Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'untrue'

English Word: untrue

Key Russian Translations:

• неверный [nʲɪˈvʲernɨj] - [Formal; used in factual or academic contexts]
• ложный [ˈloʐnɨj] - [Informal; often implies deception or falsehood in everyday speech]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in written and spoken Russian, especially in news, discussions, and literature)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic adjective forms and contexts, per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неверный: [nʲɪˈvʲernɨj]

Note on неверный: The stress is on the second syllable; the palatalized 'н' can be challenging for English speakers, sounding like 'ny' in 'new York'.

ложный: [ˈloʐnɨj]

Note on ложный: The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to 'zh' in 'measure'; stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not true, false, or incorrect (the primary sense of 'untrue' in English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неверный - Used in formal contexts, such as scientific reports or legal documents, to describe factual inaccuracies.
• ложный - Applied in informal settings, like conversations, to suggest intentional deceit or misinformation.

Usage Examples:

• Эта новость неверна и может ввести в заблуждение. (Eta novost' neverna i mozhet vvesti v zabluzhdeniye.)

  This news is untrue and could mislead people. (Demonstrates use in a formal context, such as media critique.)

• Он рассказал ложный рассказ о своей поездке. (On rasskazal lozhnyy rasskaz o svoyey poezdke.)

  He told an untrue story about his trip. (Illustrates informal storytelling with an implication of deception.)

• В её словах было что-то неверное, но я не мог это определить. (V yeyo slovakh bylo chto-to nevernoye, no ya ne mog eto opredelit'.)

  There was something untrue in her words, but I couldn't pinpoint it. (Shows use in interpersonal dialogue, highlighting subtlety.)

• Ложные обвинения могут разрушить репутацию. (Lozhnyye obvineniya mogut razrushit' reputatsiyu.)

  Untrue accusations can destroy a reputation. (Emphasizes consequences in a legal or social context.)

• Иногда неверные факты в книгах приводят к путанице. (Инogda nevernyye fakty v knigakh privodyat k putanitse.)

  Sometimes untrue facts in books lead to confusion. (Demonstrates application in educational or literary settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "неверный" and "ложный" are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern of agreement with nouns and can be regular or irregular. These are regular adjectives.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms but must agree with the noun they modify in all aspects. For plural forms, they remain unchanged in predicative use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • неправильный (nepravil'nyy) - Similar to неверный but often used for errors in facts or calculations.
  • фальшивый (fal'shivyy) - Implies something counterfeit or fabricated, with a nuance of forgery.
• Antonyms:
  • верный (vernyy) - True or accurate.
  • правильный (pravil'nyy) - Correct or proper.

Related Phrases:

• неверная информация (nevernaya informatsiya) - Untrue information; used in contexts like news verification.
• ложный сигнал (lozhnyy signal) - False alarm; common in safety or emergency scenarios.
• неверные выводы (nevernyye vyvody) - Untrue conclusions; often in analytical or scientific discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "неверный" is the more neutral and formal equivalent of "untrue," often used when discussing factual inaccuracies without implying intent. "Ложный," however, carries a connotation of deliberate falsehood, making it closer to "false" in English. Choose based on context: use "неверный" for objective errors (e.g., in education) and "ложный" for subjective or deceptive situations. Always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. For English learners, remember that Russian adjectives lack articles, so phrases like "the untrue statement" become "неверное заявление."

Common Errors:

• Confusing "неверный" with "неправильный": English learners might use "неправильный" for all types of "untrue," but it's more about "incorrect" in a procedural sense (e.g., wrong answer). Correct usage: For factual falsity, stick with "неверный." Example of error: Saying "неправильная новость" instead of "неверная новость." The error implies a methodological mistake rather than untruth.

• Overusing "ложный" in formal contexts: Beginners might apply it universally for "untrue," but it can sound accusatory. Correct: Use "неверный" in neutral settings. Error example: "Ложный отчет" in a business meeting when "неверный отчет" is more appropriate to avoid implying fraud.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "ложный" can evoke themes from literature, such as in Dostoevsky's works, where falsehood often ties to moral or existential deception. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on truthfulness in interpersonal relationships, influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era propaganda, where discerning "untrue" information was crucial for survival.

Related Concepts:

• правда (pravda) - Truth
• факт (fakt) - Fact
• обман (obman) - Deception