Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'defame'

English Word: defame

Key Russian Translations:

• клеветать [klʲɪvʲɪˈtatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Imperfective]
• позорить [pɐˈzorʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]
• оклеветать [ɐklʲɪvʲɪˈtatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Perfective]

Frequency: Medium (used in legal, formal, and informal contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for клеветать and позорить; C1 (Advanced) for оклеветать due to perfective aspect nuances

Pronunciation (Russian):

клеветать: [klʲɪvʲɪˈtatʲ]

Note on клеветать: Stress on the second syllable; the soft 'л' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

позорить: [pɐˈzorʲɪtʲ]

Note on позорить: Stress on the first syllable; ensure the 'р' is rolled slightly.

оклеветать: [ɐklʲɪvʲɪˈtatʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To slander or speak ill of someone (verbally or in writing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• клеветать - Commonly used in informal contexts to describe spreading false rumors or accusations.
• оклеветать - Formal, often used in legal contexts for defamation or slander with intent (perfective aspect indicates completed action).

Usage Examples:

• Он клеветал на своего коллегу, чтобы получить повышение.

  He slandered his colleague to get a promotion.

• Её оклеветали в прессе, и она подала в суд.

  She was defamed in the press, and she filed a lawsuit.

• Не клевещи на людей без доказательств!

  Don’t slander people without proof!

2. To disgrace or shame someone's reputation

Translation(s) & Context:

• позорить - Used in formal or emotional contexts to imply tarnishing honor or reputation.

Usage Examples:

• Ты позоришь имя нашей семьи своими поступками.

  You are defaming our family name with your actions.

• Его статья позорила всю профессию.

  His article defamed the entire profession.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

клеветать (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Below is the present tense conjugation:

оклеветать (Perfective Verb): Used for completed actions; conjugated similarly but only in past and future tenses.

позорить (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the second conjugation; follows standard patterns for present, past, and future tenses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• оговаривать (to slander, often verbally)
• бесчестить (to dishonor, more emotionally charged)

Antonyms:

• восхвалять (to praise)
• славить (to glorify)

Related Phrases:

• клеветать на кого-либо - To slander someone (common in informal speech).
• позорить честь - To defame one’s honor (formal, often used in historical or dramatic contexts).
• оклеветать в суде - To defame in court (legal context).

Usage Notes:

• Aspect Difference: "клеветать" (imperfective) implies ongoing or repeated slander, while "оклеветать" (perfective) refers to a single, completed act of defamation, often with legal implications.
• Register: "позорить" is more formal and often used when referring to damaging honor or reputation in a broader, non-legal sense.
• Prepositions: "клеветать" and "оклеветать" typically take the preposition "на" (on) followed by the accusative case to indicate the target of slander.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Aspect Usage: English speakers often misuse "клеветать" and "оклеветать" by ignoring aspect. For example, saying "Я клеветал его вчера" (ongoing action) when intending a completed act. Correct: "Я оклеветал его вчера" (I defamed him yesterday).
• Preposition Error: Using "о" instead of "на" with "клеветать." Incorrect: "клеветать о ком-то." Correct: "клеветать на кого-то."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, defamation, especially in the form of "позорить" (to disgrace), carries significant weight due to historical emphasis on personal and family honor. Public slander or defamation can lead to serious social consequences, and legal actions for "клевета" (slander) are not uncommon.

Related Concepts:

• клевета (slander as a noun)
• позор (shame, disgrace)
• честь (honor)