Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Delinquency'

English Word: Delinquency

Key Russian Translations:

• правонарушение [prəvənəruˈʂenʲɪjə] - [Formal, Neutral]
• преступность [prʲɪˈstupnəstʲ] - [Formal, Often used for broader societal context]
• хулиганство [xulʲɪˈɡanstvə] - [Informal, Often related to juvenile misbehavior]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in legal and social contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "правонарушение" and "преступность"; B1 (Lower Intermediate) for "хулиганство"

Pronunciation (Russian):

правонарушение: [prəvənəruˈʂenʲɪjə]

Note on правонарушение: Stress falls on the fourth syllable ("ru"). The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

преступность: [prʲɪˈstupnəstʲ]

Note on преступность: Stress on the second syllable ("stu"). The soft "тʲ" requires palatalization.

хулиганство: [xulʲɪˈɡanstvə]

Note on хулиганство: Stress on the third syllable ("gan"). The initial "х" is a guttural sound, not like English "h".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Legal Violation or Offense

Translation(s) & Context:

• правонарушение - Used in formal or legal contexts to refer to any violation of the law.
• преступность - Refers to criminality in a broader, often statistical or societal sense (e.g., "juvenile delinquency" as a social issue).

Usage Examples:

• Правонарушение среди подростков стало серьёзной проблемой.

  Delinquency among teenagers has become a serious problem.

• Уровень преступности в этом районе растёт каждый год.

  The level of delinquency in this area increases every year.

• Его задержали за мелкое правонарушение.

  He was detained for a minor offense.

2. Misbehavior (Often Juvenile)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хулиганство - Refers to rowdy or disruptive behavior, often associated with youths.

Usage Examples:

• Его хулиганство в школе привело к исключению.

  His delinquency at school led to expulsion.

• Хулиганство на улице раздражает местных жителей.

  Street delinquency annoys local residents.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

правонарушение (Noun, Neuter): Follows the second declension pattern. Singular and plural forms are used.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	правонарушение	правонарушения
Genitive	правонарушения	правонарушений
Dative	правонарушению	правонарушениям

преступность (Noun, Feminine): Abstract noun, used only in singular. Declines as a third declension noun.

хулиганство (Noun, Neuter): Similar to "правонарушение," follows second declension. Often used in singular but can be pluralized.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for правонарушение:

• нарушение
• проступок

Note: "нарушение" is more general; "проступок" often implies a minor offense.

Antonyms for правонарушение:

• законопослушность

Related Phrases:

• мелкое правонарушение - Minor offense
• рост преступности - Rise in delinquency/crime
• хулиганство в общественных местах - Delinquency in public places

Usage Notes:

• "правонарушение" is the most neutral and formal term for "delinquency" as a legal concept. Use it in official or academic contexts.
• "преступность" is better for discussing delinquency as a societal issue, often paired with adjectives like "подростковая" (juvenile).
• "хулиганство" is colloquial and specific to misbehavior, often by younger individuals. Avoid using it in formal legal discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "хулиганство" in formal contexts. Incorrect: "Хулиганство среди населения растёт." Correct: "Преступность среди населения растёт." (Explanation: "хулиганство" sounds too informal for broad societal discussions.)
• Error: Misusing cases after prepositions. Incorrect: "За правонарушение он был оштрафован." Correct: "За правонарушение он был оштрафован." (Explanation: Ensure correct case usage; "за" requires accusative.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "хулиганство" often evokes images of youthful rebellion or street misbehavior, historically tied to Soviet-era subcultures. Discussions of "преступность" may carry connotations of systemic social issues, often debated in political or media contexts.

Related Concepts:

• подростковая преступность (juvenile delinquency)
• административное правонарушение (administrative offense)
• уголовное преступление (criminal offense)