Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Crime'

English Word: Crime

Key Russian Translations:

• преступление [prʲɪstʊˈplʲenʲɪje] - [Formal, Neutral]
• криминал [krʲɪmʲɪˈnal] - [Informal, Often refers to criminal activity or underworld]

Frequency: High (both terms are commonly used in different contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate; "преступление" is more formal and easier to learn, "криминал" has nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

преступление: [prʲɪstʊˈplʲenʲɪje]

Note on преступление: Stress falls on the third syllable. The soft 'л' sound may be tricky for non-native speakers.

криминал: [krʲɪmʲɪˈnal]

Note on криминал: Stress on the last syllable. The word is borrowed from English and sounds similar.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. An illegal act punishable by law

Translation(s) & Context:

• преступление - Used in formal, legal, and general contexts to refer to any criminal act.

Usage Examples:

• Это было серьёзное преступление против закона.

  This was a serious crime against the law.

• Он был осуждён за совершение преступления.

  He was convicted of committing a crime.

• Преступления против личности наказываются строго.

  Crimes against the person are severely punished.

2. Criminal activity or underworld context

Translation(s) & Context:

• криминал - Refers to criminal activity, often in a colloquial sense, or to the criminal world.

Usage Examples:

• Этот район известен своим криминалом.

  This area is known for its crime.

• Он связан с криминалом, лучше держаться от него подальше.

  He is involved with crime, better to stay away from him.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

преступление (noun, neuter): Follows the second declension pattern in Russian. It changes according to case and number.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	преступление	преступления
Genitive	преступления	преступлений
Dative	преступлению	преступлениям
Accusative	преступление	преступления
Instrumental	преступлением	преступлениями
Prepositional	о преступлении	о преступлениях

криминал (noun, masculine): Follows the first declension pattern. Often used in singular form, but plural is possible in specific contexts.

Case	Singular	Plural (rare)
Nominative	криминал	криминалы
Genitive	криминала	криминалов
Dative	криминалу	криминалам
Accusative	криминал	криминалы
Instrumental	криминалом	криминалами
Prepositional	о криминале	о криминалах

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "преступление":

• нарушение
• злодеяние

Note: "нарушение" is broader and can mean "violation," while "злодеяние" implies a more heinous act.

Synonyms for "криминал":

• преступность

Antonyms:

• законность (legality)

Related Phrases:

• совершить преступление - To commit a crime.
• криминальная история - A criminal story or case.
• борьба с криминалом - Fight against crime.

Usage Notes:

• "преступление" is the standard term for "crime" in formal and legal contexts. It directly corresponds to the English meaning of an illegal act.
• "криминал" often refers to the concept of criminality or the criminal underworld. It can also mean "crime" in informal speech but is less precise in legal contexts.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between the two translations, as "криминал" may carry a colloquial or sensational tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "криминал" in formal legal contexts. Incorrect: "Он совершил криминал." Correct: "Он совершил преступление."
• Explanation: "криминал" is not appropriate for formal statements about specific crimes; use "преступление" instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "криминал" is often associated with the turbulent 1990s, a period marked by organized crime and lawlessness in post-Soviet Russia. It may evoke images of mafia or gang activity in popular media.

Related Concepts:

• закон (law)
• наказание (punishment)
• суд (court)