Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dependable'

English Word: dependable

Key Russian Translations:

• надежный [nɐˈdʲeʐnɨj] - [Formal, Informal]
• достоверный [dəstɐˈvʲernɨj] - [Formal, often in contexts emphasizing accuracy or verification]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and professional settings in Russian)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of adjective inflections; for 'достоверный', also B2 due to nuanced contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

надежный: [nɐˈdʲeʐnɨj]

Note on надежный: The stress falls on the second syllable ('de'), and the 'zh' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a clear 'y' at the end.

достоверный: [dəstɐˈvʲernɨj]

Note on достоверный: The initial 'd' is soft, and the stress is on the third syllable ('ver'). This word may have slight regional variations in speed.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Reliable or trustworthy (referring to people, objects, or systems that can be depended upon)

Translation(s) & Context:

• надежный - Used in both formal and informal contexts, such as describing a person or tool that performs consistently without failure.
• достоверный - Primarily formal, often in contexts involving facts, data, or evidence, where reliability implies accuracy.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда надежный сотрудник, который выполняет задачи вовремя.

  He is always a dependable employee who completes tasks on time.

• Эта машина надежная, но требует регулярного обслуживания.

  This car is dependable, but it requires regular maintenance.

• Достоверные источники подтверждают информацию о событии.

  Dependable sources confirm the information about the event.

• В экстремальных ситуациях надежный друг — это настоящая находка.

  In extreme situations, a dependable friend is a real asset.

• Достоверный отчет помог избежать ошибок в проекте.

  The dependable report helped avoid mistakes in the project.

Meaning 2: Steady or consistent (implying endurance over time)

Translation(s) & Context:

• надежный - Applied in contexts of long-term reliability, such as machinery or relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Надежный интернет-соединение критически важно для удаленной работы.

  A dependable internet connection is critical for remote work.

• Ее надежный характер делает ее идеальным лидером команды.

  Her dependable nature makes her an ideal team leader.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'надежный' and 'достоверный' are adjectives in Russian, which inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for most words, but they can be irregular in certain forms. Below is a table for 'надежный' as an example; 'достоверный' follows similar rules.

For 'достоверный', the inflections are similar: e.g., Nominative: достоверный (m), достоверная (f), достоверное (n), достоверные (pl). These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • достоверный (similar to 'надежный', but emphasizes factual reliability; often used in scientific or legal contexts)
  • твердый (implies firmness and steadiness, with a slight connotation of resilience)
• Antonyms:
  • ненадежный (directly opposite, meaning unreliable or untrustworthy)
  • непостоянный (unstable or inconsistent)

Related Phrases:

• надежный партнер - A dependable partner; used in business or personal relationships to indicate reliability.
• достоверная информация - Dependable information; common in media and research contexts.
• надежный способ - A reliable method; often refers to proven techniques in everyday problem-solving.

Usage Notes:

'Надежный' is the most direct translation for 'dependable' in general contexts, while 'достоверный' is better for situations involving accuracy or verification. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For example, use 'надежный' in informal daily conversations but opt for 'достоверный' in formal writing. When choosing between translations, consider the context: if reliability stems from trust, use 'надежный'; if from factual integrity, use 'достоверный'.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget to inflect the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "надежный машина" instead of "надежная машина" (for feminine nouns). Correct: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case.

• Confusing 'надежный' with 'достоверный': Learners might use 'надежный' in a factual context, like "надежный данные" (incorrect), when 'достоверные данные' is more appropriate. Explanation: 'Надежный' implies general reliability, while 'достоверный' specifies truthfulness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'надежный' often tie into themes of endurance and trust, influenced by historical contexts such as the Soviet era's emphasis on reliable machinery and comradeship. For instance, a 'надежный друг' reflects the cultural value of loyalty in friendships, which is deeply rooted in Russian literature and social norms.

Related Concepts:

• доверчивый (trusting)
• устойчивый (stable)
• верный (faithful)