Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'illegality'

English Word: illegality

Key Russian Translations:

• незаконность [nʲɪzɐˈkonnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Legal context]
• противозаконность [prətʲɪvɐˈzakənnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Emphasizing opposition to law]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal, political, and formal discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract legal concepts and Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

незаконность: [nʲɪzɐˈkonnəsʲtʲ]

противозаконность: [prətʲɪvɐˈzakənnəsʲtʲ]

Note on незаконность: The stress falls on the third syllable ("konnəsʲtʲ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants; pronounce it with a soft 'n' sound.

Note on противозаконность: Similar to незаконность, but with an initial "prətʲɪv" prefix; focus on the soft 'tʲ' for accurate articulation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of being illegal or contrary to law

Translation(s) & Context:

• незаконность - Used in formal legal or governmental contexts to describe actions or situations that violate the law.
• противозаконность - Applied in more emphatic or argumentative settings, such as debates on ethics or policy, to highlight active opposition to legal norms.

Usage Examples:

• Эта сделка имеет признаки незаконности, что может привести к судебному разбиратству.

  This deal has signs of illegality, which could lead to a court case.

• В обществе растет осознание противозаконности коррупционных практик.

  In society, awareness is growing of the illegality of corrupt practices.

• Незаконность импорта запрещенных веществ строго наказывается законом.

  The illegality of importing prohibited substances is strictly punished by law.

• Противозаконность действий правительства вызвала массовые протесты.

  The illegality of the government's actions sparked mass protests.

• Суд признал незаконность контракта из-за несоответствия нормам.

  The court ruled the illegality of the contract due to non-compliance with standards.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "незаконность" and "противозаконность" are feminine nouns (third declension in Russian). They follow regular patterns for Russian abstract nouns, with changes based on case, number, and gender. These words are invariant in the plural form as they typically refer to abstract concepts.

Note: These nouns do not have a plural form in most contexts due to their abstract nature, but if used in plural (rarely), they follow standard feminine plural patterns (e.g., незаконности in genitive plural).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • противоправность (protivopravnost') - Similar to незаконность but with a focus on rights violations; often used in human rights contexts.
  • неправомерность (nepravomernost') - Emphasizes lack of legitimacy; interchangeable in formal settings.
• Antonyms:
  • законность (zakonnost') - Legality or adherence to the law.
  • правомерность (pravomernost') - Lawfulness or legitimacy.

Related Phrases:

• нарушение закона - (Violation of the law; used in contexts of specific legal breaches.)
• преступная незаконность - (Criminal illegality; implies more severe, felony-level offenses.)
• административная противозаконность - (Administrative illegality; common in bureaucratic or regulatory discussions.)

Usage Notes:

"Незаконность" is the most direct translation of "illegality" and is preferred in formal writing or legal documents, while "противозаконность" adds a connotation of active resistance or moral judgment. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like these require case agreement with other elements in the sentence (e.g., in genitive for possession). Choose "незаконность" for neutral descriptions and "противозаконность" when emphasizing ethical implications. Be cautious with context: in everyday Russian, simpler phrases like "нарушение закона" might be more natural than these abstract terms.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "незаконность" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я видел незаконность" instead of "Я видел незаконность" (correct as accusative, but often misplaced in complex sentences).

  Correct: "Я осуждаю незаконность действий." (I condemn the illegality of the actions.) Explanation: Always check the governing preposition or verb to determine the correct case; English learners often overlook this due to the lack of cases in English.

• Mistake: Confusing with "незаконный" (adjective for illegal), e.g., using "незаконность" as an adjective.

  Correct: Use "незаконный акт" instead of incorrectly nominalizing it. Explanation: "Незаконность" is a noun, so it can't modify another noun directly; pair it properly in sentences to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, terms like "незаконность" often carry historical weight due to events like the Soviet era, where accusations of illegality were used in political purges. This can add a layer of sensitivity in discussions, as it may evoke memories of authoritarian control, making it important for English speakers to use these words judiciously in cross-cultural conversations.

Related Concepts:

• преступность (prestupnost') - Crime or criminality
• коррупция (korruptsiya) - Corruption
• нарушение прав (narushenie prav) - Violation of rights