Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Confession'

English Word: confession

Key Russian Translations:

• признание [prʲɪzˈnanʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Commonly used for admitting something]
• исповедь [ɪsˈpovʲɪdʲ] - [Formal, Religious context, Confession to a priest]

Frequency: Medium (Both translations are used depending on context)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "признание"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "исповедь" due to religious nuance

Pronunciation (Russian):

признание: [prʲɪzˈnanʲɪjə]

Note on признание: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly.

исповедь: [ɪsˈpovʲɪdʲ]

Note on исповедь: Stress on the second syllable. The soft "д" sound at the end can be tricky for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Admission of guilt or truth

Translation(s) & Context:

• признание - Used in legal, personal, or casual contexts when admitting to something (e.g., a crime, a feeling).

Usage Examples:

• Его признание в преступлении шокировало всех.

  His confession to the crime shocked everyone.

• Она сделала признание в любви.

  She made a confession of love.

• Признание вины помогло смягчить приговор.

  The confession of guilt helped to mitigate the sentence.

2. Religious act of confessing sins

Translation(s) & Context:

• исповедь - Specifically used in a religious context, often within the Orthodox Christian tradition.

Usage Examples:

• Он пошёл на исповедь перед Пасхой.

  He went to confession before Easter.

• Исповедь помогает очистить душу.

  Confession helps to purify the soul.

• Священник выслушал её исповедь.

  The priest listened to her confession.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

признание (noun, neuter): Regular declension for neuter nouns ending in -ие.

исповедь (noun, feminine): Regular declension for feminine nouns ending in a soft sign (ь).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for признание:

• сознание (closer to "admission" in some contexts)
• откровение (more emotional or personal revelation)

Synonyms for исповедь:

• покаяние (repentance, often tied to confession)

Antonyms:

• отрицание (denial, for признание)
• молчание (silence, in the context of not confessing)

Related Phrases:

• сделать признание - To make a confession (of guilt, love, etc.)
• идти на исповедь - To go to confession (religious context)
• полное признание - Full confession (often legal)

Usage Notes:

• "признание" is the more versatile and neutral term, used in both formal (legal) and informal (personal) contexts. It can refer to confessing feelings, guilt, or truths.
• "исповедь" is strictly tied to religious contexts, especially in the Orthodox Christian tradition, and should not be used for secular admissions.
• Choosing between the two depends entirely on context. For non-religious confessions, always use "признание".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "исповедь" in a non-religious context, e.g., *Я сделал исповедь в любви* (incorrect). Correct: Я сделал признание в любви (I made a confession of love).
• Error: Misplacing stress in "признание" as [ˈprʲɪznanʲɪjə]. Correct: Stress is on the second syllable [prʲɪzˈnanʲɪjə].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian Orthodox culture, "исповедь" (confession) is a significant sacrament, often performed before major religious holidays like Easter. It involves a personal and private conversation with a priest, unlike some Western traditions where confession might be more formalized or public. Understanding this cultural weight is crucial when using the term.

Related Concepts:

• покаяние (repentance)
• грех (sin)
• прощение (forgiveness)