Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'felony'

English Word: felony

Key Russian Translations:

• преступление [prʲɪˈstup.lʲɪ.nʲjə] - [Formal, Legal context]
• тяжкое преступление [ˈtʲaʐ.kəjə prʲɪˈstup.lʲɪ.nʲjə] - [Formal, Used for serious crimes punishable by imprisonment]

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

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of legal terminology and noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

преступление: [prʲɪˈstup.lʲɪ.nʲjə]

тяжкое преступление: [ˈtʲaʐ.kəjə prʲɪˈstup.lʲɪ.nʲjə]

Note on преступление: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A serious crime, typically one that is punishable by more than one year in prison

Translation(s) & Context:

• преступление - Used in general legal discussions, often in formal or written contexts like court documents.
• тяжкое преступление - Specifically for felonies, in contexts involving criminal law, such as trials or news reports.

Usage Examples:

• Он был осужден за тяжкое преступление и приговорен к пяти годам тюрьмы.

  He was convicted of a felony and sentenced to five years in prison.

• В России различают преступления по степени тяжести, включая тяжкие преступления.

  In Russia, crimes are distinguished by their severity, including felonies.

• Преступление, совершенное с premeditation, часто квалифицируется как тяжкое.

  A crime committed with premeditation is often classified as a felony.

• Суд рассматривает дело о преступлении, которое повлекло за собой серьезные последствия.

  The court is examining a case of a felony that led to serious consequences.

• В уголовном кодексе перечислены различные типы тяжких преступлений, включая убийство и кражу в крупных размерах.

  The criminal code lists various types of felonies, including murder and grand theft.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Преступление" is a neuter noun in the second declension, while "тяжкое преступление" functions as a phrase with "тяжкое" as an adjective agreeing with "преступление". Russian nouns and adjectives inflect based on case, number, and gender.

For "тяжкое преступление", the adjective "тяжкое" changes to agree: e.g., Genitive: тяжкого преступления. This follows regular adjectival declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нарушение (narushenie) - A general violation, often less severe.
  • злодеяние (zlodeyanie) - An evil or heinous act, with a more dramatic connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • законопослушность (zakonoposlushnost') - Lawfulness or obedience to the law.
  • добродетель (dobrodetel') - Virtue or moral goodness.

Related Phrases:

• Тяжкое преступление против личности - A felony against a person (e.g., assault or murder).
• Совершить преступление - To commit a crime (common in legal contexts).
• Квалифицировать как тяжкое - To classify as a felony (used in judicial proceedings).

Usage Notes:

"Felony" directly corresponds to "тяжкое преступление" in Russian legal contexts, emphasizing crimes with severe penalties. Use "преступление" for general crimes, but opt for "тяжкое преступление" when discussing felonies to maintain precision. Note the formal register; avoid in casual conversation. Grammatically, ensure adjectives like "тяжкое" agree in case, number, and gender with the noun. For English learners, remember that Russian law may categorize crimes differently, so context is key for accurate translation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "преступление" interchangeably with "тяжкое преступление" without considering severity. For example, an English speaker might say "Он совершил преступление" for a minor offense, but for a felony, it should be "Он совершил тяжкое преступление". Correct: Specify "тяжкое" to denote felony-level gravity. Explanation: This dilutes the meaning; always assess the crime's seriousness in context.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "в преступление" instead of "в преступлении" (Prepositional case). Correct: Use "в преступлении" for "in a crime". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English lacks, leading to grammatical errors in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal system, the concept of a "felony" as in "тяжкое преступление" is influenced by the Soviet-era criminal code and modern reforms. It often carries implications of state security, as seen in high-profile cases involving political dissent, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on maintaining social order through strict legal measures.

Related Concepts:

• уголовное дело (ugolovnoe delo) - Criminal case
• наказание (nakazanie) - Punishment
• закон (zakon) - Law