я́кобы

fairly common #2384C1

1.
supposedly, allegedly, ostensibly
Он якобы был болен, но все видели его в кафе.
He was supposedly sick, but everyone saw him at the café.

Usage info

Used to signal skepticism or doubt about a claim — that something is being asserted but the speaker doesn't believe it or is distancing themselves from it. Often translates as supposedly, allegedly, ostensibly, so-called, as if.

Examples

Он пришёл ко мне домой, якобы чтобы уви́деть меня.
He came to my house on the pretext of seeing me.
Дикарь на острове якобы ел человечину.
The savage on the island allegedly ate human flesh.
Я слы́шал, якобы, он у́мер.
I heard that he'd died.
Говоря́т, что я, якобы, зано́счив.
They say that I am supposedly arrogant.
Том говори́т, что ему э́то якобы неинтересно.
Tom claims that he supposedly isn't interested in it.
Говоря́т, якобы Гомер был слепо́й.
They say that Homer was blind.
Том сказа́л мне, что у него якобы нет враго́в.
Tom told me that he allegedly has no enemies.
Том якобы был в зоопа́рке.
Tom was allegedly at the zoo.

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Contributions

haunter1781 edited translation and usage info 5 months ago.
stephen302 edited translation 5 years ago.
Lucian edited word type 6 years ago.
domedap edited translation 7 years ago.

Other Sources (auto generated)

Wiktionary PONS bab.la Reverso

More about the translations

allegedly ostensibly supposedly