Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'confess'

English Word: confess

Key Russian Translations:

• признаваться [prʲɪznɐˈvatʲsʲə] - [Informal, General Use]
• признаться [prʲɪzˈnatʲsʲə] - [Formal, Often in Specific Context]
• исповедоваться [ɪspɐˈvʲedəvətʲsʲə] - [Religious, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like personal admissions or religious settings)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "признаваться" and "признаться"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "исповедоваться" due to religious connotations

Pronunciation (Russian):

признаваться: [prʲɪznɐˈvatʲsʲə]

Note on признаваться: Stress falls on the third syllable. The reflexive suffix "-ся" is common in Russian verbs and softens the pronunciation.

признаться: [prʲɪzˈnatʲsʲə]

Note on признаться: Stress on the second syllable. Often used in a completed action context (perfective aspect).

исповедоваться: [ɪspɐˈvʲedəvətʲsʲə]

Note on исповедоваться: Stress on the third syllable. Note the soft "в" sound, which is typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To admit something (general admission of fault or truth)

Translation(s) & Context:

• признаваться / признаться - Used for admitting personal feelings, mistakes, or truths in everyday contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я должен признаться, что был неправ.

  I must confess that I was wrong.

• Она призналась в своих чувствах.

  She confessed her feelings.

• Он признался в краже.

  He confessed to the theft.

2. To confess in a religious context (to a priest)

Translation(s) & Context:

• исповедоваться - Specifically used in religious contexts for confessing sins to a priest.

Usage Examples:

• Она пошла в церковь, чтобы исповедоваться.

  She went to church to confess.

• Исповедоваться перед священником - важная традиция.

  Confessing to a priest is an important tradition.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

признаваться / признаться (verbs, reflexive, imperfective/perfective aspect pair):

Person	признаваться (Imperfective)	признаться (Perfective)
1st Singular (I)	признаюсь	признаюсь
2nd Singular (You)	признаёшься	признаешься
3rd Singular (He/She/It)	признаётся	признается

Note: "признаваться" is used for ongoing or repeated actions, while "признаться" indicates a one-time or completed action.

исповедоваться (verb, reflexive, imperfective): Follows similar conjugation patterns but is less flexible in aspect usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "признаваться / признаться":

• сознаваться
• открываться

Note: "сознаваться" often implies admitting guilt, while "открываться" is more about revealing emotions.

Antonyms:

• отрицать
• скрывать

Related Phrases:

• признаться в любви - To confess one's love.
• признаться в ошибке - To confess a mistake.
• исповедоваться перед Богом - To confess before God (religious context).

Usage Notes:

• "признаваться" and "признаться" are the most versatile translations for "confess" and can be used in personal or legal contexts. However, "признаться" often implies a completed act.
• "исповедоваться" is strictly limited to religious confessions and should not be used in casual contexts.
• Pay attention to the reflexive suffix "-ся" in all forms, as it is grammatically required.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "исповедоваться" in non-religious contexts. Incorrect: "Я исповедовался в любви." Correct: "Я признался в любви." (I confessed my love.)
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive "-ся" suffix. Incorrect: "Я признаю." Correct: "Я признаюсь."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian Orthodox tradition, "исповедоваться" (confession) is a significant sacrament, often tied to major religious holidays. Confessing sins to a priest is seen as a deeply personal and spiritual act, unlike the more casual use of "признаться" in everyday admissions.

Related Concepts:

• покаяние (repentance)
• вина (guilt)
• откровение (revelation)