Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Decipher'

English Word: decipher

Key Russian Translations:

• расшифровать [rɐʂɨˈfrovɐtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Perfective]
• разгадать [rɐzɡɐˈdatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Perfective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

расшифровать: [rɐʂɨˈfrovɐtʲ]

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

разгадать: [rɐzɡɐˈdatʲ]

Note on разгадать: Stress on the third syllable. The soft 'д' sound requires slight palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To decode or interpret something complex (e.g., a code or text)

Translation(s) & Context:

• расшифровать - Used in formal or technical contexts, often for decoding messages or scripts.

Usage Examples:

• Мы смогли расшифровать древний текст.

  We were able to decipher the ancient text.

• Специалисты расшифровали секретный код.

  The specialists deciphered the secret code.

• Ему удалось расшифровать шифровку за час.

  He managed to decipher the cipher in an hour.

2. To solve or understand something puzzling (e.g., a mystery or riddle)

Translation(s) & Context:

• разгадать - Used in informal or figurative contexts, often for solving puzzles or mysteries.

Usage Examples:

• Она смогла разгадать загадку за минуту.

  She was able to decipher the riddle in a minute.

• Мы пытались разгадать тайну этого места.

  We tried to decipher the mystery of this place.

• Дети любят разгадывать кроссворды.

  Children love deciphering crosswords.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

расшифровать (Perfective Verb): This is a perfective verb, often paired with the imperfective form расшифровывать for ongoing actions. Conjugation follows regular first-conjugation rules.

разгадать (Perfective Verb): Similarly, this is a perfective verb, paired with the imperfective разгадывать. Conjugation follows regular first-conjugation rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for расшифровать:

• декодировать (more technical)
• разобрать (less formal, often for handwriting)

Synonyms for разгадать:

• решить (often for puzzles or problems)
• понять (to understand, broader sense)

Antonyms:

• зашифровать (to encode, for расшифровать)
• запутать (to confuse, for разгадать)

Related Phrases:

• расшифровать сообщение - To decipher a message (common in espionage or technical contexts).
• разгадать тайну - To decipher a mystery (common in storytelling or casual speech).
• разгадать головоломку - To decipher a puzzle (used for brainteasers or games).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between translations: Use "расшифровать" for formal or technical contexts like decoding messages or scripts. Use "разгадать" for informal or figurative contexts like solving riddles or mysteries.
• Aspectual pairs: Remember that both verbs are perfective. For ongoing or repeated actions, use their imperfective counterparts: "расшифровывать" and "разгадывать".
• Register: "расшифровать" is more neutral or formal, while "разгадать" can sound playful or colloquial.

Common Errors:

• Mixing aspects: English speakers often forget to use the imperfective form for ongoing actions. Incorrect: *Я расшифровал текст каждый день.* Correct: *Я расшифровываю текст каждый день.* (I decipher the text every day.)
• Wrong translation choice: Using "разгадать" in a technical context is incorrect. Incorrect: *Мы разгадали код.* Correct: *Мы расшифровали код.* (We deciphered the code.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the verb "разгадать" is often associated with intellectual games, riddles, or folklore mysteries, reflecting a historical appreciation for wordplay and storytelling. "расшифровать", on the other hand, gained prominence during the Soviet era in contexts of espionage and cryptography.

Related Concepts:

• шифр (cipher)
• загадка (riddle)
• тайна (mystery)