The Word “Betray”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
The word “betray” holds a powerful emotional and ethical connotation. It signifies the act of being disloyal or breaking trust, whether in relationships, commitments, or allegiances. This article explores the meaning, usage, and translations of “betray” across 30 different languages, illustrating its universal significance and varied interpretations.
Meaning of “Betray”
- Literal Definition:
- To act against someone who trusts you, often by revealing their secrets, aiding their enemies, or failing to support them.
- Example: “He betrayed his closest friend by sharing his secrets with others.”
- Figurative Use:
- To unintentionally reveal something about oneself or one’s feelings.
- Example: “Her smile betrayed her nervousness.”
- Contextual Depth:
- Betrayal often involves themes of deception, disloyalty, and harm, making it one of the most emotionally charged actions.
Common Usages of “Betray” in Sentences
- Personal Relationships:
- “She felt betrayed when her friend broke their promise.”
- “Betraying trust is one of the hardest things to forgive.”
- Political or Allegiance Contexts:
- “The spy betrayed his country by leaking classified information.”
- “History remembers leaders who betrayed their people with disdain.”
- Unintentional Revelation:
- “His trembling hands betrayed his fear.”
- “Her voice betrayed her excitement despite her composed demeanor.”
- Moral and Ethical Betrayal:
- “Betraying one’s principles is akin to losing oneself.”
- “He regretted betraying his conscience for temporary gain.”
Translations of “Betray” in 30 Languages
| Language | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Traicionar | “Nunca pensé que me traicionarías.” |
| French | Trahir | “Il a trahi la confiance de ses amis.” |
| German | Verraten | “Er hat seine Familie verraten.” |
| Italian | Tradire | “Non voglio tradire la tua fiducia.” |
| Portuguese | Trair | “Ela nunca trairia seus princípios.” |
| Dutch | Verraden | “Hij zou nooit zijn land verraden.” |
| Russian | Предать (Predat’) | “Он предал своих друзей.” |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 背叛 (Bèipàn) | “他背叛了他的国家。” |
| Japanese | 裏切る (Uragiru) | “彼は友達を裏切った。” |
| Korean | 배신하다 (Baesinhada) | “그는 친구를 배신했다.” |
| Hindi | धोखा देना (Dhokha Dena) | “उसने अपने सबसे अच्छे दोस्त को धोखा दिया।” |
| Bengali | বিশ্বাসঘাতকতা করা (Biswāsghātakatā Karā) | “সে তার বন্ধুকে বিশ্বাসঘাতকতা করল।” |
| Turkish | İhanet etmek | “O, arkadaşlarına ihanet etti.” |
| Greek | Προδίδω (Prodído) | “Αυτός πρόδωσε την εμπιστοσύνη μου.” |
| Hebrew | לבגוד (Livgod) | “הוא בגד בחברו הטוב ביותר.” |
| Swedish | Förråda | “Han förrådde sin vän.” |
| Norwegian | Forråde | “Han forrådte sin familie.” |
| Danish | Forråde | “Hun ville aldrig forråde sine venner.” |
| Finnish | Pettää | “Hän petti ystävänsä.” |
| Polish | Zdradzić | “Nie chciał zdradzić swojego kraju.” |
| Czech | Zradit | “Zradil důvěru svých přátel.” |
| Hungarian | Elárul | “Elárulta a családját.” |
| Romanian | Trăda | “Nu voia să-și trădeze prietenii.” |
| Thai | ทรยศ (Thrryt) | “เขาทรยศต่อความไว้วางใจของเพื่อน.” |
| Vietnamese | Phản bội | “Anh ấy đã phản bội đất nước của mình.” |
| Indonesian | Mengkhianati | “Dia mengkhianati kepercayaan temannya.” |
| Malay | Mengkhianati | “Dia tidak akan pernah mengkhianati temannya.” |
| Swahili | Kusaliti | “Alisaliti nchi yake kwa kutoa siri.” |
| Filipino | Magtaksil | “Huwag kang magtaksil sa iyong mga kaibigan.” |
| Arabic | خان (Khān) | “لقد خان صديقه المخلص.” |
| Estonian | Reetma | “Ta reetis oma sõbra usalduse.” |
Additional Examples in Each Language
- Spanish:
- “¿Por qué me traicionaste después de todo lo que hicimos juntos?”
- “El traidor reveló los planes secretos al enemigo.”
- French:
- “Elle a trahi ses idéaux pour gagner de l’argent.”
- “Sa voix a trahi son anxiété pendant le discours.”
- German:
- “Der Spion verriet die geheimen Dokumente.”
- “Seine Augen verrieten, dass er log.”
- Japanese:
- “彼女は信頼を裏切ることはなかった。”
- “その小さな動きが彼の意図を裏切った。”
- Arabic:
- “الخيانة شيء يصعب نسيانه.”
- “عندما خانها شعرت بخيبة أمل كبيرة.”
Betrayal is a universal concept that strikes at the heart of trust, integrity, and relationships. Whether through a personal act, a political decision, or even a subconscious reveal, betrayal leaves a profound impact. Understanding its meaning and nuances across languages helps us navigate its complexities and strive for loyalty and honesty in our interactions.
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