Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'genuine'

English Word: genuine

Key Russian Translations:

• настоящий [nə.stɐˈja.ʂɨj] - [Formal, commonly used for authenticity in everyday and official contexts]
• подлинный [pədˈlʲin.nɨj] - [Formal, often in legal or historical contexts, such as for originality or authenticity]
• искренний [ɪsˈkrʲen.nɨj] - [Informal, when emphasizing sincerity or heartfelt genuineness in personal interactions]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in both spoken and written Russian, especially in discussions about authenticity, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary like "good" or "bad".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the basic usage, but mastering inflections and contextual nuances may require practice. For 'настоящий' and 'подлинный', difficulty is B1; for 'искренний', it is A2 due to its simpler emotional connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

настоящий: [nə.stɐˈja.ʂɨj]

Note on настоящий: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ja"), and the "щ" sound is a soft, retroflex fricative that can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the "sh" in "she" but with more tongue curl. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

подлинный: [pədˈlʲin.nɨj]

Note on подлинный: The "лʲ" is a palatalized "l" sound, which is softer than in English; practice with native audio to avoid hardening it.

искренний: [ɪsˈkrʲen.nɨj]

Note on искренний: The initial "и" is a short, unstressed vowel; ensure not to overemphasize it, as in casual speech it blends quickly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Authentic, real, or not fake (Referring to objects, items, or situations that are true and unaltered)

Translation(s) & Context:

• настоящий - Used in formal and everyday contexts to describe something that is genuinely real, e.g., in shopping or authentication processes.
• подлинный - Applied in more official or historical settings, such as verifying documents or artifacts, to emphasize originality.

Usage Examples:

• Этот документ настоящий и подписан оригинальным владельцем.

  This document is genuine and signed by the original owner.

• В музее выставлены подлинные картины известных художников.

  In the museum, genuine paintings by famous artists are exhibited.

• Она купила настоящий кожаный ремень в магазине.

  She bought a genuine leather belt from the store.

• Подлинный паспорт необходим для путешествий за границу.

  A genuine passport is required for traveling abroad.

Meaning 2: Sincere, heartfelt, or true in emotion (Referring to people, feelings, or intentions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• искренний - Common in informal or emotional contexts, such as friendships or personal conversations, to convey genuineness of intent.
• настоящий - Occasionally used interchangeably but more for tangible sincerity, e.g., in relationships.

Usage Examples:

• Его улыбка была искренней, и все почувствовали теплоту.

  His smile was genuine, and everyone felt the warmth.

• Настоящий друг всегда поддержит в трудные времена.

  A genuine friend always supports you in tough times.

• Она выразила искренние соболезнования на похоронах.

  She expressed genuine condolences at the funeral.

• Искренний разговор помог им разрешить конфликт.

  A genuine conversation helped them resolve the conflict.

• В его глазах была настоящая забота о семье.

  In his eyes, there was genuine care for the family.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. 'Настоящий' and 'подлинный' follow standard adjective patterns with regular inflections, while 'искренний' is also regular but less variable in emotional contexts.

Note: These adjectives do not change in invariable contexts like after certain prepositions, but they generally follow the standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives in Russian grammar.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • аутентичный (authentic, more modern loanword, often used in tech or art contexts)
  • подлинный (overlaps with main translation but emphasizes originality)
  • истинный (true, with a philosophical connotation, e.g., in literature)
• Antonyms:
  • фальшивый (fake or counterfeit, commonly used for objects)
  • лицемерный (hypocritical, for insincere people or emotions)

Related Phrases:

• настоящий друг - A true friend; used to describe loyal relationships in everyday conversations.
• подлинная история - The genuine history; often in historical or documentary contexts to mean an accurate account.
• искренние чувства - Genuine feelings; common in emotional or psychological discussions, implying heartfelt emotions.
• настоящий момент - The genuine moment; a phrase in philosophy or mindfulness, meaning the authentic present.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'genuine' translations like 'настоящий' are versatile but context-dependent: use 'настоящий' for tangible authenticity (e.g., products), 'подлинный' for formal verification (e.g., documents), and 'искренний' for emotional sincerity. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which has no direct equivalent in English. For example, choose 'настоящий' over 'подлинный' in casual speech for simplicity. Be cautious with regional variations; in formal writing, 'подлинный' might be preferred for legal precision.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'настоящий' interchangeably with 'искренний' without considering context, e.g., saying "настоящий улыбка" (incorrect for emotional sincerity) instead of "искренняя улыбка".
  Correct: "Его улыбка была искренней." (His smile was genuine.)
  Explanation: 'Настоящий' implies physical authenticity, while 'искренний' is for emotions; confusing them can lead to awkward phrasing.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "настоящий книга" (incorrect; should be "настоящая книга" for feminine noun).
  Correct: "Это настоящая книга." (This is a genuine book.)
  Explanation: Russian requires agreement, so always adjust the ending based on the noun's gender and case to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'настоящий' often carry a deeper connotation of authenticity tied to national identity or heritage. For instance, 'настоящий русский' (a genuine Russian) might evoke ideals of traditional values or resilience, reflecting historical pride in authenticity amid counterfeits, especially post-Soviet era discussions on originality in art and goods.

Related Concepts:

• аутентичный
• истинный
• фальшивый
• подлинность