Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'impersonate'

English Word: impersonate

Key Russian Translations:

• Имитировать /ɪmʲɪtʲɪˈrovatʲ/ - [Formal, often used in performance or acting contexts]
• Притворяться /prʲɪtˈvorʲat͡sə/ - [Informal, commonly used for deception or everyday pretense]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations appear regularly in literature, media, and conversation, but not as common as basic vocabulary like "to be" or "to go").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic Russian grammar).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Имитировать: /ɪmʲɪtʲɪˈrovatʲ/

Note on Имитировать: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ro"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Ensure the "и" is pronounced as a short "i" sound.

Audio: []

Притворяться: /prʲɪtˈvorʲat͡sə/

Note on Притворяться: The initial "пр" cluster requires a soft "р" sound, and the ending "ся" indicates a reflexive verb, which might vary in pronunciation based on regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To pretend to be another person, often for deception or in performance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Имитировать - Used in formal or theatrical settings, such as acting or mimicry, to convey imitation without implying deceit.
• Притворяться - Applied in informal, everyday contexts involving pretense or fraud, like in casual conversations or storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• Он имитирует знаменитого актёра на сцене. (He impersonates the famous actor on stage.)

  He impersonates the famous actor on stage.

• Она притворяется врачом, чтобы получить информацию. (She impersonates a doctor to get information.)

  She impersonates a doctor to get information.

• В фильме, герой имитирует диктора, чтобы обмануть врагов. (In the movie, the hero impersonates a news anchor to deceive the enemies.)

  In the movie, the hero impersonates a news anchor to deceive the enemies.

• Дети любят притворяться супергероями во время игр. (Children love to impersonate superheroes during play.)

  Children love to impersonate superheroes during play.

• Актер умело имитирует историческую фигуру в спектакле. (The actor skillfully impersonates a historical figure in the performance.)

  The actor skillfully impersonates a historical figure in the performance.

Meaning 2: To mimic or copy someone's behavior, mannerisms, or voice for entertainment or satire.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Имитировать - Ideal for contexts involving performance art, comedy, or satire, emphasizing accurate replication.
• Притворяться - Less common here, but used informally for light-hearted imitation among friends or in social media.

Usage Examples:

• Комик имитирует политиков на телевизионном шоу. (The comedian impersonates politicians on the TV show.)

  The comedian impersonates politicians on the TV show.

• Он притворяется своим боссом, чтобы пошутить с коллегами. (He impersonates his boss to joke with colleagues.)

  He impersonates his boss to joke with colleagues.

• В интернете люди имитируют знаменитостей для вирусных видео. (Online, people impersonate celebrities for viral videos.)

  Online, people impersonate celebrities for viral videos.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, person, number, and aspect in Russian. "Имитировать" is a first-conjugation verb, while "Притворяться" is reflexive and follows imperfective aspect patterns. Below is a table for key inflections:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms but must agree with the subject in person and number. "Притворяться" always includes the reflexive particle "-ся," which does not change.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Подражать (to mimic, similar but often implies learning); Изображать (to portray, with a focus on visual or dramatic representation)
• Antonyms: Быть самим собой (to be oneself, emphasizing authenticity); Разоблачать (to expose or unmask)

Related Phrases:

• Маскироваться под кого-то (To disguise as someone) - A common phrase for impersonating in deceptive contexts, often used in spy or crime narratives.
• Представляться кем-то (To present oneself as someone) - Implies formal or social impersonation, such as in professional settings.
• Играть роль (To play a role) - Related to theatrical impersonation, emphasizing performance aspects.

Usage Notes:

"Impersonate" corresponds most closely to "имитировать" in formal or artistic contexts and "притворяться" in informal, deceptive ones. English speakers should note that Russian verbs like these require aspect consideration—use imperfective for ongoing actions (e.g., "имитировать" for habitual impersonation). In spoken Russian, "притворяться" is more colloquial and may carry a negative connotation of dishonesty, so choose based on context. Always ensure subject-verb agreement and include reflexive particles where needed.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; adapt to Russian grammar for natural flow.
• In formal writing, prefer "имитировать" over "притворяться" for neutrality.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "имитировать" with "притворяться," using the former in deceptive contexts where the latter is more appropriate. For example:

• Error: *Он имитирует вора. (Intended: He is impersonating a thief in a deceptive way.) Correct: Он притворяется вором. Explanation: "Имитировать" implies performance, not deception, which could mislead in context.
• Error: *Я притворяюсь актёра. (Grammatical error in case.) Correct: Я притворяюсь актёром. Explanation: Russian requires the instrumental case after "притворяться" for the person being impersonated.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, impersonation is often linked to theater and satire, as seen in traditions like "новогодние огни" (New Year's Eve shows) where comedians impersonate public figures. This reflects Russia's rich history of political satire, dating back to Soviet-era performances, where impersonation served as a subtle form of social commentary without direct confrontation.

Related Concepts:

• Актерство (Acting)
• Маскарад (Masquerade)
• Подражание (Imitation)