Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Corroborate'

English Word: corroborate

Key Russian Translations:

• подтверждать [pɐdtˈvʲerʐdʲatʲ] - [Formal, Verb]
• подкреплять [pɐtkrʲɪˈplʲatʲ] - [Formal/Neutral, Verb]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

подтверждать: [pɐdtˈvʲerʐdʲatʲ]

Note on подтвердать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers.

подкреплять: [pɐtkrʲɪˈplʲatʲ]

Note on подкреплять: Stress on the third syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'л' sound before 'я'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To confirm or verify (a statement, theory, or finding)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подтверждать - Used in formal or academic contexts to confirm evidence or statements.
• подкреплять - Often used when supporting with additional evidence or facts.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова подтверждают наши предположения.

  His words corroborate our assumptions.

• Документы подтверждают подлинность этой истории.

  The documents corroborate the authenticity of this story.

• Мы должны подкрепить теорию фактами.

  We must corroborate the theory with facts.

• Её показания подкрепляют версию следствия.

  Her testimony corroborates the investigation's version.

• Новые данные подтверждают старую гипотезу.

  New data corroborates the old hypothesis.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

подтверждать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in the first conjugation group. Below is the present tense conjugation:

подкреплять (Verb, Imperfective): Also regular in the first conjugation group. Follows a similar pattern to подтвердать.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for подтвердать/подкреплять:

• утверждать (to affirm)
• доказывать (to prove)

Note: "утверждать" is often more general, while "доказывать" implies providing proof.

Antonyms for подтвердать/подкреплять:

• опровергать (to refute)
• отрицать (to deny)

Related Phrases:

• подтверждать свои слова - to corroborate one's words (to back up what one says)
• подкреплять доводы - to corroborate arguments (to support arguments with evidence)
• подтверждать документально - to corroborate with documents (to provide documentary evidence)

Usage Notes:

• Both "подтверждать" and "подкреплять" are formal or neutral in tone and are often used in written or academic contexts. "Подтверждать" is more common when confirming something directly, while "подкреплять" often implies supporting with additional evidence.
• These verbs are imperfective, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. For a completed action, perfective forms like "подтвердить" or "подкрепить" are used.
• Ensure the object of the verb matches in case (usually accusative for direct objects).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "подтверждать" when a perfective form like "подтвердить" is needed. Example: *Я подтверждаю это вчера* (incorrect) vs. Я подтвердил это вчера (correct: "I corroborated this yesterday"). Explanation: Imperfective verbs describe ongoing actions, so for past completed actions, use the perfective form.
• Error: Incorrect case usage after the verb. Example: *подтверждаю его словах* (incorrect, instrumental case) vs. подтверждаю его слова (correct, accusative case). Explanation: These verbs require the accusative case for direct objects.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian communication, corroborating statements or evidence is highly valued in formal and legal contexts, reflecting a cultural emphasis on factual accuracy and reliability. Using verbs like "подтверждать" in discussions signals credibility and authority.

Related Concepts:

• доказательство (evidence)
• свидетельство (testimony)
• обоснование (justification)