Russian Translation(s) & Details for '{{doubt}}'

English Word: {{doubt}}

Key Russian Translations:

• Сомнение /sɐmˈnʲenʲje/ - [Noun, Formal]
• Сомневаться /sɐmˈnʲevətʲsə/ - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday conversation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions, literature, and daily speech, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun and verb inflections, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge. For "сомнение" as a noun: B1; for "сомневаться" as a verb: B2 due to conjugation variations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Сомнение: /sɐmˈnʲenʲje/

Note on Сомнение: The stress is on the second syllable; the palatalized 'н' sound (/nʲ/) can be tricky for English speakers, as it's softer than in English. Variations in fast speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Сомневаться: /sɐmˈnʲevətʲsə/

Note on Сомневаться: This is a reflexive verb; the 'тʲ' sound is palatalized, and the ending changes with conjugation. Pay attention to the reflexive particle "-ся" which affects pronunciation in context.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Сомнение - Used in formal contexts like philosophy, debates, or self-reflection to express doubt about facts or decisions.
• Скептицизм - In more intellectual or academic settings, implying a broader skeptical attitude.

Usage Examples:

• В его словах было лёгкое сомнение. (V yego slovakh bylo lyogkoye somneniye.)

  In his words, there was a slight doubt. (This example shows the noun in a neutral, everyday context discussing emotions.)

• Её сомнение в успехе проекта заставило её передумать. (Yeyo somneniye v uspekhe proyekta zastavilo yeyo peredumat'.)

  Her doubt about the project's success made her change her mind. (Illustrates doubt influencing decisions, with the noun in genitive case.)

• Без сомнения, это был правильный выбор. (Bez somneniya, eto byl pravil'nyy vybor.)

  Without doubt, this was the right choice. (Here, it's used idiomatically to negate doubt, showing contrast in affirmative sentences.)

• Сомнение – это двигатель прогресса. (Somneniye – eto dvigatel' progressa.)

  Doubt is the engine of progress. (Demonstrates an abstract, philosophical usage.)

Meaning 2: To feel uncertain or question something (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Сомневаться - Common in informal conversations, such as expressing hesitation in personal opinions or decisions.
• Не быть уверенным - A more literal phrase for contexts where doubt is tied to confidence.

Usage Examples:

• Я сомневаюсь в его честности. (Ya somnevayus' v yego chestnosti.)

  I doubt his honesty. (This shows the verb in present tense, expressing personal skepticism.)

• Она никогда не сомневается в друзьях. (Ona nikogda ne somnevayetsya v druz'yakh.)

  She never doubts her friends. (Illustrates negation and use in habitual contexts.)

• Почему ты сомневаешься в этом плане? (Pochemu ty somnevayesh'sya v etom plane?)

  Why are you doubting this plan? (Used in questions, highlighting interpersonal communication.)

• Мы сомневались, но в итоге всё получилось. (My somnevalis', no v itoge vsyo poluchilos'.)

  We doubted, but in the end, everything worked out. (Shows past tense and resolution of doubt.)

• Не сомневайся, я помогу. (Ne somnevaysya, ya pomogu.)

  Don't doubt, I'll help. (Imperative form, encouraging removal of doubt.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Сомнение" (noun, neuter gender):

This is a third-declension noun with regular inflections. It does not change in the nominative singular but follows standard patterns for other cases and numbers.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Сомнение	Сомнения
Genitive	Сомнения	Сомнений
Dative	Сомнению	Сомнениям
Accusative	Сомнение	Сомнения
Instrumental	Сомнением	Сомнениями
Prepositional	Сомнении	Сомнениях

For "Сомневаться" (verb, imperfective):

This is a first-conjugation verb with reflexive particle "-ся". It has regular conjugations but changes with person, tense, and aspect.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense
I	Сомневаюсь	Сомневался/а
You (informal)	Сомневаешься	Сомневался/ась
He/She/It	Сомневается	Сомневался/ась
We	Сомневаемся	Сомневались/ась
You (formal/plural)	Сомневаетесь	Сомневались/ась
They	Сомневаются	Сомневались/ась

Note: The verb is imperfective; for perfective, use "усомниться" in certain contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Недоверие (nedoveriye) - Similar but implies more mistrust.
  • Скептицизм (skeptitsizm) - Used for intellectual doubt, often in formal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Уверенность (uverenost') - Direct opposite, meaning confidence.
  • Вера (vera) - Implies faith or belief, contrasting with doubt in philosophical discussions.

Related Phrases:

• Без сомнения (Bez somneniya) - Without doubt; used to affirm certainty.
• Вызывать сомнение (Vyzvyvat' somneniye) - To arouse doubt; in contexts of suspicion or questioning.
• Сомневаться в чём-то (Somnevatsya v chyom-to) - To doubt something; a common fixed expression for expressing uncertainty.

Usage Notes:

"Сомнение" as a noun directly corresponds to the English "doubt" in abstract or emotional contexts, but it's often used in more formal Russian than everyday speech. For the verb "сомневаться", it's reflexive and must include "-ся", which English learners might forget. Choose between translations based on context: use "сомнение" for static doubt and "сомневаться" for active questioning. Be mindful of case agreements in sentences, as Russian requires nouns to inflect with prepositions.

• In formal writing, pair with adverbs like "немного" (a little) for nuance.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; Russian often expresses doubt through idioms.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the reflexive particle, e.g., saying "сомневать" instead of "сомневаться". Correct: Use "сомневаться" for the verb form. Error example: "Я сомневать в этом" (incorrect) vs. "Я сомневаюсь в этом" (correct) – the reflexive ending is essential for the verb's meaning.

Another error is confusing cases: "В сомнение" (incorrect for "in doubt") vs. "В сомнении" (correct, prepositional case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, doubt is often linked to intellectual traditions like those of Russian literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works), where it represents deep philosophical inquiry. Expressions of doubt can be seen as a sign of thoughtfulness rather than weakness, contrasting with some Western views.

Related Concepts:

• Уверенность (uverenost')
• Скептицизм (skeptitsizm)
• Недоверие (nedoveriye)