How to Say “True” in Russian

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ве́рный
vérnyj
In Russian, the word for 'true' can be expressed in several ways depending on the context. The default form is ве́рный (vérnyj). Wiktionary also lists и́стинный (ístinnyj) and правди́вый (pravdívyj).
Meaning: concurring with a given set of facts (adj)

Ways to say it

“true” in Russian
Russian Romanization (Wiktionary)
ве́рный vérnyj
и́стинный ístinnyj
правди́вый pravdívyj

Use ве́рный when you mean that an answer or a piece of information is correct or accurate. Use и́стинный to describe something that is fundamentally true, real or represents an absolute truth, such as a 'true meaning'. Use правди́вый when describing a person or a story that is truthful and honest.

Which one should you use?

ве́рный is used for accuracy or correctness of data/answers, while и́стинный refers to something being genuine or an absolute reality. правди́вый is specifically reserved for the quality of honesty in people or narratives.

How does it change in a sentence?

The adjective ве́рный changes its ending based on the gender and number of the noun it describes: use ве́рная for feminine nouns, ве́рное for neuter nouns and ве́рные for plural nouns.

How do you pronounce it?

vérnyj

Did you know?

  • The word правди́вый shares a root with пра́во, which means 'right' or 'law', linking the concept of truth directly to justice.
  • The word ве́рный can also mean 'faithful' or 'loyal', such as describing a 'faithful dog' or a 'loyal friend'.
  • To express 'the truth' as a single concept, Russians use правда, which is a different noun than the one used for the abstract/philosophical 'truth' (истина).

Examples in context

  • Это правда
    This is true
  • Ты говоришь истину
    You speak the truth
  • Ты был на концерте, да?
    You were at the concert, right?
  • Москва – столица России, верно?
    Moscow is the capital of Russia, right?
  • Это ве́рный ответ.
    Eto vernyy otvet.
    This is a true answer.

Example conversation

Two students are checking their homework together.

  1. Анастасия Anastasia

    Александр, посмотри́ мой отве́т.
    Aleksandr, posmotri moy otvet.
    Aleksandr, look at my answer.
  2. Александр Aleksandr

    Да, это ве́рный отве́т.
    Da, eto vernyy otvet.
    Yes, that is the true answer.
  3. Анастасия Anastasia

    Я дума́ла, что ошибла́сь.
    Ya dumala, chto oshiblas.
    I thought I was wrong.
  4. Александр Aleksandr

    Нет, всё прави́льно.
    Net, vsyo pravilno.
    No, everything is correct.

Sources

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Karen Taylor
Karen TaylorHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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