Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unfaithful'

English Word: unfaithful

Key Russian Translations:

• неверный [ˈnʲevʲɪrnɨj] - [Formal/Informal; Adjective, used for both relational infidelity and inaccuracy]
• неточный [nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj] - [Formal; Adjective, primarily for inaccuracy or imprecision]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, everyday conversations, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic adjectives like "good" or "bad").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of context to distinguish between meanings, per CEFR standards. For "неверный," it's straightforward for intermediates; for "неточный," it may vary slightly based on nuance.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неверный: [ˈnʲevʲɪrnɨj] (The stress is on the first syllable. The "нʲ" is a palatalized 'n' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'n' as in "new." Pronounce it with a clear, rolling 'r'.)

Note on неверный: Be cautious with the palatalization; it's softer than in English words. Variations may occur in dialects, but standard Russian uses this form.

неточный: [nʲɪˈtotɕnɨj] (Stress on the second syllable. The "ч" is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in "church," but softer.)

Note on неточный: The ending '-ый' changes based on gender and case, affecting pronunciation slightly in inflected forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not loyal, especially in romantic or personal relationships (e.g., infidelity).

Translation(s) & Context:

• неверный - Used in emotional or relational contexts, such as describing a partner who is unfaithful; common in formal and informal settings, like literature or daily conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Он был неверным мужем, и это разрушило их брак. (He was an unfaithful husband, and it destroyed their marriage.)

  Translation: He was an unfaithful husband, and it destroyed their marriage. (This example shows the adjective in a nominative case, describing a person in a relational context.)

• Её неверная подруга скрывала правду о встречах. (Her unfaithful friend was hiding the truth about the meetings.)

  Translation: Her unfaithful friend was hiding the truth about the meetings. (Illustrates use with feminine gender and in a accusative context.)

• В романе главный герой страдает от неверного партнёра. (In the novel, the main character suffers from an unfaithful partner.)

  Translation: In the novel, the main character suffers from an unfaithful partner. (Demonstrates use in narrative writing, with genitive implications.)

• Не будь неверным в дружбе, иначе потеряешь доверие. (Don't be unfaithful in friendship, or you'll lose trust.)

  Translation: Don't be unfaithful in friendship, or you'll lose trust. (Shows imperative use in advice-giving scenarios.)

Meaning 2: Not accurate, true, or faithful (e.g., in translations, representations, or facts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• неверный - Applied when something is incorrect or misleading, often in abstract or factual contexts; interchangeable with "неточный" but more emotional.
• неточный - Preferred for precision errors, such as in scientific or technical contexts; more neutral than "неверный."

Usage Examples:

• Его перевод был неверным, из-за чего смысл оригинала потерялся. (His translation was unfaithful, causing the original meaning to be lost.)

  Translation: His translation was unfaithful, causing the original meaning to be lost. (Highlights use in linguistic contexts, with instrumental case.)

• Эта карта содержит неверные указания, что может ввести в заблуждение. (This map has unfaithful indications, which could mislead.)

  Translation: This map has unfaithful indications, which could mislead. (Shows application to inaccuracies in directions.)

• Неточный отчёт привёл к неверным решениям в компании. (The inaccurate report led to unfaithful decisions in the company.)

  Translation: The inaccurate report led to unfaithful decisions in the company. (Combines both translations in a professional setting.)

• Из-за неверного понимания текста, интерпретация оказалась неточной. (Due to an unfaithful understanding of the text, the interpretation was inaccurate.)

  Translation: Due to an unfaithful understanding of the text, the interpretation was inaccurate. (Demonstrates contrast between the two words.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неверный" and "неточный" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for hard-stem adjectives. Below is a table for "неверный" as an example; "неточный" follows similar rules.

For "неточный," the forms are identical in pattern: e.g., Nominative Masculine: неточный, Feminine: неточная, etc. These adjectives do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неверен (slightly more literary, often used in poetic contexts for infidelity)
  • предательский (for relational betrayal, with a stronger connotation of treachery)
  • неточный can be synonymous with приблизительный (approximate, in factual contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • верный (faithful, loyal; direct opposite in both meanings)
  • точный (accurate, precise; for the inaccuracy meaning)

Related Phrases:

• неверный перевод - An unfaithful translation; refers to a rendition that distorts the original meaning.
• неверный супруг - An unfaithful spouse; commonly used in discussions of marital issues.
• неточный расчёт - An inaccurate calculation; typical in technical or mathematical contexts.
• быть неверным в любви - To be unfaithful in love; a phrase emphasizing emotional betrayal.

Usage Notes:

"Unfaithful" translates most directly to "неверный" in relational contexts, but "неточный" is better for factual inaccuracies to avoid emotional overtones. In Russian, choose based on formality: "неверный" works in both casual and formal settings, while "неточный" is preferred in professional or scientific discourse. Grammatically, always inflect the adjective to agree with the noun's gender, number, and case. For English learners, note that Russian adjectives don't have comparative forms like English; use adverbs or other structures instead.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "неверный" with "верный": English learners might mistakenly use "верный" (faithful) when meaning "unfaithful," leading to opposites in meaning. Correct: Use "неверный" for infidelity; e.g., Wrong: "Он верный муж" (He is an unfaithful husband) — Right: "Он неверный муж."
• Overusing "неверный" for all inaccuracies: It can sound too dramatic; e.g., Wrong: "Это неверный ответ" for a minor error — Right: "Это неточный ответ" for precision issues, as it avoids implying betrayal.
• Forgetting inflections: Learners might say "неверный дом" without adjusting for case, e.g., in genitive: Wrong: "Из неверный дом" — Right: "Из неверного дома" (From the unfaithful house, if metaphorical).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "неверный" in the context of relationships often carries deep emotional and moral weight, influenced by literary traditions like those in Tolstoy's works, where infidelity is a common theme symbolizing personal and societal conflict. This reflects broader cultural values around loyalty and family, which can differ from Western norms, emphasizing collective honor over individual freedom.

Related Concepts:

• верность (faithfulness)
• предательство (betrayal)
• точность (accuracy)
• измена (infidelity, more specific to betrayal)