Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'extortionate'

English Word: extortionate

Key Russian Translations:

• заоблачный [zəɐˈoblətɕnɨj] - [Informal, often used in everyday conversations about prices]
• грабительский [ɡrəˈbʲitʲɪlʲskʲɪj] - [Formal, typically in legal or business contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions about economics, commerce, or daily complaints, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "дорогой").

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of nuanced vocabulary and context, as these words are not basic but appear in intermediate-level texts. For "заоблачный," it's slightly easier due to its colloquial use; for "грабительский," it may edge toward B2+ due to formal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заоблачный: [zəɐˈoblətɕnɨj]

Note on заоблачный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("obl"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'l' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

грабительский: [ɡrəˈbʲitʲɪlʲskʲɪj]

Note on грабительский: The 'bʲ' sound is palatalized, common in Russian; it may sound like a soft 'b' followed by a 'y' glide—listen for the emphasis on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Excessively high in price, often implying unfairness or exploitation

Translation(s) & Context:

• заоблачный - Used in informal, everyday contexts, such as complaining about overpriced goods in markets or services.
• грабительский - Applied in formal settings, like legal documents or business discussions, to denote predatory pricing.

Usage Examples:

• Цены в этом магазине заоблачные, особенно на импортные товары.

  The prices in this store are extortionate, especially on imported goods.

• Грабительский тариф на услуги делает их недоступными для большинства людей.

  The extortionate rate for services makes them inaccessible to most people.

• После кризиса заоблачные цены на продукты питания вызвали массовое недовольство.

  After the crisis, extortionate food prices caused widespread dissatisfaction.

• Эта грабительская политика ценообразования противоречит интересам потребителей.

  This extortionate pricing policy goes against consumers' interests.

• Заоблачный счет за ремонт автомобиля шокировал владельца.

  The extortionate repair bill for the car shocked the owner.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "заоблачный" and "грабительский" are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow standard adjectival declension patterns, which are regular for these words.

Note: These follow the first declension pattern for adjectives, with no irregularities. If the adjective is used predicatively, it may not inflect as strictly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • невероятно дорогой (neveroyatno dorogoy) - Extremely expensive, with a similar informal tone.
  • запредельный (zapredelnyy) - Beyond limits, often used for hyperbolic emphasis in casual speech.
• Antonyms:
  • дешёвый (deshevyy) - Cheap, straightforward opposite in basic contexts.
  • разумный (razumnyy) - Reasonable, implying affordability and fairness.

Related Phrases:

• заоблачные цены - Sky-high prices; used to express frustration over inflated costs in economic discussions.
• грабительский налог - Extortionate tax; common in formal complaints about government policies.
• заоблачный уровень цен - Extortionate price level; highlights systemic issues in pricing strategies.

Usage Notes:

"Extortionate" directly corresponds to "заоблачный" in informal English-Russian contexts, where it's used for everyday exaggerations, but "грабительский" is better for legal or formal equivalents due to its connotation of exploitation. Be mindful of context: "заоблачный" is more colloquial and appears in spoken language, while "грабительский" suits written or professional settings. Grammatically, always ensure the adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "заоблачный" for emotional emphasis and "грабительский" for objective criticism.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse "заоблачный" in formal writing, thinking it's universally applicable—e.g., incorrectly saying "заоблачный контракт" instead of "грабительский контракт" for a formal legal context. Correct usage: Use "грабительский" for contracts to avoid sounding too casual.
• Another error is forgetting adjective agreement—e.g., saying "заоблачный цены" (wrong, as it should be "заоблачные цены" for plural feminine). Explanation: Russian requires full agreement; always check the noun's form before using the adjective.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "заоблачный" reflect a common national sentiment of complaining about high prices, especially during economic instability. This stems from historical experiences with inflation and scarcity, making such vocabulary a staple in everyday discourse to express discontent without escalating to confrontation.

Related Concepts:

• инфляция (inflation)
• экономический кризис (economic crisis)
• потребительские цены (consumer prices)