Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'implicate'

English Word: implicate

Key Russian Translations:

• вовлекать [vɐˈvlʲekətʲ] - [Formal, often used in legal or serious contexts]
• подразумевать [pədrəˈzumevətʲ] - [Formal, commonly used in analytical or inferential contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in formal writing, legal documents, and discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

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

Pronunciation (Russian):

вовлекать: [vɐˈvlʲekətʲ]

Note on вовлекать: This verb has a soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Stress falls on the second syllable, and pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

подразумевать: [pədrəˈzumevətʲ]

Note on подразумевать: The initial 'п' is unaspirated, and the word often has a softer ending in informal speech. Pay attention to the vowel reductions common in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To show or suggest that someone is involved in a crime or wrongdoing (e.g., legal implication).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вовлекать - Used in formal, legal, or investigative contexts to indicate involvement, such as in court proceedings or news reports.

Usage Examples:

• Его показания вовлекли нескольких подозреваемых в дело. (His testimony implicated several suspects in the case.)

  His testimony implicated several suspects in the case.

• Расследование вовлекло компанию в финансовый скандал. (The investigation implicated the company in a financial scandal.)

  The investigation implicated the company in a financial scandal.

• Доказательства вовлекли его в преступление. (The evidence implicated him in the crime.)

  The evidence implicated him in the crime.

• Свидетки вовлекли бывшего сотрудника в коррупцию. (Witnesses implicated the former employee in corruption.)

  Witnesses implicated the former employee in corruption.

Meaning 2: To suggest or imply something indirectly without stating it explicitly.

Translation(s) & Context:

• подразумевать - Used in discussions, writing, or analysis to indicate subtle hints or inferences, such as in literature or debates.

Usage Examples:

• Его слова подразумевали, что проект провалится. (His words implicated that the project would fail.)

  His words implied that the project would fail.

• Эта фраза подразумевает скрытую критику. (This phrase implicates hidden criticism.)

  This phrase implies hidden criticism.

• Автор подразумевал связь между событиями. (The author implicated a connection between the events.)

  The author implied a connection between the events.

• В её письме подразумевалось несогласие. (In her letter, disagreement was implicated.)

  In her letter, disagreement was implied.

• Речь подразумевала возможные риски. (The speech implicated potential risks.)

  The speech implied potential risks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations, "вовлекать" and "подразумевать", are verbs and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns for imperfective verbs. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, mood, person, and number. "Вовлекать" is imperfective and has irregular aspects in some forms, while "подразумевать" is more regular.

For past tense, "вовлекать" becomes "вовлекал" (masc.), "вовлекала" (fem.), etc., and is irregular in some aspects. "Подразумевать" follows regular patterns. These verbs do not change in infinitive form but require aspectual pairs (e.g., perfective "вовлечь" for "вовлекать").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • втягивать (similar to вовлекать, but implies more forceful involvement; often used in everyday contexts)
  • намекать (similar to подразумевать, but more direct in suggesting something)
• Antonyms:
  • освобождать (to free or exonerate)
  • отвергать (to deny or reject implications)

Related Phrases:

• вовлекать в дело - (To involve in a matter; often used in legal or investigative contexts to mean drawing someone into a situation.)
• подразумевать под этим - (To imply by this; used when clarifying hidden meanings in conversations or texts.)
• косвенно вовлекать - (To implicate indirectly; highlights subtle involvement without direct evidence.)

Usage Notes:

"Вовлекать" corresponds closely to the legal sense of "implicate" in English, emphasizing active involvement, and is typically used in formal settings. "Подразумевать" aligns with the inferential sense, where something is hinted at rather than stated. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these verbs require the appropriate aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions). For English speakers, remember that Russian verbs conjugate based on gender and number, so always match the subject. When choosing between translations, use "вовлекать" for tangible involvement and "подразумевать" for abstract suggestions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вовлекать" without proper conjugation, e.g., saying "Я вовлекать" instead of "Я вовлекаю". Correct: Always conjugate based on person and tense. Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject, unlike English infinitives.

• Error: Confusing "вовлекать" and "подразумевать" in contexts, e.g., using "вовлекать" for simple implications. Correct: Use "подразумевать" for hints; example: Incorrect: "Его слова вовлекали критику" (His words implicated criticism) → Correct: "Его слова подразумевали критику" (His words implied criticism). Explanation: This mix-up can lead to misunderstandings of intent in Russian communication.

• Error: Omitting prepositions, e.g., "вовлекать скандал" instead of "вовлекать в скандал". Correct: Always include "в" for involvement. Explanation: Prepositions are crucial in Russian to indicate relationships, which English speakers might overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "вовлекать" often appear in contexts involving state investigations or media scandals, reflecting a historical emphasis on collective responsibility in Soviet-era narratives. This can imply broader social connotations, such as guilt by association, which differs from Western individual-focused legal systems.

Related Concepts:

• обвинять (to accuse)
• причастность (involvement)
• намек (hint)