Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Deny'

English Word: Deny

Key Russian Translations:

• отрицать [ɐtrʲɪˈtsatʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Used in statements or arguments]
• отказывать [ɐtkɐˈzɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Often used in contexts of refusing permission or requests]

Frequency: Medium (Common in both spoken and written contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "отрицать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "отказывать" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

отрицать: [ɐtrʲɪˈtsatʲ]

Note on отрицать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ц" sound is a sharp, unvoiced affricate, similar to "ts" in "cats."

отказывать: [ɐtkɐˈzɨvətʲ]

Note on отказывать: Stress on the third syllable. The "ы" sound is a central vowel, unique to Russian, not found in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To refuse to admit the truth or existence of something

Translation(s) & Context:

• отрицать - Used when denying a fact, accusation, or statement (e.g., in debates or conversations).

Usage Examples:

• Он отрицает все обвинения в свой адрес.

  He denies all accusations against him.

• Она отрицает, что знала об этом раньше.

  She denies knowing about it earlier.

• Нельзя отрицать важность образования.

  One cannot deny the importance of education.

2. To refuse to grant or allow something

Translation(s) & Context:

• отказывать - Used in formal contexts to refuse permission, access, or a request.

Usage Examples:

• Ему отказали в визе.

  He was denied a visa.

• Суд отказал в удовлетворении иска.

  The court denied the claim.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

отрицать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in the present, past, and future tenses. Follows the first conjugation pattern.

отказывать (Verb, Imperfective): Also follows the first conjugation pattern with slight irregularities in stress shifts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "отрицать":

• опровергать (to refute, more formal)
• оспаривать (to dispute, often in arguments)

Synonyms for "отказывать":

• отвергать (to reject, often formal)

Antonyms:

• признавать (to admit, to acknowledge)
• разрешать (to allow, to permit)

Related Phrases:

• отрицать очевидное - "to deny the obvious" (used when someone refuses to accept clear facts)
• отказывать в помощи - "to deny help" (used in contexts of refusing assistance)

Usage Notes:

• "отрицать" is primarily used to deny statements, facts, or accusations, and is more common in everyday speech.
• "отказывать" implies a formal refusal, often of a request or right, and is frequently used in legal or administrative contexts.
• Choose "отрицать" for abstract denials (e.g., denying guilt) and "отказывать" for concrete refusals (e.g., denying access).

Common Errors:

• Mixing "отрицать" and "отказывать": English speakers often use them interchangeably. Incorrect: "Я отказываю это обвинение" (wrong verb for denying an accusation). Correct: "Я отрицаю это обвинение" (I deny this accusation).
• Incorrect prepositions with "отказывать": The verb requires the preposition "в" with the dative case (e.g., "отказать в просьбе"). Incorrect: "отказать на просьбу." Correct: "отказать в просьбе."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, denying something outright with "отрицать" can sometimes be seen as confrontational, especially in personal conversations. Russians may soften denials with explanations or indirect language to maintain politeness.

Related Concepts:

• опровержение (refutation)
• отказ (refusal)
• запрещение (prohibition)