Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'extortion'

English Word: extortion

Key Russian Translations:

• вымогательство (vɨ.mə.ɡɐˈtʲelʲstvə) - [Formal, Legal context]
• шантаж (ʂɐnˈtaʐ) - [Informal, when involving blackmail]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, news, and crime-related contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of legal terminology and noun declensions, though basic forms are accessible to learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вымогательство: vɨ.mə.ɡɐˈtʲelʲstvə

шантаж: ʂɐnˈtaʐ

Note on вымогательство: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("telʲ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian-specific consonant clusters and vowel reductions. Pronounce it with a soft 'tʲ' sound.

Note on шантаж: The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in "she", but ensure it's not confused with 's' sounds.

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Meanings and Usage:

The act of obtaining money or something valuable through force, threats, or coercion

Translation(s) & Context:

• вымогательство - Used in formal legal or criminal contexts, such as court cases or news reports about organized crime.
• шантаж - Applied in situations involving blackmail or emotional manipulation, often in interpersonal or informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он был арестован за вымогательство денег у местных бизнесменов.

  He was arrested for extorting money from local businessmen.

• Вымогательство стало распространенной проблемой в коррумпированных районах.

  Extortion has become a widespread issue in corrupt areas.

• Ее шантаж угрозами разоблачения заставил его заплатить.

  Her extortion through threats of exposure forced him to pay.

• Полиция расследует случаи вымогательства в интернете.

  The police are investigating cases of online extortion.

• Шантаж в этом фильме показывает, как легко манипулировать людьми.

  The extortion in this film illustrates how easily people can be manipulated.

Broader sense: Unlawful extraction of benefits through intimidation

Translation(s) & Context:

• вымогательство - In contexts involving institutional or governmental abuse, such as police or bureaucratic extortion.

Usage Examples:

• Вымогательство со стороны чиновников подрывает доверие общества.

  Extortion by officials undermines public trust.

• Этот случай вымогательства был заснят на видео.

  This instance of extortion was captured on video.

• Шантаж политиков часто приводит к скандалам.

  Extortion of politicians often leads to scandals.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Вымогательство" is a neuter noun of the third declension, which follows regular patterns but has irregularities in some cases. "Шантаж" is a masculine noun of the second declension with standard inflections.

Note: "Шантаж" is more straightforward and doesn't have irregularities, making it easier for beginners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • взяточничество (vzyatochnichestvo) - Focuses on bribery, often overlapping in corrupt contexts.
  • нажим (nuzhím) - Informal term for pressure or coercion, less formal than вымогательство.
• Antonyms:
  • благотворительность (blagotvoritel'nost') - Acts of charity or giving without coercion.
  • справедливость (spravedlivost') - Justice or fairness, contrasting the unethical nature of extortion.

Related Phrases:

• уголовное вымогательство - Criminal extortion; refers to illegal acts punishable by law.
• шантаж с угрозами - Extortion with threats; used in scenarios involving intimidation for personal gain.
• вымогательство должностных лиц - Extortion by officials; highlights corruption in government settings.

Usage Notes:

Extortion translates most accurately to "вымогательство" in formal contexts like law enforcement or journalism, while "шантаж" is better for interpersonal blackmail. Always consider the context: "вымогательство" implies a systematic or organized act, often involving money, whereas "шантаж" can be more emotional. In Russian, these nouns require appropriate declension based on case (e.g., genitive for possession). English learners should note that Russian often pairs these words with verbs like "совершать" (to commit) or "подвергаться" (to be subjected to) for complete sentences.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "вымогательство" with "взятка" (bribe): Learners might use "взятка" for any extortion, but it's specifically for bribery. Correct usage: Say "Он занимался вымогательством" instead of "Он взял взятку" for general extortion. Error example: "Он взял вымогательство" (incorrect); Correct: "Он совершил вымогательство".

• Incorrect declension: Forgetting to change endings in sentences, e.g., saying "Я видел вымогательство" when it should be "Я видел вымогательство" in nominative, but in genitive: "Я боюсь вымогательства". This can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, extortion like "вымогательство" is often associated with historical issues of corruption in the post-Soviet era, such as in organized crime or government bureaucracy. It reflects broader themes of mistrust in institutions, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works, where moral dilemmas involving coercion are explored.

Related Concepts:

• коррупция (corruption)
• мошенничество (fraud)
• уголовное преступление (criminal offense)