Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vindicate'

English Word: vindicate

Key Russian Translations:

• оправдать [ɐprɐfˈdatʲ] - [Formal, Legal contexts]
• подтвердить [pədtvɨrˈdʲitʲ] - [Informal, General confirmation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, academic, or formal discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of formal Russian grammar and context-specific usage. For 'оправдать', it may lean towards B2 due to legal connotations; for 'подтвердить', it could be B1 in simpler forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

оправдать: [ɐprɐfˈdatʲ]

подтвердить: [pədtvɨrˈdʲitʲ]

Note on оправдать: The stress falls on the last syllable, which is common in Russian verbs; be cautious with the soft 't' sound, represented by ʲ, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on подтвердить: Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, with the initial 'p' being softer; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To prove that someone or something is right, innocent, or justified

Translation(s) & Context:

• оправдать - Used in formal or legal contexts, such as court cases or defending one's actions.
• подтвердить - Applied in everyday situations for general validation, like confirming facts.

Usage Examples:

• Суд присяжных оправдал обвиняемого, доказав его невиновность.

  The jury vindicated the accused, proving his innocence.

• Его исследования оправдали гипотезу, которую многие отвергали.

  His research vindicated the hypothesis that many had rejected.

• Чтобы подтвердить свою позицию, он предоставил дополнительные доказательства.

  To vindicate his position, he provided additional evidence.

• В общественной дискуссии она оправдала свои действия, объяснив мотивы.

  In the public discussion, she vindicated her actions by explaining her motives.

• Документы подтвердили правоту его утверждений в споре.

  The documents vindicated his claims in the argument.

To clear from accusation or blame

Translation(s) & Context:

• оправдать - Primarily in legal or moral contexts, emphasizing exoneration.

Usage Examples:

• Новый свидетель оправдал подозреваемого в преступлении.

  The new witness vindicated the suspect in the crime.

• Расследование оправдало компанию от обвинений в коррупции.

  The investigation vindicated the company from corruption charges.

• Её объяснения оправдали её в глазах коллег.

  Her explanations vindicated her in the eyes of her colleagues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'оправдать' and 'подтвердить' are Russian verbs of the first conjugation, which typically follow regular patterns but have irregularities in certain forms. They are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Below is a table outlining key inflections for each:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but require attention to aspect (imperfective vs. perfective). 'Оправдать' is often used in its perfective form for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • защитить (zashchitit) - More general, meaning to defend; often used interchangeably in non-legal contexts.
  • обосновать (obosnovat) - Emphasizes providing a basis or justification; subtle difference in proving logically.
• Antonyms:
  • обвинить (obvinut) - Directly opposes by meaning to accuse.
  • опровергнуть (oprovyerhnut) - Means to refute or disprove.

Related Phrases:

• оправдать себя - To vindicate oneself; used in personal defense scenarios.
• подтвердить факты - To confirm the facts; common in investigative contexts.
• оправдать ожидания - To vindicate expectations; implies meeting or exceeding what was anticipated.

Usage Notes:

'Оправдать' is the most precise translation for 'vindicate' in formal or legal English contexts, as it conveys moral or judicial exoneration. Use 'подтвердить' for situations involving verification of facts, which is less emotionally charged. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system: pair these with perfective forms (e.g., оправдать for a completed action) to match the English perfect tense. In spoken Russian, these verbs are common in debates or media, but avoid them in casual chit-chat. When choosing between translations, opt for 'оправдать' if the context involves innocence, and 'подтвердить' for evidence-based confirmation.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'оправдать' in non-legal contexts where 'подтвердить' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я оправдал свою теорию" when it should be "Я подтвердил свою теорию" for simple verification. Correct: "Я подтвердил свою теорию" – This avoids over-formalizing everyday language.
• Mistake: Incorrect inflection, such as using the wrong person in present tense (e.g., "Ты оправдывает" instead of "Ты оправдываешь"). Correct: Always conjugate based on subject: "Ты оправдываешь свои действия." Explanation: Russian verbs require precise agreement with subject gender and number, which English learners often overlook.
• Mistake: Confusing with synonyms, like using 'защитить' to mean 'vindicate' without proof, e.g., "Я защитил его" implying defense without evidence. Correct: Use 'оправдать' if evidence is involved: "Я оправдал его с помощью доказательств." This ensures the nuance of justification is preserved.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'оправдать' often carry a strong legal connotation due to the historical influence of the Soviet justice system, where public trials and state vindication played significant roles. This can imply not just personal innocence but also societal or ideological justification, making it a word with deeper emotional weight in contexts like literature or media discussions.

Related Concepts:

• суд (sud) - Court
• доказательство (dokazatelstvo) - Evidence
• невиновность (nevinovnost) - Innocence