Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'infidelity'

English Word: infidelity

Key Russian Translations:

• Измена /ɪzˈmʲenə/ - [Formal, often used in emotional or legal contexts]
• Неверность /nʲɪˈvʲernəstʲ/ - [Informal, more general in everyday conversations]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, media, and discussions about relationships, but not in casual small talk).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and emotional vocabulary, with "Измена" being slightly easier due to its straightforward usage, while "Неверность" may vary by context).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Измена: /ɪzˈmʲenə/ (The stress is on the second syllable; the 'мʲ' indicates a palatalized 'm', which can be tricky for English speakers—pronounce it like 'm' in 'mew'.)

Неверность: /nʲɪˈvʲernəstʲ/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'нʲ' and 'вʲ', similar to a softened 'n' and 'v' sounds.)

Note on Измена: Be careful with the vowel shifts in fast speech; it may sound like /ɪzˈmʲinə/ in some dialects.

Note on Неверность: The final 'тʲ' is softly pronounced; avoid overemphasizing it as in English words.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Unfaithfulness in a romantic or marital relationship

Translation(s) & Context:

• Измена - Used in formal contexts like legal discussions or literature to denote betrayal in a committed relationship.
• Неверность - Applied in informal settings, such as personal conversations, to describe general unreliability or cheating.

Usage Examples:

• Его измена разрушила их брак. (His infidelity destroyed their marriage.)

  English Translation: His infidelity destroyed their marriage.

• Она не смогла простить его неверность и ушла. (She couldn't forgive his infidelity and left.)

  English Translation: She couldn't forgive his infidelity and left.

• В романе описывается история измены и предательства. (The novel describes a story of infidelity and betrayal.)

  English Translation: The novel describes a story of infidelity and betrayal.

• Неверность в отношениях часто приводит к эмоциональным травмам. (Infidelity in relationships often leads to emotional trauma.)

  English Translation: Infidelity in relationships often leads to emotional trauma.

• После измены они решили пройти семейную терапию. (After the infidelity, they decided to undergo family therapy.)

  English Translation: After the infidelity, they decided to undergo family therapy.

Meaning 2: Lack of faithfulness in a broader sense (e.g., to principles or duties)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неверность - Common in metaphorical contexts, such as unfaithfulness to ideals or promises.
• Измена - Less common here, but used for more severe breaches like treason.

Usage Examples:

• Его неверность делу вызвала недоверие коллег. (His infidelity to the cause caused distrust among colleagues.)

  English Translation: His infidelity to the cause caused distrust among colleagues.

• Измена принципам может стоить карьеры. (Infidelity to principles can cost a career.)

  English Translation: Infidelity to principles can cost a career.

• Неверность в работе часто проявляется в пренебрежении обязанностями. (Infidelity at work often shows as neglect of duties.)

  English Translation: Infidelity at work often shows as neglect of duties.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Измена" and "Неверность" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard first-declension patterns. "Измена" is invariable in some contexts but typically declines, while "Неверность" has regular inflections.

Note: These are regular patterns, but "Измена" can be invariant in fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Предательство (more intense, implying deeper betrayal)
  • Обман (focuses on deception aspect)
• Antonyms:
  • Верность (loyalty, direct opposite in relationships)
  • Преданность (devotion, especially in professional or personal commitments)

Related Phrases:

• Семейная измена (Marital infidelity; refers specifically to unfaithfulness within marriage.)
• Эмоциональная неверность (Emotional infidelity; describes non-physical betrayal, like emotional affairs.)
• Измена в любви (Infidelity in love; a poetic or literary phrase for romantic betrayal.)

Usage Notes:

"Измена" is the most direct equivalent to "infidelity" in marital contexts and is often used in formal or serious discussions, while "Неверность" is broader and can apply to any form of unfaithfulness. English speakers should note that Russian culture emphasizes the emotional weight of these words, so use them cautiously in conversations. For example, choose "Измена" for legal or relational contexts and "Неверность" for everyday advice. Grammatically, always decline these nouns based on case to avoid sounding unnatural.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "Измена" with "Предательство": English learners might overuse "Предательство" (betrayal) for "infidelity," but it's more about general treason. Correct usage: Say "Его измена" instead of "Его предательство" for a romantic context.
• Forgetting declensions: A common mistake is using "Измена" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "О измена" instead of "Об измене." Explanation: Russian requires the prepositional case here; correct as "Об измене" to mean "About infidelity."
• Overgeneralizing "Неверность": Learners might apply it to non-personal contexts incorrectly. For instance, avoid saying "Неверность в работе" if it doesn't fit; use "Недобросовестность" for professional unreliability instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "Измена" carry significant stigma, often linked to themes in literature (e.g., in Tolstoy's works) and historical events where loyalty was paramount. It reflects societal values of family integrity, and discussing it can evoke strong emotions, so sensitivity is key when using these terms in conversations.

Related Concepts:

• Развод (Divorce)
• Преданность (Devotion)
• Любовный треугольник (Love triangle)