Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'denigrate'

English Word: denigrate

Key Russian Translations:

• очернить /ɐˈt͡ɕernʲɪtʲ/ - [Formal]
• клеветать /klʲɪˈvʲetətʲ/ - [Formal, Legal contexts]
• обесценить /ɐbʲɪsʲˈt͡ɕenʲɪtʲ/ - [Informal, when emphasizing devaluation]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly used in formal writing, media, and legal discussions but not in everyday casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb conjugations and nuances, suitable for learners with a grasp of basic Russian grammar. 'очернить' and 'клеветать' are B2, while 'обесценить' may be B1 due to simpler contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

очернить: /ɐˈt͡ɕernʲɪtʲ/

клеветать: /klʲɪˈvʲetətʲ/

обесценить: /ɐbʲɪsʲˈt͡ɕenʲɪtʲ/

Note on очернить: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'ч' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in fast speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To criticize unfairly or belittle someone or something

Translation(s) & Context:

• очернить - Used in formal contexts to describe defamation of character or reputation, often in written media or legal settings.
• клеветать - Applied in legal or accusatory contexts, implying false statements to harm someone's image.
• обесценить - Employed when the criticism diminishes value, such as in debates or informal critiques.

Usage Examples:

• Он очернил репутацию известного политика в своей статье.

  He denigrated the reputation of a famous politician in his article.

• Не стоит клеветать на коллег, это может привести к судебным разбиратствам.

  Don't denigrate your colleagues; it could lead to legal proceedings.

• Её комментарии обесценили усилия всей команды.

  Her comments denigrated the efforts of the entire team.

• В интернете люди часто очерняют других, не проверяя факты.

  On the internet, people often denigrate others without verifying facts.

• Клеветать на конкурентов – это не этично, даже если они сильные соперники.

  Denigrating competitors is unethical, even if they are strong rivals.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations are verbs, which follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'очернить' and 'клеветать' are imperfective verbs, while 'обесценить' is perfective. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, mood, person, and number. Below is a table for 'очернить' as an example; similar patterns apply to others with slight variations.

For 'клеветать', it follows a similar imperfective pattern but is more irregular in some forms. 'обесценить' is perfective and uses auxiliary verbs for aspects. Invariable forms do not apply here, as these are fully inflected verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • порочить (to discredit; more neutral and less intense than клеветать)
  • дискредитировать (to discredit; used in formal or professional contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • хвалить (to praise; directly opposite in meaning, used in positive contexts)
  • возвышать (to elevate; implies enhancement rather than denigration)

Related Phrases:

• Очернить имя – To denigrate someone's name (implies damaging reputation in a personal context).
• Клеветать на кого-то – To denigrate someone (used in accusatory speech, often legally).
• Обесценить достижения – To denigrate achievements (focuses on undervaluing accomplishments).

Usage Notes:

'Очернить' is the most direct translation of 'denigrate' in formal English-Russian contexts, especially when involving reputational harm. Use 'клеветать' for situations with false accusations, as it carries legal connotations. 'Обесценить' is better for abstract devaluation, like in economics or criticism. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system: choose imperfective for ongoing actions (e.g., 'очернять') and perfective for completed ones. In everyday speech, these words are more common in written or formal oral settings rather than casual conversations.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'очернить' with 'обесценить': English learners often use 'обесценить' when 'очернить' is more appropriate for personal defamation. Incorrect: "Он обесценил её репутацию" (implies financial devaluation). Correct: "Он очернил её репутацию" – This error stems from overlapping meanings, so focus on context to differentiate.

• Improper conjugation: Beginners might forget gender agreement in past tense, e.g., saying "Она очернил" instead of "Она очернила". Always adjust for gender, number, and tense based on the subject.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'очернить' and 'клеветать' are often linked to historical contexts of censorship and propaganda, especially during the Soviet era. Accusations of denigration can lead to serious social or legal repercussions, reflecting a cultural emphasis on protecting personal and national honor.

Related Concepts:

• клевета
• дискредитация
• порочащий