Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Abduct'

English Word: Abduct

Key Russian Translations:

• похищать [pɐˈxʲiʂːətʲ] - [Formal, Often used for kidnapping or abduction in legal contexts]
• уводить [ʊvɐˈdʲitʲ] - [Neutral, Can imply leading away by force or persuasion]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like crime or legal discussions)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "похищать"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "уводить" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

похищать: [pɐˈxʲiʂːətʲ]

Note on похищать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian, often challenging for non-native speakers.

уводить: [ʊvɐˈdʲitʲ]

Note on уводить: Stress on the second syllable. The "у" is pronounced as a short "oo" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To take someone away illegally by force (Kidnapping)

Translation(s) & Context:

• похищать - Primarily used in contexts of kidnapping or abducting a person, often with criminal intent.

Usage Examples:

• Они похищали детей ради выкупа.

  They abducted children for ransom.

• Его обвинили в том, что он похитил важные документы.

  He was accused of abducting important documents.

• Похищать людей — тяжкое преступление.

  Abducting people is a serious crime.

2. To lead or take away (often by force or persuasion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уводить - Used for leading someone away, often implying force or deceit, but less severe than "похищать".

Usage Examples:

• Он увёл её из дома под ложным предлогом.

  He abducted her from home under a false pretext.

• Его увели с вечеринки против его воли.

  He was abducted from the party against his will.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

похищать (Verb, Imperfective Aspect): This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs in Russian. It indicates an ongoing or repeated action.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine)
Я (I)	похищаю	похищал
Ты (You, singular)	похищаешь	похищал
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	похищает	похищал/похищала/похищало

Note: Perfective form is "похитить" (used for a completed action).

уводить (Verb, Imperfective Aspect): Also a regular first-conjugation verb, often paired with its perfective form "увести".

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine)
Я (I)	увожу	уводил
Ты (You, singular)	уводишь	уводил
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	уводит	уводил/уводила/уводило

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for похищать:

• красть (to steal, often used for objects but sometimes people)
• захватывать (to capture, often in a broader sense)

Note: "красть" is more general and often applies to theft, while "захватывать" can imply a larger-scale or military abduction.

Antonyms for похищать:

• освобождать (to release)
• отпускать (to let go)

Related Phrases:

• похищать ребёнка - To abduct a child (specific to kidnapping children).
• уводить из дома - To abduct from home (implies taking someone away from their residence).

Usage Notes:

• "похищать" is the more common and formal term for abduction, especially in legal or criminal contexts. It often carries a stronger negative connotation.
• "уводить" is less intense and can sometimes imply persuasion or deceit rather than outright force. It is often used in less severe or ambiguous situations.
• Both verbs are imperfective, indicating an ongoing or habitual action. Use their perfective counterparts ("похитить" and "увести") when referring to a completed act of abduction.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Confusing "похищать" with "красть". While "красть" means "to steal", it is often incorrectly used for abducting people.

Incorrect: Он крал её из дома. (He stole her from home.)

Correct: Он похитил её из дома. (He abducted her from home.)

Explanation: "красть" is more appropriate for objects, while "похищать/похитить" is used for people in the context of abduction.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, abduction, especially of children or brides (a historical practice in some regions), carries heavy legal and social stigma. The term "похищать" often appears in news reports or legal discussions, reflecting a serious crime. Understanding this cultural weight is important when using or interpreting the word.

Related Concepts:

• выкуп (ransom)
• захват (capture)
• плен (captivity)