Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'confide'

English Word: confide

Key Russian Translations:

• доверять [dɐˈvʲerʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, General Use]
• довериться [dɐˈvʲerʲɪtʲsə] - [Informal, Reflexive, Often Emotional Context]
• открыться [ɐtˈkrɨtʲsə] - [Informal, Figurative, Sharing Secrets]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "доверять"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "довериться" and "открыться" due to reflexive and figurative nuances

Pronunciation (Russian):

доверять: [dɐˈvʲerʲɪtʲ]

Note on доверять: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'я' sound is pronounced as a soft 'ye'.

довериться: [dɐˈvʲerʲɪtʲsə]

Note on довериться: Similar to "доверять" but with a reflexive ending '-ся', which softens the final sound.

открыться: [ɐtˈkrɨtʲsə]

Note on открыться: Stress on the second syllable. The 'ы' vowel is a distinct Russian sound, pronounced as a short, unrounded 'i'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To trust someone with a secret or personal matter

Translation(s) & Context:

• довериться - Used when sharing something personal or emotional, often implying a deeper bond.
• открыться - Suggests opening up emotionally, often used for confessions or intimate revelations.

Usage Examples:

• Я доверилась ей и рассказала всё.

  I confided in her and told her everything.

• Он наконец открылся мне о своих страхах.

  He finally confided in me about his fears.

• Она доверилась подруге с самым сокровенным.

  She confided her deepest secret to her friend.

2. To entrust or rely on someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• доверять - General sense of trust or reliance, not necessarily emotional.

Usage Examples:

• Я доверяю ему свои дела.

  I confide my affairs to him (I trust him with my matters).

• Мы доверяем этому специалисту.

  We confide in this specialist (We trust this specialist).

Russian Forms/Inflections:

доверять (imperfective verb): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Used for ongoing or habitual trust.

Person	Present	Past (M/F/N)	Future
Я (I)	доверяю	доверял / доверяла / доверяло	буду доверять
Ты (You, informal)	доверяешь	доверял / доверяла / доверяло	будешь доверять
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	доверяет	доверял / доверяла / доверяло	будет доверять

довериться (perfective, reflexive verb): Used for a one-time act of confiding. Conjugates similarly but indicates completed action.

открыться (perfective, reflexive verb): Used for a specific instance of opening up. Conjugates with reflexive endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for доверять/довериться:

• полагаться (to rely on)
• верить (to believe, trust)

Note: "полагаться" is more formal and often used for reliance, while "верить" can imply belief rather than personal trust.

Antonyms:

• сомневаться (to doubt)
• не доверять (to distrust)

Related Phrases:

• доверить тайну - to confide a secret
• открыть душу - to open one’s soul (to confide deeply)
• доверять полностью - to trust completely

Usage Notes:

• "доверять" is the most neutral and widely applicable term for "confide" in the sense of trust or reliance. Use it in formal or general contexts.
• "довериться" implies a personal or emotional act of confiding, often with a sense of vulnerability. It’s more intimate.
• "открыться" is figurative and emotional, often used when someone reveals their feelings or secrets. Avoid overusing it in non-emotional contexts.
• Be mindful of the aspect (perfective vs. imperfective) when choosing between these verbs, as it affects the nuance of completion or ongoing action.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "доверять" with reflexive "-ся" incorrectly, e.g., saying "Я доверяюся" instead of "Я доверился". Explanation: "доверять" does not take the reflexive form "-ся" in most cases; use "довериться" for reflexive meanings.
• Error: Confusing "открыться" (to open up emotionally) with "открыть" (to open physically). Explanation: "открыться" is reflexive and figurative; use it only for emotional contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, confiding in someone (especially using "довериться" or "открыться") often implies a deep level of trust and personal connection. Russians may take longer to confide compared to some Western cultures, as trust is built over time and through shared experiences.

Related Concepts:

• доверие (trust)
• тайна (secret)
• искренность (sincerity)