Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Alimony'

English Word: Alimony

Key Russian Translations:

• алименты [ɐlʲɪˈmʲentɨ] - [Plural, Formal]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

алименты: [ɐlʲɪˈmʲentɨ]

Note on алименты: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ы' at the end is pronounced as a short 'i' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Financial support paid to a former spouse after divorce or separation

Translation(s) & Context:

• алименты - Used in legal and formal contexts to refer to court-ordered payments for spousal or child support after divorce.

Usage Examples:

• Он обязан платить алименты своей бывшей жене каждый месяц.

  He is obligated to pay alimony to his ex-wife every month.

• Суд постановил увеличить размер алиментов на детей.

  The court ruled to increase the amount of alimony for the children.

• Она подала иск на алименты после развода.

  She filed a claim for alimony after the divorce.

• Алименты на ребенка выплачиваются до достижения им 18 лет.

  Alimony for a child is paid until they reach the age of 18.

• Неуплата алиментов может привести к судебному преследованию.

  Non-payment of alimony can lead to legal prosecution.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

алименты is a plural-only noun in Russian (no singular form exists). It follows the standard declension pattern for plural nouns of the second declension. Below is the declension table:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• содержание (used less frequently, broader meaning of "support")

Note: "содержание" can refer to financial support in a broader sense, not strictly tied to legal alimony.

Antonyms:

• None (no direct antonyms exist for this legal concept)

Related Phrases:

• платить алименты - to pay alimony
• получать алименты - to receive alimony
• задолженность по алиментам - alimony arrears
• иск на алименты - lawsuit for alimony

Usage Notes:

• In Russian, "алименты" is primarily used in legal contexts and almost always refers to court-ordered payments, whether for a spouse or children. Unlike English "alimony," which often implies spousal support, in Russian, it frequently includes child support.
• The term is always plural, so it does not have a singular form. Ensure agreement with plural verbs and adjectives when using it in sentences.
• It is a formal term and not used in casual or colloquial speech to describe informal financial support.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "алимент" (singular form) instead of "алименты." Example: *Я плачу алимент.* (Incorrect)

  Correction: Always use the plural form: Я плачу алименты.

  Explanation: "Алименты" does not have a singular form in Russian, as it inherently refers to recurring payments.

• Error: Misusing case endings, e.g., *Я плачу алиментах.* (Incorrect)

  Correction: Use the correct accusative form: Я плачу алименты.

  Explanation: After the verb "платить" (to pay), the direct object takes the accusative case, which for "алименты" is identical to the nominative form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking cultures, the concept of "алименты" carries significant legal and social weight. Non-payment of alimony is a serious issue and can result in legal consequences, including wage garnishment or even imprisonment. Public awareness campaigns often emphasize the importance of fulfilling alimony obligations, especially for child support.

Related Concepts:

• развод - divorce
• опека - custody
• судебное решение - court ruling