Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pretend'

English Word: pretend

Key Russian Translations:

• притворяться [prʲɪtˈvoɾʲɪt͡sə] - [Informal, Verb]
• делать вид [dʲɪˈlatʲ vʲit] - [Informal, Phrase, Used in everyday conversation]
• имитировать [ɪmʲɪtʲɪˈravatʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Often in professional or technical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily language but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be" or "to go")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context, but accessible to learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

притворяться: [prʲɪtˈvoɾʲɪt͡sə]

делать вид: [dʲɪˈlatʲ vʲit]

имитировать: [ɪmʲɪtʲɪˈravatʲ]

Note on притворяться: The stress is on the second syllable ('voɾʲ'), and the verb often involves palatalization, which can be tricky for beginners. Pay attention to the soft 't' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To act as if something is true that is not (e.g., faking an emotion or situation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• притворяться - Used in informal settings, such as personal stories or casual conversations, to describe pretending in everyday life.
• делать вид - Common in colloquial speech, especially when describing deception in social interactions.
• имитировать - Applied in more formal or technical contexts, like acting or simulations.

Usage Examples:

• Он притворяется больным, чтобы не идти на работу.

  He is pretending to be sick so he doesn't have to go to work.

• Дети любят делать вид, что они супергерои в игре.

  Children love to pretend that they are superheroes in play.

• В театре актёры имитируют реальные эмоции на сцене.

  In the theater, actors pretend to have real emotions on stage.

• Она притворяется, что не слышит критику, но это её ранит.

  She pretends not to hear the criticism, but it hurts her.

• Иногда люди делают вид, чтобы избежать конфликта в разговоре.

  Sometimes people pretend to avoid conflict in conversation.

To simulate or mimic something (e.g., in a professional context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• имитировать - Best for contexts involving imitation in science, technology, or performance arts.
• притворяться - Less common here, but used if the simulation is deceptive.

Usage Examples:

• Виртуальная реальность может имитировать реальные ситуации для тренировок.

  Virtual reality can pretend to simulate real situations for training.

• Он имитирует голос знаменитости в своём шоу.

  He pretends to imitate the voice of a celebrity in his show.

• Иногда студенты притворяются, что изучают, но на самом деле отвлекаются.

  Sometimes students pretend to study but are actually distracted.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. "Притворяться" is an imperfective verb, while "имитировать" can be both imperfective and perfective. "Делать вид" is a phrase and does not inflect as a single word.

For притворяться (imperfective reflexive verb):

For имитировать (can be imperfective; perfective is "имитировать" in some contexts, but often paired with prefixes):

• Imperative: Имитируй! (You, informal)
• Past: Имитировал/Имитировала

"Делать вид" remains unchanged as a fixed phrase.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Симулировать (to simulate, often more formal and precise than притворяться)
  • Фальшивить (to fake, with a connotation of dishonesty)
• Antonyms:
  • Быть искренним (to be sincere)
  • Говорить правду (to tell the truth)

Related Phrases:

• Делать вид, что... (To pretend that...; used to introduce a clause, e.g., in storytelling)
• Притворная улыбка (A fake smile; common in emotional contexts)
• Имитировать поведение (To mimic behavior; often in psychological or animal studies)

Usage Notes:

"Притворяться" is the most direct equivalent to "pretend" in informal Russian and is often used reflexively, meaning it requires the particle "-ся" to indicate the action is on oneself. Choose "имитировать" for more neutral or technical simulations, as it lacks the deceptive connotation. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, avoid "делать вид" as it sounds colloquial. English users should note that Russian verbs like these change based on aspect (imperfective for ongoing actions), which helps convey whether the pretending is habitual or completed.

• Grammar tip: Always conjugate based on subject gender and number, e.g., "притворялась" for feminine past tense.
• Context guide: In social scenarios, "притворяться" is preferred; for professional mimicry, use "имитировать".

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "притворять" without the "-ся" particle, e.g., saying "Он притворяет" instead of "Он притворяется".
  Correct: "Он притворяется" (He is pretending). Explanation: "Притворяться" is reflexive, so omitting "-ся" changes the meaning or makes it grammatically incorrect.
• Mistake: Confusing with "представлять" (to imagine), e.g., thinking it means "to pretend" in play, but it actually means "to represent" or "to imagine".
  Correct: Use "притворяться" for deception; "представлять" for visualization. Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings in creative contexts.
• Mistake: Overusing "имитировать" in casual speech, making it sound too formal.
  Correct: Opt for "притворяться" in everyday talks. Explanation: Learners might default to more "sophisticated" words, but this doesn't fit natural conversation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, pretending or "притворство" often carries a negative connotation related to insincerity, influenced by literary works like those of Chekhov, where characters frequently hide their true emotions. This reflects a cultural emphasis on authenticity and directness in personal relationships, so using these words can evoke themes of deception in literature or daily life.

Related Concepts:

• Обманывать (to deceive)
• Маскировать (to mask or disguise)
• Играть роль (to play a role)