Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Defendant'

English Word: Defendant

Key Russian Translations:

• обвиняемый [ɐbvʲɪˈnʲæmɨj] - [Formal, Masculine, Legal Context]
• обвиняемая [ɐbvʲɪˈnʲæməjə] - [Formal, Feminine, Legal Context]
• подсудимый [pɐt͡sʊˈdʲimɨj] - [Formal, Masculine, Courtroom Context]
• подсудимая [pɐt͡sʊˈdʲiməjə] - [Formal, Feminine, Courtroom Context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal and formal contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "обвиняемый/обвиняемая"; B2-C1 (Intermediate-Advanced) for "подсудимый/подсудимая" due to specific courtroom usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

обвиняемый: [ɐbvʲɪˈnʲæmɨj]

Note on обвиняемый: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "я" sound is pronounced as a soft 'ya'.

обвиняемая: [ɐbvʲɪˈnʲæməjə]

подсудимый: [pɐt͡sʊˈdʲimɨj]

Note on подсудимый: Stress on the second syllable. The "у" is short and unstressed.

подсудимая: [pɐt͡sʊˈdʲiməjə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person accused of a crime (General Legal Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обвиняемый/обвиняемая - Used for someone formally accused of a crime, often before or during investigation.

Usage Examples:

• Обвиняемый отказался давать показания без адвоката.

  The defendant refused to testify without a lawyer.

• Обвиняемая заявила о своей невиновности.

  The defendant (female) claimed her innocence.

• Обвиняемый был задержан на месте преступления.

  The defendant was detained at the crime scene.

2. A person on trial in court (Courtroom Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подсудимый/подсудимая - Refers specifically to someone standing trial in a courtroom.

Usage Examples:

• Подсудимый выслушал приговор молча.

  The defendant listened to the verdict in silence.

• Подсудимая обратилась к судье с последним словом.

  The defendant (female) addressed the judge with her final statement.

• Подсудимый был оправдан по всем обвинениям.

  The defendant was acquitted of all charges.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обвиняемый/обвиняемая (Adjective used as Noun): Declines as a regular adjective in Russian, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the implied noun (person).

подсудимый/подсудимая (Adjective used as Noun): Follows similar adjective declension patterns as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• ответчик (in civil cases, less criminal connotation)

Note: "ответчик" is more common in civil lawsuits rather than criminal cases.

Antonyms:

• истец (plaintiff in civil cases)
• потерпевший (victim in criminal cases)

Related Phrases:

• обвиняемый в преступлении - Accused of a crime (general legal context).
• подсудимый на скамье подсудимых - Defendant on the dock (courtroom imagery).
• защита обвиняемого - Defense of the defendant (legal term).

Usage Notes:

• "обвиняемый/обвиняемая" is broader and can refer to someone accused at any stage of a criminal process, while "подсудимый/подсудимая" specifically refers to someone on trial.
• Both terms must agree in gender with the person they describe, which is a key grammatical feature in Russian unlike in English.
• Use "обвиняемый" in written reports or news, as it is more neutral and formal; "подсудимый" is often used in direct courtroom speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обвиняемый" and "подсудимый" interchangeably without regard to context.
  Incorrect: Подсудимый был только что арестован. (Wrong, as "подсудимый" implies a trial stage.)
  Correct: Обвиняемый был только что арестован. (Correct, as it fits the pre-trial stage.)
• Error: Ignoring gender agreement.
  Incorrect: Обвиняемый (for a female defendant).
  Correct: Обвиняемая (for a female defendant).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian legal culture, the term "подсудимый" often carries a heavier connotation, as it directly relates to someone facing judgment in court, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. The Soviet legal system's influence still lingers in terminology and courtroom formality.

Related Concepts:

• суд (court)
• приговор (verdict)
• адвокат (lawyer)
• обвинение (accusation)