Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hoax'

English Word: hoax

Key Russian Translations:

• Розыгрыш [rɐˈzɨɡrɨʂ] - [Informal, often used for pranks or light-hearted deceptions]
• Обман [ɐbˈman] - [Formal, implies deliberate deception or fraud]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and media, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual nuances for accurate use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Розыгрыш: [rɐˈzɨɡrɨʂ]

Note on Розыгрыш: The 'ш' sound is a soft, retroflex fricative; stress on the second syllable. Common mispronunciation by English speakers involves softening the 'р' too much.

Audio: []

Обман: [ɐbˈman]

Note on Обман: Stress on the second syllable; the 'б' is a voiced bilabial stop. Pay attention to the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A deceptive act or trick intended for amusement (e.g., a prank)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Розыгрыш - Used in informal settings like social gatherings or media, to describe harmless fun.
• Обман - Less common for this meaning; used if the hoax has a deceptive element, but typically in more serious contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Мой друг устроил розыгрыш, сказав, что выиграл в лотерею.

  My friend pulled a hoax, saying he won the lottery.

• Этот розыгрыш в интернете обманул многих людей, но никто не пострадал.

  This online hoax deceived many people, but no one was harmed.

• В школьные годы мы часто устраивали розыгрыши друг с другом.

  In our school years, we often played hoaxes on each other.

• Розыгрыш удался, и все засмеялись.

  The hoax succeeded, and everyone laughed.

Meaning 2: A false claim or story intended to mislead (e.g., in news or scams)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Обман - Preferred in formal or serious contexts, such as journalism or legal discussions.
• Розыгрыш - Used if the hoax is playful, but can overlap if it's misleading.

Usage Examples:

• Этот новостной обман был разоблачен журналистами как чистый hoax.

  This news hoax was exposed by journalists as a pure deception.

• Обман в интернете часто начинается с простого розыгрыша, но может привести к серьёзным проблемам.

  A hoax on the internet often starts as a simple deception but can lead to serious issues.

• Правительственные чиновники предупреждают о распространённых обманах в социальных сетях.

  Government officials warn about widespread hoaxes on social media.

• Этот hoax с фото инопланетян оказался просто обманом.

  This hoax with alien photos turned out to be just a deception.

• Обман в науке, такой как фальсифицированные данные, может разрушить карьеры.

  A hoax in science, like falsified data, can ruin careers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. 'Розыгрыш' is masculine and follows the standard pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. 'Обман' is masculine and also follows a regular pattern.

These are regular inflections; no irregularities noted.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Мистификация (mystification) - Often used for elaborate hoaxes, with a connotation of theatrical deception.
  • Подделка (falsification) - Applies to forged or fake items, slightly more formal.
• Antonyms:
  • Истина (truth)
  • Реальность (reality)

Related Phrases:

• Устроить розыгрыш - To pull a hoax; used for organizing a prank.
• Быть жертвой обмана - To be a victim of a hoax; implies falling for deception.
• Разоблачить обман - To expose a hoax; common in investigative contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Розыгрыш' is more casual and aligns with English 'hoax' in playful scenarios, while 'обман' emphasizes intentional deceit and is better for formal or negative contexts. English speakers should note that Russian requires case agreement; for example, use genitive after prepositions like 'из' (from). Choose based on context: opt for 'розыгрыш' for fun and 'обман' for serious fraud to avoid tonal mismatches.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'розыгрыш' in serious contexts, e.g., saying "Это был розыгрыш" for a criminal scam. Correct: Use 'обман' instead, as in "Это был обман". Explanation: 'Розыгрыш' implies harmlessness, which can downplay the severity.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "Я видел розыгрыш" instead of "Я видел розыгрыш" (correct for accusative). Explanation: Always check the case; in this example, it's already correct, but learners often forget to change for other cases like genitive ("розыгрыша").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hoaxes like 'розыгрыш' are common during holidays such as April Fools' Day (День смеха), where playful deceptions are celebrated. However, 'обман' can carry historical connotations from Soviet-era propaganda, making it a sensitive term in discussions of misinformation.

Related Concepts:

• Ложь (lie)
• Фальшивка (fake)
• Миф (myth)