Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'faith'

English Word: faith

Key Russian Translations:

• вера (/ˈvʲerə/) - [Formal, Religious or philosophical context; used in discussions of belief or trust]
• доверие (/dəvʲɪˈrʲejə/) - [Informal, Everyday context; emphasizes loyalty or confidence rather than religious faith]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in religious, philosophical, and interpersonal contexts, but not as ubiquitous as everyday words)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and contextual usage; for "вера", it's straightforward, but "доверие" may vary slightly in nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вера: /ˈvʲerə/

доверие: /dəvʲɪˈrʲejə/

Note on вера: The initial "в" is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative, and the stress is on the first syllable. Be cautious with the palatalized "р" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on доверие: Stress falls on the third syllable; the "е" at the end is reduced in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Religious or spiritual belief

Translation(s) & Context:

• вера - Used in formal or spiritual contexts, such as discussing personal beliefs or organized religion.

Usage Examples:

• Моя вера в Бога помогает мне в трудные времена.

  My faith in God helps me through difficult times.

• Вера — это основа многих культур и традиций.

  Faith is the foundation of many cultures and traditions.

• Без веры в себя невозможно достичь успеха.

  Without faith in oneself, it's impossible to achieve success.

• Его вера была испытана во время войны.

  His faith was tested during the war.

Meaning 2: Trust or confidence in someone or something

Translation(s) & Context:

• доверие - Applied in interpersonal or professional settings, implying reliability or loyalty.

Usage Examples:

• Её доверие к другу было предано.

  Her faith (trust) in her friend was betrayed.

• В бизнесе доверие — ключ к успешным партнерствам.

  In business, faith (trust) is key to successful partnerships.

• Он потерял доверие после того инцидента.

  He lost faith (trust) after that incident.

• Доверие между странами строится на взаимном уважении.

  Faith (trust) between countries is built on mutual respect.

• Моё доверие к этой компании возросло после хорошего опыта.

  My faith (trust) in this company has grown after a positive experience.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "вера" (a feminine noun in the first declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with variations by case and number. It is invariable in plural for most uses but can change in singular forms.

For "доверие" (neuter noun), it is largely invariable but follows basic patterns:

• Nominative: доверие
• Genitive: доверия
• Dative: доверию
• Accusative: доверие
• Instrumental: доверием
• Prepositional: доверии

Both words do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • верание (more archaic, emphasizing devout belief)
  • убеждение (conviction, with a focus on personal certainty)
• Antonyms:
  • неверие (disbelief, especially in religious contexts)
  • сомнение (doubt, implying uncertainty)

Note: "верание" is less common in modern Russian and carries a slightly more formal or historical connotation.

Related Phrases:

• вера в Бога - Faith in God; used in religious discussions to express spiritual devotion.
• потерять доверие - To lose faith/trust; common in personal or professional contexts indicating betrayal.
• слепая вера - Blind faith; implies unquestioning belief, often with a negative nuance in critical thinking scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Вера" directly corresponds to the religious or abstract sense of "faith" in English, while "доверие" aligns more with trust or confidence. In Russian, choose "вера" for spiritual contexts and "доверие" for interpersonal ones to avoid confusion. Be mindful of grammatical gender: "вера" is feminine, affecting adjective agreements (e.g., "сильная вера" for "strong faith"). In formal writing, these words are versatile, but in casual speech, they might be replaced with simpler expressions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вера" interchangeably with "доверие" without context, e.g., saying "Моя вера в друга" when meaning trust. Correct: Use "доверие в друге" to specify trust. Explanation: This confuses the spiritual and relational meanings, leading to unnatural phrasing.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, such as saying "верой" in nominative case instead of "вера". Correct: "Моя вера сильна" (not "Моя верой сильна"). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, and beginners often overlook declensions, which can alter the sentence's meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "вера" is deeply intertwined with Orthodox Christianity, which has historically shaped national identity. For instance, phrases like "вера в Бога" often evoke icons of Russian spirituality, such as in literature by Dostoevsky. This cultural weight can add emotional depth, making "faith" not just a personal belief but a communal or historical force.

Related Concepts:

• религия (religion)
• духовность (spirituality)
• убеждения (convictions)