Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'felonious'

English Word: felonious

Key Russian Translations:

• Преступный /prʲɪˈstupnɨj/ - [Formal, Legal Context]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly used in legal, journalistic, or formal discussions but not in everyday casual speech.)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and legal vocabulary.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Преступный: /prʲɪˈstupnɨj/

Note on Преступный: The stress is on the second syllable. The 'ы' sound (/ɨ/) can be challenging for English speakers, as it's similar to a centralized 'i' sound. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Relating to or involving a serious crime, often implying felony-level offenses.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Преступный - Used in formal contexts to describe actions, behaviors, or individuals involved in criminal activities, especially in legal documents or news reports.

Usage Examples:

• Этот акт был признан преступным судом. (This act was deemed felonious by the court.)

  English Translation: This act was deemed felonious by the court.

• Преступные элементы общества часто избегают наказания. (Felonious elements of society often evade punishment.)

  English Translation: Felonious elements of society often evade punishment. (Here, it shows the adjective in a broader social context.)

• Его преступное поведение привело к аресту. (His felonious behavior led to his arrest.)

  English Translation: His felonious behavior led to his arrest. (Demonstrates use with nouns in a narrative.)

• В законе различаются преступные и не преступные действия. (The law distinguishes between felonious and non-felonious actions.)

  English Translation: The law distinguishes between felonious and non-felonious actions. (Illustrates contrast in legal discussions.)

• Преступный умысел был доказан в суде. (The felonious intent was proven in court.)

  English Translation: The felonious intent was proven in court. (Shows application in describing intent, a key legal concept.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Преступный is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow standard patterns for hard-stem adjectives. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This follows regular adjective declension rules, with no irregularities for this word.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Криминальный (kriminal'nyy) - Similar, but often used for organized crime; more neutral in tone.
  • Противозаконный (protivozakonnyy) - Emphasizes illegality, with a focus on laws rather than severity.
• Antonyms:
  • Законный (zakonnyy) - Lawful or legal.
  • Невинный (nevinnыy) - Innocent or blameless.

Related Phrases:

• Преступная деятельность (Prestuplaya deyatel'nost') - Felonious activity; refers to criminal operations in a formal context.
• Преступный замысел (Prestupl'nyy zamysel) - Felonious intent; used in legal discussions about motives.
• Быть замешанным в преступном деле (Byt' zameshannym v prestupnom dele) - To be involved in a felonious matter; a common phrase in investigative contexts.

Usage Notes:

Преступный directly corresponds to 'felonious' in English, particularly in legal contexts, but it's more commonly used in formal Russian writing or speech. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives like this one must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference. For example, choose 'преступная' for feminine nouns. When selecting among translations, use 'преступный' for emphasis on the severity of the crime, as opposed to 'противозаконный' for general illegality. It's advisable in conversational settings to avoid this word unless discussing law enforcement to prevent sounding overly formal.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'преступный' without proper declension, e.g., saying "преступный женщина" instead of "преступная женщина". Correct: Always decline the adjective to match the noun's gender and case. Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement, unlike English, so learners must check for this to avoid grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing it with 'преступление' (a noun meaning 'crime'), e.g., using it as a noun. Correct: Use 'преступный' only as an adjective. Explanation: This mix-up can alter the sentence meaning; 'преступление' is the noun form, while 'преступный' describes something related to crime.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, terms like 'преступный' often carry implications from historical contexts, such as the Soviet-era criminal codes, where crimes were categorized strictly. This word can evoke a sense of moral judgment beyond mere legality, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective responsibility and state authority in matters of justice.

Related Concepts:

• Преступление (Crime)
• Наказание (Punishment)
• Суд (Court)