Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Confuse'

English Word: confuse

Key Russian Translations:

• путать [ˈputətʲ] - [Informal, General Use]
• смущать [smʊˈʂatʲ] - [Formal, Often Emotional Context]
• запутывать [zəpʊˈtɨvətʲ] - [General, Often Intentional Confusion]

Frequency: High (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "путать" and "запутывать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "смущать" due to nuanced emotional usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

путать: [ˈputətʲ]

Note on путать: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'у' sounds like the 'oo' in "food".

смущать: [smʊˈʂatʲ]

Note on смущать: Stress on the second syllable. The 'щ' is a soft 'shch' sound, unique to Russian.

запутывать: [zəpʊˈtɨvətʲ]

Note on запутывать: Stress on the third syllable. The prefix 'за-' often implies an intensified or completed action.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To mix up or mistake (literal or mental confusion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• путать - Used for general confusion, such as mistaking one thing for another.
• запутывать - Often implies making something complicated or tangled, sometimes intentionally.

Usage Examples:

• Я всегда путаю эти два слова.

  I always confuse these two words.

• Не путай меня с этими деталями!

  Don't confuse me with these details!

• Он запутал всех своими объяснениями.

  He confused everyone with his explanations.

2. To embarrass or disconcert (emotional confusion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• смущать - Used when confusion is tied to embarrassment or discomfort.

Usage Examples:

• Его вопрос смутил меня.

  His question confused (embarrassed) me.

• Она смутилась, когда все начали смотреть на неё.

  She got confused (flustered) when everyone started looking at her.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

путать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation in the present, past, and future tenses. Infinitive: путать.

Person	Present Tense
Я (I)	путаю
Ты (You, informal)	путаешь
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	путает
Мы (We)	путаем
Вы (You, formal/plural)	путаете
Они (They)	путают

смущать (verb, imperfective): Follows similar regular conjugation patterns. Infinitive: смущать.

запутывать (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation with the prefix 'за-'. Infinitive: запутывать. Perfective form: запутать.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for путать:

• перепутывать
• смешивать

Note: "перепутывать" often implies a stronger mix-up, while "смешивать" can also mean "to blend".

Antonyms for путать:

• разбирать
• понимать

Related Phrases:

• путать следы - "to cover one's tracks" (literal or figurative)
• запутать дело - "to complicate the matter"
• смущать умы - "to trouble minds" (often in a philosophical or emotional sense)

Usage Notes:

• "путать" is the most versatile and commonly used term for "confuse" in everyday speech, suitable for both literal and figurative contexts.
• "смущать" should be reserved for situations involving emotional discomfort or embarrassment, not mere misunderstanding.
• "запутывать" often implies an active or intentional act of making something confusing, unlike the more neutral "путать".
• Be mindful of aspect: "запутать" (perfective) indicates a completed action, while "запутывать" (imperfective) suggests an ongoing process.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "смущать" for general confusion. Incorrect: "Я смутил названия городов." Correct: "Я перепутал названия городов." (I confused the names of the cities.)
• Error: Ignoring verb aspect. Incorrect: "Я запутываю этот вопрос вчера." Correct: "Я запутал этот вопрос вчера." (I confused this issue yesterday - completed action requires perfective form.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "confusion" tied to emotional discomfort ("смущать") often carries a stronger cultural weight than in English. Russians may use it to describe subtle social awkwardness or embarrassment, reflecting a cultural sensitivity to interpersonal dynamics.

Related Concepts:

• недоразумение (misunderstanding)
• замешательство (bewilderment)
• неловкость (awkwardness)