Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tell'

English Word: tell

Key Russian Translations:

• сказать [skɐˈzatʲ] - [Informal; Used in everyday conversation]
• рассказать [rɐs.kɐˈzatʲ] - [Formal or Narrative; Used when recounting stories or events]
• сообщить [sɐˈob.ʂːɪtʲ] - [Formal; Used in official or informational contexts]

Frequency: High - The verb 'tell' and its Russian equivalents are commonly used in daily communication, literature, and media.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp basic conjugations, but mastering nuances and inflections may require practice. For 'сказать', it's B1; for 'рассказать', it's B2 due to perfective aspect.

Pronunciation (Russian):

сказать: [skɐˈzatʲ]

рассказать: [rɐs.kɐˈzatʲ]

сообщить: [sɐˈob.ʂːɪtʲ]

Note on сказать: The soft 'тʲ' sound can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to 'ty' in 'city'. Pronounce with a quick, stressed second syllable.

Note on рассказать: The prefix 'рас-' adds a slight emphasis; vary stress based on context for natural flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To communicate information or facts to someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• сказать - Used in informal, direct speech, such as giving instructions or sharing news.
• сообщить - Preferred in formal settings, like reports or announcements.

Usage Examples:

• Пожалуйста, скажи мне правду. (Please, tell me the truth.)

  Translation: Please, tell me the truth. (This example shows 'tell' in a casual, interpersonal context.)

• Я должен сообщить об этом начальнику. (I need to tell the boss about this.)

  Translation: I need to tell the boss about this. (Illustrates formal usage in a professional setting.)

• Не забудь сказать друзьям о вечеринке. (Don't forget to tell your friends about the party.)

  Translation: Don't forget to tell your friends about the party. (Demonstrates imperative form in social planning.)

• Она сказала, что приедет позже. (She said she'll come later.)

  Translation: She said she'll come later. (Shows 'tell' in reporting speech.)

• Сообщи мне, если возникнут проблемы. (Tell me if any problems arise.)

  Translation: Tell me if any problems arise. (Emphasizes conditional usage in problem-solving.)

Meaning 2: To narrate or recount a story

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассказать - Ideal for storytelling, often in past events or literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Расскажи мне сказку на ночь. (Tell me a bedtime story.)

  Translation: Tell me a bedtime story. (This highlights 'tell' in a familial, narrative context.)

• Он рассказал интересную историю о своём путешествии. (He told an interesting story about his trip.)

  Translation: He told an interesting story about his trip. (Shows 'tell' with descriptive elements.)

• В школе учительница рассказала о Великой Отечественной войне. (In school, the teacher told us about the Great Patriotic War.)

  Translation: In school, the teacher told us about the Great Patriotic War. (Illustrates educational or historical narration.)

• Расскажи, как ты провёл выходные. (Tell me how you spent your weekend.)

  Translation: Tell me how you spent your weekend. (Demonstrates casual conversation.)

• Она любит рассказывать забавные анекдоты. (She loves to tell funny anecdotes.)

  Translation: She loves to tell funny anecdotes. (Emphasizes habitual or entertaining use.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs like 'сказать', 'рассказать', and 'сообщить' are perfective, meaning they indicate completed actions.

For 'сказать' (perfective of 'сказывать'):

Note: 'рассказать' and 'сообщить' follow similar patterns but with their own roots. These verbs do not change for gender in the past tense but agree with the subject.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • проговорить (progovorit') - Similar to сказать, but implies speaking at length; used for extended conversations.
  • изложить (izlozhit') - Formal synonym for рассказать, often in explanatory contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • умолчать (umolchat') - To remain silent or not tell.
  • скрыть (skryt') - To hide or conceal information.

Related Phrases:

• Сказать правду (To tell the truth) - A common phrase meaning to be honest in disclosure.
• Расскажи подробности (Tell the details) - Used to request more information in a narrative.
• Сообщить новости (To tell the news) - Refers to sharing updates, often in media or daily life.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'tell' often corresponds to perfective verbs like 'сказать' for immediate actions or 'рассказать' for completed narratives. Choose 'сказать' for informal, direct communication and 'сообщить' for formal contexts to match English's neutral tone. Be mindful of aspect: Russian verbs distinguish between ongoing (imperfective) and completed (perfective) actions, which 'tell' does not. For example, use 'сказать' in phone conversations but 'рассказать' for stories. Grammar note: Verbs must agree with subject in person and number.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'сказать' in formal writing when 'сообщить' is more appropriate. Correct: Сообщите подробности (Tell the details formally). Explanation: 'Сообщить' conveys a sense of official notification, avoiding overly casual language.
• Mistake: Forgetting aspect differences, e.g., saying 'Я говорю историю' instead of 'Я рассказываю историю'. Correct: Я рассказал историю (I told a story). Explanation: English 'tell' can be imperfective, but Russian requires the perfective for completed actions.
• Mistake: Overusing 'сказать' without context, leading to ambiguity. Correct: Specify with phrases like 'сказать по секрету' (to tell in secret). Explanation: Russian often needs additional words for nuance that English implies.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'telling' stories or news (e.g., via 'рассказать') is deeply tied to oral traditions, such as folktales and family gatherings. Phrases like 'сказать правду' emphasize honesty, reflecting cultural values from literature like Chekhov's works, where truth-telling often carries moral weight.

Related Concepts:

• повторить (to repeat)
• объяснить (to explain)
• поделиться (to share)