Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Counterfeit'

English Word: Counterfeit

Key Russian Translations:

• поддельный [pɐdˈdʲelʲnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal/Informal]
• фальшивый [fɐlˈʂɨvɨj] - [Adjective, Informal, Often for money or documents]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

поддельный: [pɐdˈdʲelʲnɨj]

Note on поддельный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'дд' is pronounced as a long, geminated 'd' sound.

фальшивый: [fɐlˈʂɨvɨj]

Note on фальшивый: Stress on the second syllable. The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English 'sh'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Fake or Imitation (General Sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поддельный - Used for counterfeit goods, documents, or items in both formal and informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот паспорт поддельный.

  This passport is counterfeit.

• На рынке продают поддельные часы.

  They sell counterfeit watches at the market.

• Поддельные товары наносят ущерб экономике.

  Counterfeit goods harm the economy.

2. Forged (Money or Documents)

Translation(s) & Context:

• фальшивый - Commonly used for forged money or falsified documents, often in informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• У него нашли фальшивые деньги.

  They found counterfeit money on him.

• Это фальшивая подпись.

  This is a counterfeit signature.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

поддельный (Adjective): Declines according to standard Russian adjective rules based on gender, number, and case.

фальшивый (Adjective): Follows similar adjective declension patterns as поддельный.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for поддельный:

• ненастоящий (not real, often for objects)
• искусственный (artificial, sometimes used metaphorically)

Synonyms for фальшивый:

• подложный (forged, often for documents)

Antonyms:

• настоящий (genuine)
• подлинный (authentic)

Related Phrases:

• поддельный документ - Counterfeit document
• фальшивые деньги - Counterfeit money
• фальшивая улыбка - Fake smile (metaphorical use of фальшивый)

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between поддельный and фальшивый: Use 'поддельный' for a broader range of counterfeit items like goods or documents. Use 'фальшивый' specifically for money or when implying something is forged or fake in an informal tone.
• Register: 'поддельный' is more neutral and can be used in formal contexts, while 'фальшивый' often carries a colloquial tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'фальшивый' for all counterfeit items. Incorrect: "фальшивые часы" (counterfeit watches). Correct: "поддельные часы". Explanation: 'фальшивый' is typically reserved for money or metaphorical fakeness, not general goods.
• Error: Incorrect adjective agreement with nouns. Incorrect: "поддельный сумка". Correct: "поддельная сумка". Explanation: Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the issue of counterfeit goods (поддельные товары) is often discussed in the context of markets and online shopping. Additionally, 'фальшивый' can carry a deeper emotional connotation when used metaphorically (e.g., фальшивая дружба - fake friendship), reflecting a cultural emphasis on sincerity.

Related Concepts:

• обман (deception)
• мошенничество (fraud)
• имитация (imitation)