Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clemency'

English Word: clemency

Key Russian Translations:

• милость /ˈmʲi.ləsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Literary]
• помилование /pə.mʲɪˈla.və.nʲɪ.jə/ - [Formal, Legal, Used in official contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, historical, or literary discussions but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate) - Requires understanding of abstract concepts and formal language; for "милость," it's B2, while "помилование" may reach C1 due to legal nuances

Pronunciation (Russian):

милость: /ˈmʲi.ləsʲtʲ/

Note on милость: The stress is on the first syllable; the palatalized 'л' can be challenging for English speakers, sounding like a soft 'l'.

помилование: /pə.mʲɪˈla.və.nʲɪ.jə/

Note on помилование: Stress on the third syllable; the word often involves rapid vowel reductions in spoken Russian, making it sound more fluid in context.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Mercy or leniency, especially in legal or official contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• милость - Used in formal or literary settings to denote general mercy, such as in appeals for kindness from authority figures.
• помилование - Applied specifically in legal scenarios, like presidential pardons, emphasizing official acts of forgiveness.

Usage Examples:

• Король проявил милость к узникам, сократив их наказание. (The king showed clemency to the prisoners by reducing their sentences.)

  The king showed clemency to the prisoners by reducing their sentences.

• Президент подписал указ о помиловании политических заключённых. (The president issued a decree of clemency for political prisoners.)

  The president issued a decree of clemency for political prisoners.

• В суде адвокат умолял судью о милости для своего клиента. (In court, the lawyer begged the judge for clemency toward his client.)

  In court, the lawyer begged the judge for clemency toward his client.

• Помилование было объявлено в честь национального праздника. (Clemency was granted in honor of the national holiday.)

  Clemency was granted in honor of the national holiday.

• Несмотря на злодеяния, он получил милость от народа. (Despite his misdeeds, he received clemency from the people.)

  Despite his misdeeds, he received clemency from the people.

General kindness or compassion in non-legal contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• милость - Used metaphorically in literature or everyday speech to mean compassionate behavior, though less common than in formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Её милость спасла жизнь бездомному животному. (Her clemency saved the life of a stray animal.)

  Her clemency saved the life of a stray animal.

• Милость судьбы позволила ему выжить в трудные времена. (The clemency of fate allowed him to survive hard times.)

  The clemency of fate allowed him to survive hard times.

• В этой истории милость побеждает жестокость. (In this story, clemency triumphs over cruelty.)

  In this story, clemency triumphs over cruelty.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "милость" (feminine noun, 3rd declension):

This word follows standard Russian noun inflections with no irregularities. It changes by case and number as shown below:

For "помилование" (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

This word is invariable in some forms but follows typical patterns. It does not change in the nominative singular and has standard plural forms:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • снисхождение (sniskhozhdenie) - Similar to милость but implies more condescension in tone.
  • прощение (proshchenie) - Forgiveness, often used interchangeably with помилование in religious contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • жестокость (zhestokost') - Cruelty, directly opposite in meaning.
  • суровость (surovost') - Harshness, especially in judgments.

Related Phrases:

• проявить милость (proyavit' milost') - To show mercy; often used in narratives or pleas for compassion.
• акт помилования (akt pomilovaniya) - Act of clemency; refers to official documents or decrees in legal settings.
• милость Божья (milost' Bozh'ya) - Divine clemency; a phrase with religious connotations, meaning God's mercy.

Usage Notes:

"Clemency" in English often aligns with "милость" for general mercy and "помилование" for legal pardons. Choose "милость" in literary or everyday compassionate contexts, but opt for "помилование" in formal, governmental scenarios to ensure precision. Be mindful of the formal register; these words are rarely used in casual speech. Grammatically, both are nouns that require appropriate case agreement with prepositions (e.g., о милости - about clemency).

Common Errors:

• Confusing "милость" with "милосердие" (mercy in a broader sense): Incorrect: "Он показал милосердие" when meaning legal clemency. Correct: Use "милость" or "помилование" for specificity. Explanation: "Милосердие" implies general pity, while "милость" fits clemency better.
• Overusing in informal contexts: Incorrect: Saying "проси милость" in casual talk. Correct: Reserve for formal writing. Explanation: This can sound overly dramatic or archaic in everyday Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "милость" and "помилование" often evoke historical references, such as tsarist-era amnesties or modern presidential pardons. For instance, during holidays like Victory Day, acts of clemency are sometimes announced, reflecting a tradition of mercy tied to national identity and reconciliation.

Related Concepts:

• справедливость (spravedlivost') - Justice
• прощение (proshchenie) - Forgiveness
• наказание (nakazanie) - Punishment