Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Authorise'

English Word: Authorise

Key Russian Translations:

• уполномочивать [ʊpəɫnɐˈmoʧɪvətʲ] - [Formal, Often Legal or Official Contexts]
• разрешать [rəzʲrʲɪˈʂatʲ] - [Neutral, General Permission]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal and administrative contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate - Both translations are manageable but require understanding of context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

уполномочивать: [ʊpəɫnɐˈmoʧɪvətʲ]

Note on уполномочивать: Stress falls on the fourth syllable ("mo"). The "ч" is pronounced as a soft "ch" sound.

разрешать: [rəzʲrʲɪˈʂatʲ]

Note on разрешать: Stress on the third syllable ("sha"). The "р" sounds are rolled slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To give official permission or approval

Translation(s) & Context:

• уполномочивать - Used in formal, legal, or official contexts to grant authority or power.
• разрешать - More general, can be used for granting permission in everyday or formal situations.

Usage Examples:

• Директор уполномочил его подписывать документы.

  The director authorised him to sign the documents.

• Правительство разрешило проведение митинга.

  The government authorised the holding of the rally.

• Я разрешаю тебе взять мою машину на выходные.

  I authorise you to take my car for the weekend.

• Совет уполномочил комитет принять решение.

  The board authorised the committee to make a decision.

• Учитель разрешил ученикам выйти раньше.

  The teacher authorised the students to leave early.

2. To empower or delegate authority

Translation(s) & Context:

• уполномочивать - Primarily used when delegating specific powers or responsibilities.

Usage Examples:

• Менеджер был уполномочен вести переговоры.

  The manager was authorised to conduct negotiations.

• Его уполномочили представлять компанию на конференции.

  He was authorised to represent the company at the conference.

• Президент уполномочил советника принимать решения от его имени.

  The president authorised the advisor to make decisions on his behalf.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

уполномочивать (Verb, Imperfective): This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in "-вать". It is often used with the accusative case for the person being authorised and infinitive for the action.

разрешать (Verb, Imperfective): Another regular verb, often used with the dative case for the person receiving permission and infinitive for the action permitted.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for уполномочивать:

• доверять (to entrust)
• поручать (to assign)

Note: "доверять" implies trust, while "поручать" focuses on assigning a task.

Synonyms for разрешать:

• позволять (to allow)
• давать разрешение (to give permission)

Antonyms:

• запрещать (to forbid)
• ограничивать (to restrict)

Related Phrases:

• уполномочить на действия - To authorise for actions (used in legal contexts).
• разрешить доступ - To authorise access (common in IT or security contexts).
• дать полномочия - To grant authority (formal expression for delegation).

Usage Notes:

• "уполномочивать" is more formal and often used in legal, administrative, or official contexts to denote granting specific powers or rights. It rarely appears in casual speech.
• "разрешать" is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings to indicate permission. It is the safer choice for general use.
• Be mindful of the grammatical structure: "уполномочивать" often pairs with an infinitive to specify the action authorised, while "разрешать" can pair with nouns (e.g., разрешить въезд - to authorise entry).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "уполномочивать" in casual contexts. Incorrect: "Я уполномочиваю тебя пойти в магазин." (I authorise you to go to the store.)
  Correct: Use "разрешать" instead: "Я разрешаю тебе пойти в магазин."
  Explanation: "уполномочивать" sounds overly formal and legal for everyday situations.
• Error: Forgetting case agreement after "разрешать". Incorrect: "Я разрешаю ты пойти."
  Correct: "Я разрешаю тебе пойти."
  Explanation: "разрешать" requires the dative case for the person receiving permission.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking cultures, formal authorisation (as conveyed by "уполномочивать") often carries significant weight in bureaucratic and legal contexts. Official permissions or delegations of power are typically documented, and verbal authorisation may not always be considered binding without written confirmation.

Related Concepts:

• полномочия (authority, powers)
• разрешение (permission, permit)
• доверенность (power of attorney)