Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'telltale'

English Word: telltale

Key Russian Translations:

• рассказчик [rɐˈskaznʲik] - [Informal, Used in literary or storytelling contexts]
• предательский [prʲɪdɐˈtʲelʲskʲij] - [Formal, Used to describe something revealing or indicative]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and everyday conversations, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for рассказчик; B2 for предательский, as it involves nuanced adjective usage per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рассказчик: [rɐˈskaznʲik]

Note on рассказчик: The stress falls on the second syllable ("ska"). This word can vary slightly in fast speech, where the "z" sound might soften.

Audio: Listen to pronunciation

предательский: [prʲɪdɐˈtʲelʲskʲij]

Note on предательский: The adjective ending changes based on gender and case; focus on the hard "tʲ" sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Audio: Listen to pronunciation

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who tells stories, often implying a narrator or someone who reveals information.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассказчик - Used in informal or literary settings, such as in books or oral storytelling, to refer to a tale-teller.

Usage Examples:

• Он был талантливым рассказчиком, который завораживал слушателей своими историями.

  He was a talented telltale who captivated listeners with his stories.

• В этой книге рассказчик раскрывает тайны прошлого через флэшбэки.

  In this book, the telltale reveals secrets of the past through flashbacks.

• Мой дедушка — настоящий рассказчик, всегда готовый поделиться анекдотами.

  My grandfather is a real telltale, always ready to share anecdotes.

• Как рассказчик, она мастерски переплетает реальность и вымысел.

  As a telltale, she masterfully weaves reality and fiction.

Meaning 2: Something that reveals or indicates, often in a subtle or unintentional way (e.g., a telltale sign).

Translation(s) & Context:

• предательский - Used in formal contexts to describe signs or clues that give away information, such as in detective stories or everyday observations.

Usage Examples:

• Его предательский взгляд выдал истинные намерения.

  His telltale glance revealed his true intentions.

• Предательский шёпот эха в коридоре насторожил всех.

  The telltale whisper of the echo in the hallway alerted everyone.

• В её предательском поведении было что-то подозрительное.

  There was something suspicious in her telltale behavior.

• Предательский след на снегу указывал на присутствие intrudera.

  The telltale track in the snow indicated the presence of an intruder.

• Этот предательский запах дыма предупреждал о пожаре.

  This telltale smell of smoke warned of a fire.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For рассказчик (a masculine noun, 2nd declension):

This noun follows standard Russian masculine noun patterns with inflections for case and number. It is invariant in plural forms but changes in singular cases.

For предательский (an adjective):

This adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. It follows the standard hard-stem adjective pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • рассказчик: повествователь (narrator, more formal)
  • предательский: выдающий (revealing, used in similar contexts but less intense)
• Antonyms:
  • рассказчик: молчальник (someone who keeps silent, implying the opposite of revealing)
  • предательский: надёжный (reliable, not revealing)

Related Phrases:

• рассказчик историй - A teller of stories; used in casual conversations about storytellers.
• предательский знак - A telltale sign; common in mystery or detective contexts.
• быть предательским - To be telltale; implies giving away secrets unintentionally.

Usage Notes:

While "telltale" can translate to "рассказчик" for narrative contexts, it's more about storytelling than revealing secrets in Russian. For the revealing aspect, "предательский" is preferred in formal writing. Be mindful of context: use "рассказчик" in literary discussions and "предательский" for indicators or signs. Grammatically, adjectives like "предательский" must agree with the noun, which is a key difference from English. Choose based on tone—informal for "рассказчик" and formal for "предательский".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "рассказчик" to mean a literal betrayer, confusing it with "telltale" as in a snitch. Correct: "рассказчик" is neutral and means storyteller; use "стукач" for a betrayer. Example: Incorrect: "Он рассказчик тайн" (implies he tells stories, not secrets maliciously). Correct: "Он предательский информатор".
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement with "предательский". Correct: Always match gender, number, and case, e.g., "предательская улика" for feminine nouns.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "рассказчик" often evokes folk traditions like the skaz (oral storytelling), seen in works by authors like Pushkin. "Предательский" might carry connotations from Soviet-era literature, where revealing signs could symbolize espionage or betrayal, adding a layer of historical suspicion in narratives.

Related Concepts:

• повествователь
• сигнал
• тайна