Mistakes are a part of our lives. We make some of them unintentionally when we speak and write, often due to haste or tiredness. What are such mistakes called in Russian?
- “Опечатка” refers to a “typo” or a mistake made in printed or typed text. It’s the slip of the keyboard or the typesetter’s hand that results in a spelling error or a wrong word appearing in the text. This happens to all of us when we’re writing quickly or not paying close attention to detail.
- “Описка,” on the other hand, is related to handwriting. It’s the equivalent of a “slip of the pen” in English. When you’re writing by hand, an “описка” is that unintentional mark or mistake you make with a pen or pencil.
- “Оговорка” is a “slip of the tongue,” which occurs when you’re speaking and accidentally say something you didn’t mean to say. It’s a verbal mistake or a spoken error that can lead to misunderstandings or even humorous situations.
You may also hear an expression “оговорка по Фрейду“, which translates to a “Freudian slip” in English. It refers to a verbal mistake that is thought to reveal unconscious thoughts or feelings. It’s named after Sigmund Freud, the famous psychologist, who believed that such slips could provide insights into a person’s hidden desires or emotions.
So, in Russian, these three words help distinguish between mistakes in writing, handwriting, and speaking, while the “оговорка по Фрейду” adds a psychological twist, suggesting that sometimes our verbal errors might reveal more than we intend.
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