Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'veracity'

English Word: veracity

Key Russian Translations:

• Истинность [ˈistʲɪnnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Abstract]
• Достоверность [dəstɐˈvʲernəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Legal/Evidentiary]

Frequency: Medium (Common in academic, journalistic, and legal contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract nouns and formal Russian vocabulary; for 'Истинность', it's B2, while 'Достоверность' might lean towards C1 due to nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Истинность: [ˈistʲɪnnəsʲtʲ]

Note on Истинность: The stress falls on the second syllable ('istʲɪ́nnəsʲtʲ'). This word has palatalized consonants, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice the 'тʲ' sound as a soft 't'.

Достоверность: [dəstɐˈvʲernəsʲtʲ]

Note on Достоверность: Stress is on the third syllable ('dəstɐvʲérnəsʲtʲ'). The 'вʲ' is a palatalized 'v', similar to a soft 'w' sound in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The quality of being truthful, accurate, or conforming to facts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Истинность - Used in philosophical, scientific, or ethical discussions where the focus is on inherent truthfulness.
• Достоверность - Applied in contexts involving evidence, reliability, or verification, such as in law or journalism.

Usage Examples:

• В научных исследованиях важна истинность данных.

  In scientific research, the veracity of data is crucial.

• Он поставил под сомнение достоверность свидетельских показаний.

  He questioned the veracity of the witness testimonies.

• Истинность её слов подтвердилась спустя годы.

  The veracity of her words was confirmed years later.

• Для журналиста достоверность источников — это основа работы.

  For a journalist, the veracity of sources is the foundation of their work.

• В философии истинность утверждений часто обсуждается в контексте реальности.

  In philosophy, the veracity of statements is often discussed in the context of reality.

Meaning 2: Habitual truthfulness or honesty in character.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Истинность - Less common for personal character; used metaphorically in literary contexts.
• Достоверность - Rarely used for personal traits; prefer 'Истинность' for this nuance.

Usage Examples:

• Его истинность как человека всегда вызывала уважение.

  His veracity as a person always commanded respect.

• В повседневной жизни истинность в словах важнее, чем громкие обещания.

  In everyday life, veracity in words is more important than grand promises.

• Истинность её характера проявилась в трудные времена.

  The veracity of her character was revealed in difficult times.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Истинность' and 'Достоверность' are feminine abstract nouns in Russian, belonging to the third declension. They follow standard patterns for feminine nouns ending in -ость, which means they inflect for case, number, and gender. These words are invariable in terms of gender but change in cases.

Note: These nouns do not have plural forms in most contexts as they are abstract concepts, making them relatively straightforward once basic declension rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Правдивость (more focused on honesty in speech)
  • Верность (implies fidelity or loyalty, with subtle differences in connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • Ложь (direct opposite, meaning falsehood or lie)
  • Обман (deception, emphasizing trickery)

Related Phrases:

• Подтверждение истинности - Confirmation of veracity (Used in legal or scientific contexts to verify facts.)
• Потеря достоверности - Loss of veracity (Refers to when information becomes unreliable or questionable.)
• Истинность фактов - Veracity of facts (Common in debates or investigations.)

Usage Notes:

'Истинность' best matches 'veracity' when emphasizing inherent truthfulness, while 'Достоверность' is ideal for contexts involving reliability or evidence-based accuracy. English speakers should note that Russian often requires these words in formal settings; avoid using them in casual conversations to prevent sounding overly academic. Grammatically, they must agree in case with surrounding nouns or prepositions. When choosing between translations, opt for 'Истинность' for philosophical discussions and 'Достоверность' for practical, evidentiary ones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'Истинность' with 'Правда': Learners might use 'Правда' (truth) interchangeably, but it's more concrete and everyday. Error: "Это правда информации" (incorrect). Correct: "Это истинность информации" or "Достоверность информации". Explanation: 'Правда' means "truth" as a fact, not the quality of being truthful.

• Improper declension: Forgetting to change the case, e.g., saying "О истинность" instead of "Об истинности". Error: "Мы говорим о истинность." Correct: "Мы говорим об истинности." Explanation: Russian requires nouns to inflect based on prepositions like 'о' (about), which takes the prepositional case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'истинность' are deeply tied to philosophical traditions, influenced by thinkers like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, who explored truth and morality. 'Достоверность' often appears in contexts of historical accuracy, reflecting Russia's emphasis on verifying information amid its complex political history, such as during the Soviet era when propaganda challenged public trust.

Related Concepts:

• Правда
• Истина
• Обман
• Верность