Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'repudiate'

English Word: repudiate

Key Russian Translations:

• Отвергать (/ɐˈtvʲerɡətʲ/) - [Formal, used in legal or intellectual contexts]
• Отказываться (/ɐtkəˈzɨvətʲsə/) - [Informal, everyday refusal or denial]
• Репудировать (/rʲɪpʊˈdʲirəvətʲ/) - [Formal, borrowed term, used in official or academic settings]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal writing, legal documents, and discussions, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal contexts; for 'Отказываться', it might be A2 for basic forms, but 'Отвергать' leans toward B2 due to its nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Отвергать: /ɐˈtvʲerɡətʲ/

Отказываться: /ɐtkəˈzɨvətʲsə/

Репудировать: /rʲɪpʊˈdʲirəvətʲ/

Note on Отвергать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'тʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers as it involves a softened consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To reject the truth or validity of something (e.g., denying a claim)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отвергать - Used in formal debates or legal rejections, emphasizing intellectual dismissal.
• Отказываться - Applied in everyday situations where one declines involvement or acceptance.

Usage Examples:

• Он отвергает все обвинения в свой адрес. (He repudiates all accusations against him.)

  English Translation: He repudiates all accusations against him. (Context: Formal denial in a legal setting.)

• В компании отказываются от сотрудничества с конкурентами. (The company is repudiating cooperation with competitors.)

  English Translation: The company is repudiating cooperation with competitors. (Context: Business decision, showing refusal in a corporate environment.)

• Она отвергает теорию, считая её устаревшей. (She repudiates the theory, considering it outdated.)

  English Translation: She repudiates the theory, considering it outdated. (Context: Academic discussion, highlighting intellectual rejection.)

• Мы отказываемся от этого предложения из-за рисков. (We are repudiating this offer due to the risks.)

  English Translation: We are repudiating this offer due to the risks. (Context: Informal decision-making, varying by aspect for verb tense.)

To refuse to accept or be associated with something (e.g., disowning a debt)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Репудировать - Reserved for formal or legal contexts, like contract annulment.
• Отказываться - More general, for personal or informal disassociation.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство репудирует старый договор. (The government is repudiating the old agreement.)

  English Translation: The government is repudiating the old agreement. (Context: Official policy change, demonstrating formal verb usage.)

• Он отказывается от наследства из моральных соображений. (He is repudiating the inheritance for moral reasons.)

  English Translation: He is repudiating the inheritance for moral reasons. (Context: Personal choice, showing reflexive verb structure.)

• Компания отвергает ответственность за ущерб. (The company repudiates responsibility for the damage.)

  English Translation: The company repudiates responsibility for the damage. (Context: Legal defense, illustrating negation in statements.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number in Russian. 'Отвергать' and 'Отказываться' are imperfective verbs, while 'Репудировать' is often used in perfective forms in formal contexts.

Note: These verbs follow standard Russian conjugation patterns for imperfective aspects. 'Отказываться' is reflexive and requires the particle 'ся', which does not change.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Отрицать (/ɐˈtrʲinʲitʲ/) - Similar to 'deny', but more direct.
  • Отвергнуть (/ɐtˈvʲernʲutʲ/) - Perfective form, implying complete rejection.
  • Презирать (/prʲiˈzʲirətʲ/) - Conveys contemptuous rejection, with a stronger emotional nuance.
• Antonyms:
  • Принимать (/prʲiˈnʲimətʲ/)
  • Поддерживать (/pɐdˌdʲɛrˈʐivətʲ/)
  • Соглашаться (/sɐˈɡlaʂətʲsə/)

Related Phrases:

• Отвергать идею - (To repudiate an idea; used in philosophical or scientific contexts to dismiss concepts.)
• Отказываться от прав - (To repudiate rights; common in legal waivers or renunciations.)
• Репудировать договор - (To repudiate a contract; formal phrase in international law.)

Usage Notes:

'Repudiate' aligns closely with 'Отвергать' in formal English-Russian translation, especially for intellectual or legal rejection, but 'Отказываться' is preferable for everyday refusals. Be mindful of the aspect: Russian verbs often distinguish between imperfective (ongoing) and perfective (completed) actions. In formal writing, 'Репудировать' mirrors the Latin root of 'repudiate' and is ideal for precise correspondence. Choose based on context—use 'Отказываться' for personal interactions to sound more natural.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners often use the imperfective 'Отвергать' when a perfective form like 'Отвергнуть' is needed for completed actions. Error: "Я отвергаю договор" (incorrect for a final rejection); Correct: "Я отверг договор". Explanation: Russian requires aspect to convey completion.
• Omitting reflexive particles: For 'Отказываться', forgetting 'ся' results in 'Отказывать', which means 'to refuse (to someone else)'. Error: "Я отказываю" (implies refusing something to another); Correct: "Я отказываюсь" for self-refusal.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, repudiating ideas or associations can carry strong implications in contexts like politics or family, where collective harmony is valued. For instance, publicly repudiating a family member (e.g., through 'отказываться') might be seen as more taboo than in Western cultures, reflecting Russia's emphasis on community over individualism.

Related Concepts:

• Отрицание
• Преследование
• Согласие