Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'perfidy'

English Word: perfidy

Key Russian Translations:

• предательство [prʲɪdɐˈtʲelʲstvə] - [Formal, often used in serious contexts like politics or literature]
• коварство [kɐˈvarstvə] - [Formal, Informal; implies deceitful behavior rather than outright betrayal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, historical, and political discussions but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for предательство; C1 (Advanced) for коварство, as the latter involves nuanced connotations

Pronunciation (Russian):

предательство: [prʲɪdɐˈtʲelʲstvə]

коварство: [kɐˈvarstvə]

Note on предательство: The stress falls on the third syllable ("tel"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 't' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on коварство: Pronounce the 'k' as a hard guttural sound; common variations in casual speech may soften it.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The act of being faithless or disloyal, often involving betrayal in personal, political, or professional contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• предательство - Used in contexts of direct, intentional betrayal, such as in relationships or espionage; formal and emotional weight.
• коварство - Applied to sneaky or underhanded actions with deceit; can be used in both formal and informal settings, like describing a scheming character in a story.

Usage Examples:

• Его предательство друзей в критический момент стоило им всего. (His perfidy towards his friends at a critical moment cost them everything.)

  His perfidy towards his friends at a critical moment cost them everything.

• В истории полно примеров коварства, которое разрушало империи. (History is full of examples of perfidy that destroyed empires.)

  History is full of examples of perfidy that destroyed empires.

• Предательство в политике часто маскируется под лояльность. (Perfidy in politics is often disguised as loyalty.)

  Perfidy in politics is often disguised as loyalty.

• Её коварство проявилось в мелких, но разрушительных поступках. (Her perfidy showed in small but destructive actions.)

  Her perfidy showed in small but destructive actions.

• Акт предательства, подобный этому, редко прощается в русском обществе. (An act of perfidy like this is rarely forgiven in Russian society.)

  An act of perfidy like this is rarely forgiven in Russian society.

Deceitful behavior or treachery in a more subtle form.

Translation(s) & Context:

• коварство - Best for scenarios involving cunning without direct betrayal; informal contexts like interpersonal conflicts.

Usage Examples:

• Коварство его планов раскрылось только после провала. (The perfidy of his plans was revealed only after the failure.)

  The perfidy of his plans was revealed only after the failure.

• В повседневной жизни коварство может быть скрытым врагом. (In everyday life, perfidy can be a hidden enemy.)

  In everyday life, perfidy can be a hidden enemy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. "Предательство" is a neuter noun with regular declension patterns, while "коварство" is also neuter but follows standard patterns with some irregularities in certain cases.

Note: These nouns do not change for gender but follow standard neuter patterns. Irregularities are minimal, but always check context for correct case usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: измена (more specific to treason), коварство (overlaps with perfidy's deceitful aspect; used interchangeably in informal speech)
• Antonyms: верность (loyalty; emphasizes steadfastness), честность (honesty; highlights integrity)

Related Phrases:

• Акт предательства - An act of betrayal, often used in legal or historical contexts.
• Коварные замыслы - Perfidy in the form of cunning plans; implies secretive intentions.
• Предательство доверия - Betrayal of trust; a common phrase in personal relationships.

Usage Notes:

"Предательство" is the most direct translation of "perfidy" and is preferred in formal or literary contexts, while "коварство" suits situations with an element of cunning. English speakers should note that Russian often pairs these words with verbs like "совершить" (to commit) for actions. In everyday speech, choose based on the level of intent: use "предательство" for clear betrayal and "коварство" for subtler deceit. Be mindful of grammatical gender and case agreements in sentences.

• Tip: In political discourse, "предательство" carries a stronger emotional charge, similar to "treachery" in English.

Common Errors:

Common error: English learners often confuse "предательство" (the act) with "предатель" (the person, meaning traitor), leading to incorrect usage. For example, incorrectly saying "Он предательство" instead of "Он совершил предательство" (He committed perfidy). Correct usage: Always treat "предательство" as a noun and pair it with appropriate verbs or cases. Another mistake is overusing "коварство" in formal betrayal contexts, where "предательство" is more accurate; e.g., wrong: "Его коварство в войне" (if it's outright betrayal), correct: "Его предательство в войне".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, themes of perfidy are prevalent in literature and history, such as in Leo Tolstoy's works or events like the betrayals during World War II. It often symbolizes deep moral failure, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on loyalty and collective identity, which can make accusations of "предательство" particularly devastating in social or national contexts.

Related Concepts:

• измена (treason)
• обман (deception)
• вероломство (duplicity)