Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hearsay'

English Word: hearsay

Key Russian Translations:

• Слух (/sluχ/) - [Formal, used in news or legal contexts]
• Сплетня (/ˈsplʲetnʲə/) - [Informal, often implies gossip or idle talk]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in media, conversations, and legal discussions, but not as frequent as everyday words like "hello").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of nuances in context. For "Слух", it's B1; for "Сплетня", it might be A2 due to its simpler structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Слух: /sluχ/ (The "х" is a guttural sound, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch". Stress on the first syllable.)

Сплетня: /ˈsplʲetnʲə/ (Palatalized "л" and "т", with stress on the second syllable. Note the soft consonants, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on Слух: Be careful with the final "х" sound; it's voiceless and can vary regionally. In some dialects, it might soften.

Note on Сплетня: The word ends in a soft "я", which affects the preceding consonant; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unverified information or rumor passed along by others

Translation(s) & Context:

• Слух - Used in formal contexts like news reports or legal testimony, where accuracy is questioned.
• Сплетня - Applied in informal, social settings, often with a negative connotation of baseless gossip.

Usage Examples:

• Этот слух распространился по всему городу за один день.

  This hearsay spread throughout the city in just one day.

• Не верь сплетням; всегда проверяй факты перед тем, как делиться ими.

  Don't believe hearsay; always verify facts before sharing them.

• В суде адвокат отверг все слухи как неподтвержденные.

  In court, the lawyer dismissed all hearsay as unverified.

• Сплетня о звездах часто заполняет страницы таблоидов.

  Hearsay about celebrities often fills the pages of tabloids.

• Этот слух оказался правдой, но изначально никто не верил.

  This hearsay turned out to be true, but no one believed it at first.

Meaning 2: Information based on second-hand accounts, often unreliable

Translation(s) & Context:

• Слух - In professional or academic contexts, emphasizing the lack of direct evidence.
• Досужие разговоры - Less common, used for casual, idle chatter implying hearsay.

Usage Examples:

• Досужие разговоры в офисе превратились в полноценный слух о увольнениях.

  Idle talk in the office turned into full-blown hearsay about layoffs.

• Слух о новой политике компании быстро облетел всех сотрудников.

  Hearsay about the company's new policy quickly circulated among all employees.

• В исторических исследованиях важно отличать слух от проверенных источников.

  In historical research, it's crucial to distinguish hearsay from verified sources.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Слух" (a masculine noun) and "Сплетня" (a feminine noun) follow standard Russian inflection patterns. "Слух" is a third-declension noun and changes by case and number, while "Сплетня" is first-declension.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregularities for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Молва (implies widespread rumor, often historical)
  • Разговоры (general talk, less negative than Сплетня)
• Antonyms:
  • Факты (facts, direct evidence)
  • Правда (truth, reliable information)

Related Phrases:

• Распустить слухи - To spread hearsay; often used in contexts of misinformation.
• Полный сплетен - Full of hearsay; refers to environments like social media.
• Слухи о... - Hearsay about...; a common phrase in news or gossip.

Usage Notes:

"Слух" directly corresponds to "hearsay" in formal English contexts, such as legal or journalistic settings, and is neutral. "Сплетня" is more informal and carries a pejorative tone, similar to "gossip." Choose based on context: use "Слух" for objective discussions and "Сплетня" for social critiques. Grammatically, both nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case with accompanying words. For example, in sentences, ensure adjectives or verbs match accordingly to avoid errors.

• In spoken Russian, "Слух" might be downplayed in polite conversation to maintain harmony.
• When translating, consider the audience; "Сплетня" is best for casual English equivalents like "rumormongering."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Слух" interchangeably with "Сплетня" without considering formality. Incorrect: "Это слух о политике." (if meant informally) Correct: "Это сплетня о политике." Explanation: "Слух" is for factual rumors, while "Сплетня" fits gossip; mixing them can change the tone unintendedly.
• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying "О слух" instead of "О слухе" in prepositional case. Incorrect: "Я думаю о слух." Correct: "Я думаю о слухе." Explanation: Russian requires proper case for prepositions, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hearsay like "слухи" often plays a role in folklore and daily life, reflecting a historical distrust of official narratives due to events like the Soviet era. Words like "Сплетня" can highlight social dynamics in close-knit communities, where gossip serves as both entertainment and a warning system, emphasizing the importance of verifying information in interpersonal relations.

Related Concepts:

• Молва
• Сплетни
• Факты