Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'surmise'

English Word: surmise

Key Russian Translations:

• предположение (predpolozhenie) - [Formal, often used in analytical or academic contexts]
• догадка (dogadka) - [Informal, implies a more intuitive or casual guess]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversation, literature, and professional settings, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "idea").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and formal language structures. For 'предположение', it's B1; for 'догадка', it's A2 due to simpler usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

предположение: /prʲɪd.pɐ.lɐ.ˈʐɛ.nʲɪ.jə/ (Stress on the fourth syllable; the 'zh' sound is like the 's' in 'measure').

догадка: /dɐ.ˈɡat.kə/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'g' is a hard guttural sound.)

Note on предположение: Be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it softens the preceding consonant.

Note on догадка: This word has a diminutive feel, so pronunciation may vary slightly in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A guess or inference based on limited evidence (e.g., in analytical or hypothetical contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• предположение - Used in formal writing or discussions, such as scientific hypotheses (e.g., in debates or reports).
• догадка - Applied in everyday, informal situations, like casual conversations about suspicions.

Usage Examples:

• Его предположение о погоде оказалось верным. (His surmise about the weather turned out to be correct.)

  Translation: His surmise about the weather turned out to be correct. (This example shows 'предположение' in a formal, predictive context.)

• Это была просто догадка, но она помогла раскрыть тайну. (It was just a surmise, but it helped uncover the mystery.)

  Translation: It was just a surmise, but it helped uncover the mystery. (Here, 'догадка' is used informally to describe an intuitive guess.)

• На основе фактов, мы можем сделать предположение о исходе. (Based on the facts, we can make a surmise about the outcome.)

  Translation: Based on the facts, we can make a surmise about the outcome. (Demonstrates 'предположение' in a logical, evidence-based structure.)

• Её догадка о подарке оказалась забавной. (Her surmise about the gift was amusing.)

  Translation: Her surmise about the gift was amusing. (Illustrates 'догадка' in a light-hearted, social context.)

• Без дополнительной информации, предположение может быть ошибочным. (Without additional information, a surmise can be incorrect.)

  Translation: Without additional information, a surmise can be incorrect. (Shows 'предположение' in a cautionary, hypothetical sentence.)

Meaning 2: An assumption or speculation without proof (e.g., in creative or fictional scenarios).

Translation(s) & Context:

• предположение - Common in literary or philosophical discussions, emphasizing uncertainty.
• догадка - Often in storytelling or casual narratives, to convey sudden insight.

Usage Examples:

• В романе автор строит сюжет на основе предположений персонажей. (In the novel, the author builds the plot based on the characters' surmises.)

  Translation: In the novel, the author builds the plot based on the characters' surmises. (This uses 'предположение' in a narrative context.)

• Его догадка о конце истории оказалась точной. (His surmise about the story's end was accurate.)

  Translation: His surmise about the story's end was accurate. (Shows 'догадка' in an informal, creative setting.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'предположение' and 'догадка' are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. 'Предположение' is a third-declension noun and inflects regularly, while 'догадка' is also regular but can vary slightly in informal speech.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but must agree in case with other elements in the sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гипотеза (gioteza) - More scientific, implies a testable idea.
  • предполагаемое (predpolagaemoe) - Adjectival form, used for assumed states.
• Antonyms:
  • факт (fakt) - Direct opposite, meaning a proven truth.
  • доказательство (dokazatelstvo) - Evidence or proof, contrasting with unverified guesses.

Related Phrases:

• На основе предположения (Na osnove predpolozheniya) - Based on surmise; used in logical arguments.
• Пусть это будет догадка (Pust' eto budet dogadka) - Let it be a surmise; implies a tentative suggestion in casual talk.
• Сделать смелую догадку (Sdelat' smeluyu dogadku) - To make a bold surmise; common in adventurous or creative contexts.

Usage Notes:

'Предположение' is the more precise equivalent to 'surmise' in formal English contexts, such as academic papers, while 'догадка' suits informal or intuitive scenarios. Always consider the context: use 'предположение' for reasoned guesses and 'догадка' for spontaneous ones. Grammatically, these nouns require case agreement, which can be challenging for English speakers used to fixed word forms. When choosing between translations, opt for 'предположение' in professional settings to maintain a neutral tone.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'предположение' in informal speech, which can sound overly stiff. Correct: Switch to 'догадка' for casual conversations, e.g., Incorrect: "Мое предположение о фильме..." (My surmise about the film...); Correct: "Моя догадка о фильме..." (My guess about the film...). Explanation: 'Догадка' feels more natural in everyday Russian.
• Mistake: Forgetting noun declension, e.g., saying "о предположение" instead of "о предположении". Correct: Always adjust for genitive case as needed. Explanation: Russian requires case changes, unlike English, so learners must practice sentence structures.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'догадка' often appears in literature and folklore, reflecting the value placed on intuition and quick thinking, as seen in stories by authors like Chekhov. 'Предположение' aligns with Russia's emphasis on intellectual discourse, evident in philosophical works, highlighting how surmises can drive innovation or lead to misunderstandings in social interactions.

Related Concepts:

• гипотеза (hypothesis)
• интуиция (intuition)
• вывод (conclusion)