Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Denounce'

English Word: Denounce

Key Russian Translations:

• осуждать [ɐˈsuʐdʲatʲ] - [Formal, Often used in public or official contexts]
• обвинять [ɐbʲvʲiˈnʲatʲ] - [Formal/Neutral, Often used in legal or accusatory contexts]
• разоблачать [rəzɐˈblaʧʲatʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for exposing wrongdoing]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like politics, law, or criticism)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "осуждать" and "обвинять"; C1 (Advanced) for "разоблачать" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

осуждать: [ɐˈsuʐdʲatʲ]

Note on осуждать: Stress falls on the second syllable; the "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

обвинять: [ɐbʲvʲiˈnʲatʲ]

Note on обвинять: Stress on the third syllable; soft "н" sound requires palatalization.

разоблачать: [rəzɐˈblaʧʲatʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To publicly criticize or condemn

Translation(s) & Context:

• осуждать - Used for moral or public condemnation, often in speeches or writing.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство осудило действия протестующих.

  The government denounced the actions of the protesters.

• Он публично осудил коррупцию в органах власти.

  He publicly denounced corruption in the authorities.

• Мы не можем осуждать его без доказательств.

  We cannot denounce him without evidence.

2. To accuse or charge formally

Translation(s) & Context:

• обвинять - Used in legal or formal accusations, often implying blame.

Usage Examples:

• Его обвинили в краже имущества.

  He was denounced for stealing property.

• Она обвинила коллегу в нечестности.

  She denounced her colleague for dishonesty.

3. To expose or reveal wrongdoing

Translation(s) & Context:

• разоблачать - Focuses on uncovering or exposing hidden wrongs, often in journalism or investigations.

Usage Examples:

• Журналист разоблачил аферу крупной компании.

  The journalist denounced the scam of a major company.

• Они разоблачили шпиона в своих рядах.

  They denounced a spy in their ranks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

осуждать (verb, imperfective): Follows regular first conjugation pattern. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Note: Perfective form is "осудить".

обвинять (verb, imperfective): Follows regular first conjugation. Perfective form is "обвинить".

разоблачать (verb, imperfective): Follows regular first conjugation. Perfective form is "разоблачить".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for осуждать:

• поносить (more derogatory tone)
• критиковать (more neutral criticism)

Synonyms for обвинять:

• упрекать (less formal, more personal)

Antonyms for осуждать/обвинять:

• хвалить (to praise)
• оправдывать (to justify)

Related Phrases:

• осуждать на словах - "to denounce verbally" (used for superficial criticism)
• обвинять в преступлении - "to denounce for a crime" (common in legal contexts)
• разоблачить заговор - "to denounce a conspiracy" (used for exposing plots)

Usage Notes:

• "осуждать" is generally used for public or moral condemnation and is less personal than "обвинять".
• "обвинять" often implies a direct accusation, frequently in legal or formal settings.
• "разоблачать" is more specific to exposing hidden truths or wrongdoings and is less common in everyday speech.
• Be mindful of the aspect (imperfective vs. perfective) when using these verbs, as it affects the completeness of the action in Russian.

Common Errors:

1. Confusing "осуждать" with "обвинять": English speakers might use "осуждать" when a direct accusation is meant, but "обвинять" is more appropriate for personal or legal blame. For example:

• Wrong: Я осуждаю тебя за кражу. (Sounds like moral judgment rather than accusation)
• Correct: Я обвиняю тебя в краже. (Direct accusation)

2. Misusing aspects: Using the imperfective form when a completed action (perfective) is intended. For instance, "осудить" (perfective) should be used for a finalized act of denouncement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, public denunciation (especially using "осуждать") carries significant weight, often tied to historical contexts like Soviet-era criticism of dissent. It can evoke strong emotional or political connotations, so use with caution in sensitive discussions.

Related Concepts:

• критика (criticism)
• обвинение (accusation)
• разоблачение (exposure)