Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'extort'

English Word: extort

Key Russian Translations:

• вымогать [vɨˈmɐɡətʲ] - [Formal, often used in legal or serious contexts]
• шантажировать [ʂɐnˈtaʐɨrəvətʲ] - [Informal, implies blackmail or emotional coercion]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, news, and everyday discussions involving crime or coercion, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to take".)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts. For "вымогать", it's B2; for "шантажировать", it might be B1 due to its more straightforward usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вымогать: [vɨˈmɐɡətʲ]

шантажировать: [ʂɐnˈtaʐɨrəvətʲ]

Note on вымогать: The stress is on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft 'г' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its guttural quality.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To obtain money, information, or something valuable by force, threats, or intimidation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вымогать - Used in formal contexts like law enforcement or describing criminal activities, often implying direct coercion.
• шантажировать - Applied in informal or emotional scenarios, such as personal relationships or media, where blackmail is involved.

Usage Examples:

• Он вымогал деньги у своей жертвы, угрожая раскрыть тайну.

  He extorted money from his victim by threatening to reveal a secret.

• Коррумпированные чиновники часто шантажируют бизнесменов, чтобы получить взятки.

  Corrupt officials often extort bribes from businessmen through blackmail.

• Вымогая информацию, хакеры угрожали опубликовать конфиденциальные данные.

  By extorting information, hackers threatened to publish confidential data.

• Она шантажировала бывшего партнера, используя старые фото, чтобы вынудить его заплатить.

  She extorted payment from her former partner by blackmailing him with old photos.

• Вымогая подчиненных, босс заставлял их работать сверхурочно без оплаты.

  By extorting his subordinates, the boss forced them to work overtime without pay.

Secondary Meaning: To extract or force out something, metaphorically (e.g., in non-criminal contexts like negotiations).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вымогать - Less common, but used metaphorically in persuasive or argumentative settings.

Usage Examples:

• Во время переговоров он вымогал уступки от оппонентов, не давая им передышки.

  During negotiations, he extorted concessions from his opponents without giving them a break.

• Шантажируя обстоятельствами, адвокат вымогал лучшие условия для клиента.

  By extorting through circumstances, the lawyer secured better terms for his client.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Вымогать" is an imperfective verb, while "шантажировать" is also imperfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for "вымогать" in the present tense; "шантажировать" follows a similar pattern but with irregularities in stem changes.

For "шантажировать": It has a perfective counterpart "шантажировать" (no direct perfective, but can pair with aspects). These verbs are irregular in some forms due to the -овать suffix. If the verb is used in past or future, it changes accordingly (e.g., past: вымогал/вымогала).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • шантажировать (similar but emphasizes blackmail)
  • вынуждать (to force, more neutral)
  • давить (to pressure, often in emotional contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • давать (to give, as it opposes taking by force)
  • отдавать (to return or yield voluntarily)

Note: "Шантажировать" as a synonym of "вымогать" differs subtly by focusing on psychological manipulation rather than physical threats.

Related Phrases:

• вымогать деньги - To extort money (common in crime reports).
• шантажировать информацией - To blackmail with information (used in digital or personal security contexts).
• вымогать признание - To extort a confession (often in legal or interrogation scenarios).

Usage Notes:

"Extort" directly corresponds to "вымогать" in most formal contexts, but English users should note that Russian verbs like this require conjugation based on subject and tense. For instance, use "вымогать" in situations involving legal or criminal coercion, while "шантажировать" is better for emotional blackmail. Be mindful of the formal register; in casual speech, Russians might opt for simpler synonyms. When choosing between translations, consider the context: if threats are physical, go with "вымогать"; if psychological, use "шантажировать". Always pair with appropriate prepositions, like "у кого-то" (from someone).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вымогать" interchangeably with "воровать" (to steal), assuming they mean the same thing.

  Correct Usage: "Вымогать" involves threats, while "воровать" is straightforward theft. Example of error: *Он воровал деньги угрозами* (incorrect). Correct: Он вымогал деньги угрозами. Explanation: This confuses coercion with simple taking, which alters the legal implications.

• Error: Neglecting verb conjugation, e.g., using the infinitive form in a conjugated sentence.

  Correct Usage: Instead of *Он вымогать*, say *Он вымогает*. Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject; this is a common pitfall for English speakers used to invariant verbs.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "вымогать" often appear in discussions of corruption and historical events, such as Soviet-era abuses or modern-day organized crime. It carries a strong negative connotation, reflecting Russia's emphasis on social order and anti-corruption campaigns, which can make it a sensitive topic in media and politics.

Related Concepts:

• коррупция (corruption)
• взятка (bribe)
• угроза (threat)