.g., criminal conspiracy).
• состоять в сговоре - Implies an ongoing state of collusion, often in formal or institutional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Они сговорились, чтобы обмануть партнёров.

  They colluded to deceive their partners.

• Компания вступила в сговор с конкурентами.

  The company colluded with competitors.

• Он состоял в сговоре с другими чиновниками.

  He was in collusion with other officials.

• Мы не должны сговариваться за спиной у коллег.

  We shouldn’t collude behind our colleagues’ backs.

• Следствие доказало, что они вступили в сговор для подделки документов.

  The investigation proved they colluded to forge documents.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сговариваться (Verb, Imperfective, Reflexive):

Note: Perfective form is "сговориться".

вступать в сговор / состоять в сговоре: These are fixed phrases. "Сговор" (noun, masculine) declines by cases (e.g., в сговоре [Prepositional], о сговоре [Prepositional]).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• договариваться (more neutral, can imply agreement without deceit)
• замышлять (implies plotting, often negative)

Note: "Договариваться" is less negative than "сговариваться" and can be used in neutral contexts.

Antonyms:

• разоблачать (to expose)
• противостоять (to oppose)

Related Phrases:

• сговориться заранее - to collude in advance.
• вступить в тайный сговор - to enter into a secret conspiracy.
• быть в сговоре с кем-то - to be in collusion with someone.

Usage Notes:

• "Collude" often carries a negative connotation in English, and the Russian translations reflect this. "Сговариваться" is more colloquial, while "вступать в сговор" and "состоять в сговоре" are formal and often used in legal or official discussions.
• Be mindful of the reflexive nature of "сговариваться" (always used with "-ся") and the prepositional phrases in "вступать в сговор" (requires accusative case for "сговор").
• Choose the translation based on formality: use "сговариваться" for personal or informal contexts and the others for legal or institutional settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Omitting the reflexive "-ся" in "сговариваться". Incorrect: *сговаривать*. Correct: сговариваться. Explanation: The verb is always reflexive in this context.
• Error: Using "договариваться" when a negative connotation is intended. Incorrect: *Они договорились обмануть клиента*. Correct: Они сговорились обмануть клиента. Explanation: "Договариваться" is more neutral and lacks the secretive or deceitful nuance of "collude".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "сговор" (collusion or conspiracy) often evokes historical associations with political intrigues or secret deals, especially in Soviet-era literature or discussions of corruption. Using terms like "вступать в сговор" in formal contexts can carry significant weight, implying serious ethical or legal violations.

Related Concepts:

• заговор (conspiracy)
• обман (deception)
• предательство (betrayal)