Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'swear'

English Word: swear

Key Russian Translations:

• клясться [ˈklʲæstʲsʲə] - [Formal; used in solemn or legal contexts]
• ругаться [rʊˈɡatʲsʲə] - [Informal; used in everyday speech for cursing or expressing anger]

Frequency: Medium (both translations are commonly encountered in Russian media, literature, and conversation, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "говорить").

Difficulty: For 'клясться': B1 (Intermediate, as it involves reflexive verbs and formal contexts); For 'ругаться': A2 (Beginner, due to its straightforward imperfective form but requires understanding of informal expressions).

Pronunciation (Russian):

клясться: [ˈklʲæstʲsʲə]

ругаться: [rʊˈɡatʲsʲə]

Note on клясться: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'щ' sound can be tricky for English speakers as it's a soft, palatalized 'sh'. Pronounce it with a light 'y' glide before the 's' sound.

Note on ругаться: This is an imperfective verb; the 'г' is pronounced as a hard 'g', and it often appears in reflexive forms. Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) affecting the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make a solemn declaration or oath (formal context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• клясться - Used in legal, religious, or ceremonial settings, such as swearing an oath in court; implies a binding promise.

Usage Examples:

• Я клясться, что никогда не предам тебя. (I swear I will never betray you.)

  Translation: I swear that I will never betray you. (This example shows the verb in a personal promise context, with the reflexive form highlighting self-commitment.)

• Судья попросил свидетеля клясться на Библии. (The judge asked the witness to swear on the Bible.)

  Translation: The judge asked the witness to swear on the Bible. (Here, it demonstrates formal usage in a legal setting, conjugated in the infinitive form.)

• В армии солдаты клясться верности стране. (In the army, soldiers swear loyalty to the country.)

  Translation: In the army, soldiers swear loyalty to the country. (This illustrates plural subject usage in a military context.)

• Она клялась молчать о секрете. (She swore to keep the secret.)

  Translation: She swore to keep the secret. (Shows past tense usage in a narrative context.)

Meaning 2: To use profane language or curse (informal context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ругаться - Used in casual, emotional, or confrontational situations; often implies swearing or venting frustration.

Usage Examples:

• Он ругался, когда машина сломалась. (He swore when the car broke down.)

  Translation: He swore when the car broke down. (This example shows the verb in response to frustration, in imperfective aspect for ongoing action.)

• Дети не должны ругаться в школе. (Children shouldn't swear at school.)

  Translation: Children shouldn't swear at school. (Illustrates prohibitive usage with negation, in a social context.)

• Она ругалась по телефону с другом. (She was swearing on the phone with her friend.)

  Translation: She was swearing on the phone with her friend. (Demonstrates reflexive form in informal communication.)

• Люди ругаются в пробках каждый день. (People swear in traffic jams every day.)

  Translation: People swear in traffic jams every day. (Shows habitual action with plural subjects.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'клясться' and 'ругаться' are Russian reflexive verbs (ending in '-ся'), which means they use the reflexive particle and follow standard conjugation patterns for imperfective verbs. 'Клясться' is more formal and less commonly used, while 'ругаться' is everyday informal. Below are inflections for each:

Note: These verbs are imperfective, so they do not have perfective counterparts in this exact form. They remain unchanged in terms of gender in the past tense but adjust for number and person as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for клясться: присягать (prisjagat' – to take an oath), заверять (zaverjat' – to assure). Note: 'Заверять' is less formal and often used in promises.
• Synonyms for ругаться: браниться (branit'sya – to curse), чертыхаться (chertyhat'sya – to swear mildly). Note: 'Браниться' is more intense and vulgar.
• Antonyms for клясться: отрекаться (otrekat'sya – to renounce)
• Antonyms for ругаться: молчать (molchat' – to be silent)

Related Phrases:

• Клясться в любви – To swear eternal love (a phrase used in romantic contexts to declare undying affection).
• Ругаться матом – To swear using profanity (common in informal or heated arguments, referring to strong curse words).
• Клясться на крови – To swear on one's blood (an idiomatic expression for a blood oath, emphasizing seriousness in traditional or dramatic settings).

Usage Notes:

'Swear' in English can correspond to either 'клясться' for formal oaths or 'ругаться' for informal cursing, but Russian speakers choose based on context. 'Клясться' is typically used in official or emotional scenarios and requires the reflexive form, while 'ругаться' is for everyday venting and can be seen as rude in polite company. Be cautious with 'ругаться' in social settings, as it may carry stronger connotations than in English. When translating, select the verb based on the level of formality—e.g., use 'клясться' for legal contexts and 'ругаться' for casual ones. Grammar note: Both are imperfective, so pair with perfectives like 'поклясться' for completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'клясться' in informal contexts, e.g., saying "Я клясться, что опоздал" instead of "Я ругаюсь, что опоздал" for expressing frustration.

  Correct: "Я ругаюсь из-за опоздания" (I am swearing because of the delay). Explanation: 'Клясться' implies a serious oath, not casual cursing, which can make the statement sound overly dramatic or insincere.

• Error: Forgetting the reflexive '-ся' ending, e.g., saying "клясть" instead of "клясться".

  Correct: Always include '-ся' for these verbs, as in "ругаться". Explanation: Omitting it changes the meaning or makes the verb incomplete, leading to grammatical errors in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'клясться' often carries a weighty, historical connotation, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where oaths are tied to honor and tradition. Conversely, 'ругаться' reflects the expressive nature of Russian speech, where profanity (known as 'мат') is common in informal settings but can be taboo in formal ones, influenced by Soviet-era restrictions on language.

Related Concepts:

• присягать (to take an oath)
• браниться (to curse vehemently)
• заверять (to assure or vow)