Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'espouse'

English Word: espouse

Key Russian Translations:

• поддерживать [pɐd.dɨrˈʐɨ.vatʲ] - [Formal, commonly used in written and spoken contexts for supporting ideas or causes]
• принимать [prʲɪˈnʲimatʲ] - [Formal, often for adopting beliefs or principles]

Frequency: Medium (The verb is commonly encountered in discussions, media, and literature but not as frequent as basic everyday verbs.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced usage, suitable for upper-intermediate learners. For 'принимать', it may be slightly easier at B1 due to its regularity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

поддерживать: [pɐd.dɨrˈʐɨ.vatʲ]

принимать: [prʲɪˈnʲimatʲ]

Note on поддерживать: The stress falls on the third syllable (-ʐɨ.vatʲ), and the 'дд' can be challenging for non-native speakers due to the double consonant pronunciation. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To publicly support or adopt a belief, cause, or idea

Translation(s) & Context:

• поддерживать - Used in formal discussions, such as politics or social issues, to indicate ongoing support.
• принимать - Applied in contexts involving personal adoption of ideas, like philosophy or religion.

Usage Examples:

• Он активно поддерживает права человека в своей стране.

  He actively espouses human rights in his country.

• Многие интеллектуалы принимают экологические ценности в повседневной жизни.

  Many intellectuals espouse environmental values in their daily lives.

• Эта организация поддерживает равенство в образовании через различные программы.

  This organization espouses equality in education through various programs.

• Политик принял либеральные взгляды после долгих размышлений.

  The politician espoused liberal views after much reflection.

• В своей речи она поддерживала необходимость реформ в здравоохранении.

  In her speech, she espoused the need for healthcare reforms.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'поддерживать' and 'принимать' are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they express ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for the present tense conjugations; full paradigms include past, future, and imperative forms.

Note: These verbs are regular in their conjugations, but 'поддерживать' may have slight irregularities in perfective forms like 'поддержать'. They do not change based on gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • защищать (zashchishchat' - more defensive support, often in conflicts)
  • пропагандировать (propagandirovat' - active promotion of ideas)
• Antonyms:
  • отвергать (otvergat' - to reject outright)
  • осуждать (osuzhdat' - to condemn)

Related Phrases:

• Поддерживать идею - To espouse an idea (Common in debates, meaning to back a concept actively).
• Принимать на вооружение - To espouse or adopt as a strategy (Literal: to take into armament, used metaphorically for ideas).
• Активно поддерживать движение - To actively espouse a movement (Emphasizes ongoing involvement).

Usage Notes:

• 'Поддерживать' best matches 'espouse' in contexts of sustained support for causes, similar to English usage in social or political discussions, but it implies action over time.
• 'Принимать' is ideal for adopting beliefs, akin to 'espousing' personal philosophies, and is often used in formal writing; choose based on whether the support is ongoing or initial.
• Be mindful of aspect in Russian: Use imperfective for general espousing and perfective (e.g., поддержать) for completed actions.
• In formal contexts, these verbs pair well with abstract nouns like 'идею' (idea) or 'принципы' (principles).

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'поддерживать' with 'поддержать' (perfective form), leading to incorrect aspect usage. For example, a learner might say "Я поддержал идею" when meaning ongoing support, but it implies a one-time action. Correct: Use 'поддерживаю' for continuous espousing.
• Error: Overusing 'принимать' in political contexts where 'поддерживать' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я принимаю политику" instead of "Я поддерживаю политику" for 'I espouse this policy'. Explanation: 'Принимать' suggests personal adoption, not public advocacy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, espousing ideas like those in 'поддерживать' often ties to historical movements, such as Soviet-era support for communism or modern environmentalism. Words like these carry connotations of collective action, reflecting Russia's emphasis on community and state involvement in personal beliefs.

Related Concepts:

• защищать
• пропаганда
• идеология