Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'divest'

English Word: divest

Key Russian Translations:

• лишить [lʲɪˈʂɨtʲ] - [Formal, used in legal or abstract contexts]
• снять [sna:tʲ] - [Informal, used specifically for removing clothing or layers]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing and discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual usage; for 'лишить', it's B2; for 'снять', it's A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лишить: [lʲɪˈʂɨtʲ]

Note on лишить: The 'ш' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be tricky for English speakers; stress is on the second syllable.

снять: [sna:tʲ]

Note on снять: The 'тʲ' is a palatalized 't', making it softer; commonly used in imperative forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To deprive someone of something, often in a formal or legal sense (e.g., rights or possessions)

Translation(s) & Context:

• лишить - Used in formal contexts like law or politics, implying a permanent or significant loss.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство лишило его гражданства за измену. (The government divested him of his citizenship for treason.)

  English Translation: The government divested him of his citizenship for treason.

• Суд лишил компанию лицензии из-за нарушений. (The court divested the company of its license due to violations.)

  English Translation: The court divested the company of its license due to violations.

• Родители лишили ребенка доступа к гаджетам. (The parents divested the child of access to gadgets.)

  English Translation: The parents divested the child of access to gadgets.

• Война лишила многие семьи их домов. (The war divested many families of their homes.)

  English Translation: The war divested many families of their homes.

Meaning 2: To remove clothing or an outer layer

Translation(s) & Context:

• снять - Used in everyday, informal contexts for literal removal, such as clothes or coverings.

Usage Examples:

• Он снял куртку, чтобы войти в дом. (He divested himself of his jacket to enter the house.)

  English Translation: He divested himself of his jacket to enter the house.

• Девушка сняла шляпу перед зеркалом. (The girl divested herself of her hat in front of the mirror.)

  English Translation: The girl divested herself of her hat in front of the mirror.

• Актёр снял маску после спектакля. (The actor divested himself of the mask after the performance.)

  English Translation: The actor divested himself of the mask after the performance.

• Она сняла перчатки, чтобы помыть руки. (She divested herself of her gloves to wash her hands.)

  English Translation: She divested herself of her gloves to wash her hands.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'лишить' and 'снять' are verbs in Russian, which means they undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; 'лишить' is perfective, while 'снять' can be perfective of 'снимать' (imperfective).

For 'лишить' (perfective):

For 'снять' (perfective of снимать):

Note: These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns for perfective verbs in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отнять (otnyat') - Similar to 'лишить', but more forceful, often implying physical removal.
  • изъять (iz'yat') - Used in legal contexts, with a connotation of seizure.
• Antonyms:
  • наделить (nadelit') - To endow or provide with something.
  • предоставить (predostavit') - To grant or supply.

Related Phrases:

• лишить прав (lishit' prav) - To deprive of rights; often used in legal discussions.
• снять одежду (snat' odezhdu) - To remove clothing; a common everyday phrase.
• лишить наследства (lishit' nasledstva) - To disinherit; implies family or legal contexts.

Usage Notes:

• 'Лишить' is the most precise translation for the abstract sense of 'divest' (e.g., depriving rights), and it's typically used in formal or written Russian. Avoid it in casual speech where 'снять' might be more appropriate for literal removal.
• Russian verbs like these require attention to aspect: 'лишить' is perfective (completed action), so pair it with contexts indicating a finished event.
• When choosing between translations, use 'снять' for physical actions and 'лишить' for metaphorical ones to match the English nuance.
• Grammar note: These verbs are transitive and require a direct object, e.g., "лишить кого-то чего-то" (deprive someone of something).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'лишить' interchangeably with 'снять' in physical contexts, e.g., saying "Я лишил куртку" instead of "Я снял куртку". Correct: 'Снять' is for removal of objects; explanation: 'Лишить' implies deprivation, not just taking off, which can lead to confusion in meaning.
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., using "лишить" in the wrong person like "Он лишить" instead of "Он лишит". Correct: Always conjugate based on subject; this is a common mistake for English learners due to English's simpler verb system.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'лишить прав' (deprive of rights) often carry historical weight, especially in the context of Soviet-era policies where individuals were divested of property or citizenship. This reflects themes of authority and state control, which can add emotional or political connotations to the word in modern usage.

Related Concepts:

• отобрать (otobrat')
• изъятие (iz'yatie)
• наследство (nasledstvo)