Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gullible'

English Word: gullible

Key Russian Translations:

• легковерный [lʲɪɡkɐˈvʲernɨj] - [Informal, General usage for describing someone easily deceived]
• наивный [nɐˈivnɨj] - [Informal, Often implies innocence rather than just gullibility]
• доверчивый [dɐˈvʲert͡ɕɪvɨj] - [Formal, Emphasizes trustfulness in professional or serious contexts]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are encountered in everyday Russian conversations, literature, and media, but not as commonly as basic adjectives.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level should grasp the concept, but understanding nuances and inflections may require familiarity with Russian adjective declensions.

Pronunciation (Russian):

легковерный: [lʲɪɡkɐˈvʲernɨj]

наивный: [nɐˈivnɨj]

доверчивый: [dɐˈvʲert͡ɕɪvɨj]

Note on легковерный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("vʲernɨj"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on наивный: The "и" sound is a short vowel, similar to "ee" in "see," but ensure the stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Easily deceived or fooled

Translation(s) & Context:

• легковерный - Commonly used in informal settings to describe someone who is overly trusting and prone to being tricked, such as in social or everyday interactions.
• наивный - Applied in contexts where innocence leads to gullibility, often in educational or emotional scenarios.
• доверчивый - Used in more formal or professional contexts, like business or relationships, to highlight excessive trust.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой легковерный, что поверил мошеннику на улице.

  He is so gullible that he believed the scammer on the street.

• Её наивный характер часто приводит к неприятностям в новых компаниях.

  Her gullible nature often leads to trouble in new companies.

• Не будь таким доверчивым; всегда проверяй информацию перед принятием решений.

  Don't be so gullible; always verify information before making decisions.

• Дети иногда бывают легковерными, поэтому родители должны их предупреждать.

  Children are sometimes gullible, so parents should warn them.

• В интернете многие люди проявляют доверчивость, кликая на подозрительные ссылки.

  On the internet, many people show gullibility by clicking on suspicious links.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations (легковерный, наивный, доверчивый) are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard patterns, though they can be irregular in some cases.

These adjectives follow regular declension patterns, but learners should note that stress and softening of consonants (e.g., 'в' in легковерный) can vary slightly in different forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • наивный - Similar but often connotes childlike innocence.
  • доверчивый - Overlaps with легковерный but is more formal.
  • простодушный - Implies simplicity and lack of guile, used in literary contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • подозрительный - Used for someone who is wary or distrustful.
  • хитрый - Describes someone cunning or sly.

Related Phrases:

• легковерный человек - A gullible person; often used to describe someone naive in social situations.
• наивный подход - A gullible approach; refers to an overly trusting method in problem-solving.
• доверчивый взгляд - A gullible look; implies a trusting expression that might lead to deception.

Usage Notes:

"Gullible" directly corresponds to "легковерный" in most informal contexts, but choose "наивный" if the nuance is more about innocence. In formal writing, "доверчивый" is preferable. Be aware of Russian's adjective agreement rules—always match gender, number, and case with the noun. For example, in sentences involving deception, these words are common in narratives or advice-giving scenarios.

• Avoid overusing in formal Russian, as it might sound judgmental; pair with context for clarity.
• When translating, consider the audience: "легковерный" works for everyday English "gullible," but "наивный" might fit better for child-related contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "наивный" interchangeably with "легковерный" without considering connotations. For instance, a learner might say "Он наивный" when "легковерный" is more accurate for deceit scenarios. Correct: Use "легковерный" for explicit gullibility, as in "Он легковерный" (He is gullible). Explanation: "Наивный" implies innocence, which could soften the meaning unintentionally.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "легковерный женщина" instead of "легковерная женщина." Correct: Always decline based on the noun's gender. Explanation: Russian requires agreement, so mismatches can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "легковерный" often appear in folklore and literature (e.g., in stories by Pushkin), where characters' gullibility leads to moral lessons. This reflects a cultural emphasis on wariness in social interactions, especially in historical contexts like tsarist Russia, where deception was common in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• хитрый (cunning)
• подозрительный (suspicious)
• простак (simpleton)