Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'correct'

English Word: correct

Key Russian Translations:

• правильный [ˈpravʲɪlʲnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• верный [ˈvʲernɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Adjective]
• исправить [ɪsˈpravʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Used for correcting something]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "правильный" and "верный"); B1 (Intermediate for "исправить")

Pronunciation (Russian):

правильный: [ˈpravʲɪlʲnɨj]

Note on правильный: Stress on the first syllable; the "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced with the tongue pulled back.

верный: [ˈvʲernɨj]

Note on верный: Stress on the first syllable; the final "й" is a soft consonant sound.

исправить: [ɪsˈpravʲɪtʲ]

Note on исправить: Stress on the second syllable; this is a perfective verb, implying a completed action.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Correct as "accurate" or "right" (Adjective)

Translation(s) & Context:

• правильный - Used in formal or neutral contexts to mean "correct" or "proper" (e.g., a correct answer).
• верный - Often used for "correct" in the sense of "true" or "faithful" (e.g., a correct decision or loyal friend).

Usage Examples:

• Это правильный ответ на вопрос.

  This is the correct answer to the question.

• Ты сделал верный выбор.

  You made the correct (or right) choice.

• Правильное решение этой задачи требует времени.

  The correct solution to this problem requires time.

2. Correct as "to fix" or "to amend" (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• исправить - Used when referring to fixing an error or mistake (e.g., correct a document).

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, исправьте ошибки в тексте.

  Please correct the errors in the text.

• Я должен исправить свою ошибку.

  I must correct my mistake.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

правильный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case. Below is the nominative case table:

Gender/Number	Form
Masculine Singular	правильный
Feminine Singular	правильная
Neuter Singular	правильное
Plural	правильные

верный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "правильный".

исправить (Verb): Perfective verb, conjugated by person and number. Below is the present tense of the imperfective counterpart "исправлять" for reference:

Person	Form
Я (I)	исправляю
Ты (You, informal)	исправляешь
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	исправляет

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for правильный:

• точный (precise)
• верный (true, correct)

Note: "точный" is more about precision, while "верный" can imply loyalty or correctness in decisions.

Antonyms for правильный:

• неправильный (incorrect)
• ошибочный (erroneous)

Related Phrases:

• правильный подход - Correct approach (used for describing the right method or attitude).
• верное решение - Correct decision (often about choices or judgments).
• исправить положение - Correct the situation (used for fixing a problematic state).

Usage Notes:

• "правильный" is the most neutral and widely used term for "correct" as an adjective, suitable for formal and academic contexts.
• "верный" can mean "correct" but often carries a connotation of loyalty or truthfulness; use it when the context involves decisions or relationships.
• "исправить" is a verb and should be used only when "correct" means to fix or amend something; note that it is perfective, so it implies a completed action.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "верный" when "правильный" is more appropriate. For example, saying "верный ответ" (loyal answer) instead of "правильный ответ" (correct answer). Explanation: "верный" is less common for factual correctness and more tied to emotional or moral "rightness."
• Error: Misusing verb aspects, e.g., using "исправлять" (imperfective) when a completed action is implied. Correct Usage: Use "исправить" for one-time corrections, like "исправить ошибку" (correct a mistake).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "correctness" (especially with "правильный") often carries a strong cultural emphasis on following rules or norms, reflecting a societal value of order and structure. Using the right term in context can signal respect for these norms.

Related Concepts:

• точность (precision)
• истина (truth)
• ошибка (mistake)