пра́вда
právdafeminine
The English word 'truth' can be translated into Russian as пра́вда (právda) or и́стина.
Meaning: conformity to fact or reality (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| пра́вда | právda | feminine |
| и́стина | ístina | feminine |
In everyday conversation, правда is the standard word used to express 'the truth', such as when asking someone to tell the truth. To emphasize that something is absolutely true, you can add the word точно before or after правда.
Which one should you use?
правда is used when referring to truth as a factual statement, a person's honesty or a sense of justice and fairness. In contrast, истина is used for absolute, eternal or scientific and philosophical truth, such as in the context of a metaphysical search for truth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of правда is правды, and the genitive singular form of истина is истины.
How do you pronounce it?
právda
Did you know?
- The word пра́вда shares a root with пра́вый, which means both 'right' in terms of correctness and 'right' as in the right side of the body.
- In old Russian, пра́вда did not just mean 'truth' but also 'law' or 'justice'. This is why the first written legal code of the region is called Руськая правда or 'Russian Justice'.
- In Russian, the phrase говорить правду-матку means to tell the truth in a blunt, harsh and uncompromising way.
Examples in context
- Скажите, пожалуйста, правду.Please tell the truth.
- Статья основана на правде.The article is based on truth.
- Он всегда говорит правду.He always tells the truth.
- Ты говоришь правду?Are you telling the truth?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “truth” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
