Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fugitive'

English Word: fugitive

Key Russian Translations:

• беглец [bʲɪɡˈlʲɛts] - [Formal, often used in legal or historical contexts]
• убежавший [u.bʲɪˈʐavʂɪj] - [Informal, participle form, used in everyday conversation]
• преступник на побеге [prʲɪˈstʊp.nʲɪk na pɐˈbʲe.ɡʲe] - [Formal, specific to criminal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, news, and legal discussions, but not in casual everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding noun declensions and participle forms; for 'беглец', it's straightforward for learners at this level, but 'убежавший' may require more practice with verb aspects)

Pronunciation (Russian):

беглец: [bʲɪɡˈlʲɛts]

убежавший: [u.bʲɪˈʐavʂɪj]

преступник на побеге: [prʲɪˈstʊp.nʲɪk na pɐˈbʲe.ɡʲe]

Note on беглец: The stress is on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Note on убежавший: This is a past active participle; pronunciation varies slightly in fast speech, where the 'ʐ' sound (like a voiced 'sh') might soften.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person who has escaped from somewhere, especially from prison or authority.

Translation(s) & Context:

• беглец - Used in formal, legal, or historical contexts, such as describing someone fleeing justice.
• убежавший - Informal or narrative contexts, emphasizing the act of escaping in stories or reports.
• преступник на побеге - Specific to criminal or law enforcement scenarios, highlighting ongoing flight.

Usage Examples:

• Полиция ищет беглеца, который сбежал из тюрьмы на прошлой неделе.

  The police are searching for the fugitive who escaped from prison last week.

• В романе главный герой — убежавший заключенный, скрывающийся в горах.

  In the novel, the main character is a fugitive prisoner hiding in the mountains.

• Преступник на побеге был пойман на границе после нескольких дней погони.

  The fugitive criminal was caught at the border after several days of pursuit.

• История рассказывает о беглеце, который пересекает страну, чтобы избежать ареста.

  The story is about a fugitive who crosses the country to avoid arrest.

• После побега он стал убежавшим диссидентом, борющимся против режима.

  After his escape, he became a fugitive dissident fighting against the regime.

Metaphorical or broader sense, e.g., something that is fleeting or evasive.

Translation(s) & Context:

• беглец - Rarely used metaphorically, but possible in poetic contexts for abstract concepts.
• убежавший - Not typically used here; prefer other words like "мимолётный" for fleeting ideas.

Usage Examples:

• В его мыслях беглец — это идея, которая ускользает, как тень.

  In his thoughts, the fugitive is an idea that slips away like a shadow.

• Поэма описывает любовь как убежавшего беглеца, которого невозможно поймать.

  The poem describes love as a fugitive that cannot be caught.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'беглец' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with variations by case and number:

For 'убежавший' (a past active participle from the verb 'убежать', irregular in aspect), it doesn't inflect as a noun but agrees with the subject in gender, number, and case if used adjectivally. Example: убежавший (masc. sg.), убежавшая (fem. sg.). It remains unchanged in basic form but must match the noun it modifies.

'Преступник на побеге' is a phrase; 'преступник' inflects as a standard masculine noun, while 'на побеге' is prepositional and doesn't inflect further.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • беглый (similar to 'fugitive', but often implies someone who has escaped slavery or serfdom; more historical)
  • побегший (directly means 'having fled', interchangeable in narrative contexts)
  • скрывающийся (emphasizes hiding, used when evasion is ongoing)
• Antonyms:
  • заключенный (prisoner, someone confined)
  • арестованный (arrested, someone captured)

Related Phrases:

• беглец от правосудия - A fugitive from justice; used in legal contexts to describe someone evading the law.
• убежавший преступник - An escaped criminal; common in news reports about ongoing chases.
• на побеге - On the run; a phrase indicating active flight, often in thrillers or real-life stories.

Usage Notes:

'Беглец' is the most direct translation for 'fugitive' in formal English contexts, aligning closely with legal terminology, but it's less common in everyday Russian speech. Use 'убежавший' for more dynamic or narrative descriptions, as it conveys the action of escaping. Be cautious with gender agreement: Russian nouns like 'беглец' are masculine, so adjectives and verbs must match. In metaphorical uses, Russian prefers more poetic equivalents, so 'fugitive ideas' might not translate directly. When choosing among translations, opt for 'преступник на побеге' in criminal justice scenarios for precision.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'беглец' without proper declension, e.g., saying "ищу беглец" instead of "ищу беглеца" (accusative case). Correct: Always decline based on sentence role. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook.
• Mistake: Confusing 'убежавший' with 'убежденный' (meaning 'convinced'). Example of error: "Он убежавший политик" meaning "He is a convinced politician" instead of "He is a fugitive politician." Correct: Use 'убежавший' only for escape contexts. Explanation: The similarity in spelling can lead to mix-ups, so context is key.
• Mistake: Overusing 'беглец' in informal settings. Correct: In casual talk, Russians might say "он сбежал" (he escaped) instead. Explanation: This makes speech sound more natural and less formal.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'беглец' often evoke historical contexts, such as serfs fleeing during the 19th-century reforms or dissidents escaping the Soviet regime. This adds a layer of resilience and defiance, as seen in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where fugitives symbolize freedom struggles.

Related Concepts:

• преследование (pursuit)
• скрытность (secrecy)
• бегство (escape)