Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Delinquent'

English Word: delinquent

Key Russian Translations:

• правонарушитель [ˌprɑvənərʊˈʂɨtʲɪlʲ] - [Formal, Noun, Often used in legal contexts]
• нарушитель [nərʊˈʂɨtʲɪlʲ] - [Neutral, Noun, General use for rule-breaker]
• хулиган [xʊlʲɪˈɡan] - [Informal, Noun, Often refers to a troublemaker or juvenile delinquent]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like law or informal speech)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies slightly by term, with "хулиган" being easier at B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

правонарушитель: [ˌprɑvənərʊˈʂɨtʲɪlʲ]

Note on правонарушитель: Stress falls on the fifth syllable ("ши"). The "р" sound is rolled, typical of Russian phonetics.

нарушитель: [nərʊˈʂɨtʲɪlʲ]

Note on нарушитель: Stress on the third syllable ("ши"). The soft "т" (тʲ) requires a slight palatalization.

хулиган: [xʊlʲɪˈɡan]

Note on хулиган: Stress on the last syllable ("ган"). The "х" sound is a guttural fricative, unfamiliar to many English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person who commits a crime or offense (legal context):

Translation(s) & Context:

• правонарушитель - Used in formal or legal contexts to describe someone who violates the law, often a juvenile delinquent in official reports.
• нарушитель - A more general term for someone who breaks rules or laws, not necessarily criminal.

Usage Examples:

• Этот подросток - правонарушитель, он был задержан за кражу.

  This teenager is a delinquent; he was detained for theft.

• Нарушители закона должны нести ответственность.

  Delinquents (lawbreakers) must be held accountable.

• Суд рассмотрел дело о правонарушителе, укравшем велосипед.

  The court reviewed the case of a delinquent who stole a bicycle.

2. A troublemaker or misbehaving person (informal context):

Translation(s) & Context:

• хулиган - Used colloquially to describe a troublemaker, often a young person engaging in disruptive behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Эти хулиганы опять разбили окно в школе!

  These delinquents broke a window at school again!

• Не будь хулиганом, веди себя прилично.

  Don’t be a delinquent; behave properly.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

правонарушитель (Noun, Masculine): Follows the second declension pattern in Russian. Below is the declension table for singular and plural forms:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	правонарушитель	правонарушители
Genitive	правонарушителя	правонарушителей
Dative	правонарушителю	правонарушителям
Accusative	правонарушителя	правонарушителей
Instrumental	правонарушителем	правонарушителями
Prepositional	о правонарушителе	о правонарушителях

нарушитель (Noun, Masculine): Similar declension pattern to "правонарушитель." Refer to a standard second declension table for full forms.

хулиган (Noun, Masculine): Also follows the second declension pattern, with regular endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• преступник (criminal, more severe)
• безобразник (troublemaker, lighter tone)

Note: "преступник" implies a more serious offender than "правонарушитель," while "безобразник" is often used playfully or for minor misbehavior.

Antonyms:

• законопослушный (law-abiding)
• примерный (exemplary)

Related Phrases:

• правонарушитель несовершеннолетний - Juvenile delinquent (used in legal contexts).
• хулиганское поведение - Delinquent behavior (often used for rowdy or disruptive actions).
• нарушитель порядка - Public order delinquent (someone disrupting public rules).

Usage Notes:

• "правонарушитель" is the most formal and precise translation for "delinquent" in legal or official contexts, especially for minors.
• "нарушитель" is broader and can apply to any rule-breaker, not necessarily a criminal or juvenile delinquent.
• "хулиган" is informal and often used for young troublemakers or vandals, carrying a slightly negative but sometimes playful connotation.
• Choose the term based on the context: legal settings require "правонарушитель," while casual conversations might favor "хулиган."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "хулиган" in formal or legal contexts. Wrong: "Суд рассматривает дело о хулигане." Correct: "Суд рассматривает дело о правонарушителе." (Explanation: "хулиган" sounds too colloquial for legal language.)
• Error: Misusing "нарушитель" for a specific juvenile delinquent. Wrong: "Этот нарушитель совершил кражу." Correct: "Этот правонарушитель совершил кражу." (Explanation: "правонарушитель" is more specific to legal offenses.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "хулиган" often evokes images of youthful mischief or minor vandalism, sometimes with a nostalgic or humorous undertone in literature or film. However, in modern usage, it can still carry a negative connotation when referring to actual disruptive behavior. The concept of juvenile delinquency ("правонарушитель несовершеннолетний") is taken seriously in legal contexts, with specific laws addressing young offenders.

Related Concepts:

• преступление (crime)
• наказание (punishment)
• несовершеннолетний (minor)