Russian Translation(s) & Details for '{{proof}}'

English Word: {{proof}}

Key Russian Translations:

• доказательство /də.kəˈza.tʲstvə/ - [Formal, Singular]
• улика /uˈlʲikə/ - [Informal, Plural form possible, Used in legal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in academic, legal, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions, suitable for learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge. For "улика", it might be B2 due to contextual usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

доказательство: /də.kəˈza.tʲstvə/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft 'tʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.)

улика: /uˈlʲikə/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'lʲ' is palatalized, making it softer than in English.)

Note on доказательство: Be careful with the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables, as Russian often reduces vowels like 'o' to a schwa sound.

Note on улика: In fast speech, the final 'a' may sound more like a neutral vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Evidence or proof in a factual or logical sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• доказательство - Used in formal contexts like science, law, or arguments to mean conclusive evidence. (e.g., In debates or courtrooms)
• улика - Informal or detective contexts, implying incriminating evidence. (e.g., In crime stories or investigations)

Usage Examples:

• Это доказательство его невиновности. (This is proof of his innocence.)

  Translation: This is proof of his innocence. (Example shows the noun in nominative case in a simple declarative sentence.)

• Улики на месте преступления были убедительными. (The clues at the crime scene were convincing.)

  Translation: The proofs at the crime scene were convincing. (Illustrates plural use and contextual specificity in a narrative.)

• Без доказательств утверждение не имеет силы. (Without proof, the statement has no weight.)

  Translation: Without proof, the statement has no weight. (Demonstrates the word in a philosophical or argumentative context.)

• Собранные улики помогли раскрыть дело. (The gathered proofs helped solve the case.)

  Translation: The gathered proofs helped solve the case. (Shows the word in an action-oriented sentence with verbs.)

• Его слова нуждаются в дополнительном доказательстве. (His words need additional proof.)

  Translation: His words need additional proof. (Example varies the structure to include genitive dependencies.)

Secondary Meaning: A test or verification process (e.g., in printing or alcohol content).

Translation(s) & Context:

• доказательство - Less common, used metaphorically in technical fields like publishing. (e.g., Proofreading)

Usage Examples:

• Это была пробная версия, или доказательство, книги. (This was a proof version of the book.)

  Translation: This was a proof version of the book. (Context: Publishing industry, showing metaphorical extension.)

• В вине содержание алкоголя подтверждается доказательством. (The alcohol content in wine is verified by proof.)

  Translation: The alcohol content in wine is verified by proof. (Context: Scientific or regulatory usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns and follow standard Russian declension patterns. "Доказательство" is a neuter noun in the second declension, while "улика" is a feminine noun. They exhibit regular inflections based on case, number, and gender.

For "улика", note that it is regular but may vary slightly in colloquial speech.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • доказательство - подтверждение (podtverdénie; more general, used for confirmation)
  • улика - уличающее доказательство (ulicháushchee dokazátelstvo; implies incriminating evidence, with a nuance of accusation)
• Antonyms:
  • доказательство - опровержение (oprovérzhenie; meaning refutation or denial)
  • улика - алиби (alibi; meaning an excuse or defense)

Related Phrases:

• Доказательство вины - (Proof of guilt; Used in legal contexts to establish culpability.)
• Собрать улики - (To gather evidence; Common in detective stories or investigations.)
• Прямое доказательство - (Direct proof; Refers to unambiguous evidence in scientific or logical arguments.)

Usage Notes:

"Доказательство" directly corresponds to the English "proof" in formal settings, such as mathematics or law, and should be used with appropriate case endings based on sentence structure. For informal contexts, "улика" is better for detective or everyday suspicion scenarios. English learners often need to consider the Russian emphasis on case: for example, use genitive for possession (e.g., "proof of innocence"). When choosing between translations, opt for "доказательство" in academic writing and "улика" in narrative fiction to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "доказательство" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я имею доказательство" instead of "Я имею доказательство" (correct), but forgetting genitive in "Доказательство его вины" (Error: "Доказательство он вины" – incorrect word order and case). Correct: "Доказательство его вины". Explanation: Russian requires proper declension; always check the governing preposition or verb.
• Mistake: Confusing with English "proof" as in alcohol, leading to misuse like "доказательство вина" instead of "крепость вина". Correct: Use "доказательство" only for evidence, not measurements. Explanation: Context matters; for alcohol, say "процент алкоголя".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "доказательство" is heavily influenced by the legal and historical context of the Soviet era, where evidence in trials was often scrutinized for political bias. This can add a layer of skepticism in modern usage, reflecting a cultural wariness of authority, unlike the more neutral English connotation.

Related Concepts:

• подтверждение
• опровержение
• свидетчество