Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'larceny'

English Word: larceny

Key Russian Translations:

• кража [ˈkraʐə] - [Formal, Legal context for theft of property]
• хищение [xʲɪˈʂːenʲɪje] - [Formal, Often used in official or financial contexts]

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):

кража: [ˈkraʐə]

Note on кража: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English; stress is on the first syllable.

хищение: [xʲɪˈʂːenʲɪje]

Note on хищение: The 'щ' is a voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative, pronounced with a hissing sound; stress is on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Theft of personal property (the primary meaning of larceny)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кража - Used in general legal contexts for the unlawful taking of another's property, often implying a non-violent act.
• хищение - Applied in contexts involving misappropriation, such as in business or finance, emphasizing stealth or deception.

Usage Examples:

• Он был пойман на краже в магазине. (On byl poyman na kradže v magazine.)

  He was caught committing larceny in the store.

• Кража имущества является серьёзным преступлением в России. (Kradža imushchestva yavlyayetsya seryoznym prestupleniyem v Rossii.)

  Larceny of property is a serious crime in Russia.

• Её обвинили в хищении государственных средств. (Ey obvinili v hishchenii gosudarstvennykh sredstv.)

  She was accused of larceny of state funds.

• Кража мелких предметов часто наказывается штрафом. (Kradža melkikh predmetov chasto nakazyvayetsya shtraforom.)

  Larceny of small items is often punished with a fine.

• В случае хищения документов следуют немедленные меры. (V sluchaye hishcheniya dokumentov sleduyut nemedlennyye mery.)

  In cases of larceny of documents, immediate actions are taken.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "кража" and "хищение" are feminine nouns in Russian, following the third declension pattern for "кража" and a standard pattern for "хищение". They undergo regular declensions based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for "кража" as an example; "хищение" follows similar rules but with slight variations in some forms.

For "хищение", it is invariable in some contexts but typically follows: Nominative Singular: хищение; Genitive Singular: хищения, etc. These nouns do not change for verbs but must agree with adjectives and other modifiers in case and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воровство [vəˈrovstvə] - More general term for theft, often interchangeable in informal contexts.
  • похищение [pəxʲɪˈʂːenʲɪje] - Emphasizes abduction or taking away, with a connotation of force.
• Antonyms:
  • возвращение [vəzvraˈʂːenʲɪje] - Return or restoration of property.
  • возмещение [vəzmʲɪˈʂːenʲɪje] - Compensation or reimbursement.

Related Phrases:

• кража со взломом (kradža so vzlomom) - Burglary; a phrase used for breaking and entering with intent to steal.
• хищение в особо крупных размерах (hishchenie v osobо krupnykh razmjerakh) - Grand larceny; refers to theft on a large scale, often in legal documents.
• мелкая кража (melskaya kradža) - Petty larceny; for minor thefts with less severe penalties.

Usage Notes:

"Кража" is the most direct equivalent to "larceny" in everyday legal contexts, while "хищение" is preferred for cases involving embezzlement or financial crimes. In formal writing or speech, always ensure the noun agrees in case with surrounding elements; for example, use genitive for possession. English speakers should note that Russian law distinguishes larceny from robbery ("грабеж"), so context is key. When choosing between translations, opt for "кража" for general theft and "хищение" for professional or state-related scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "кража" with "грабеж" (robbery): English learners might use "кража" for violent theft, but "грабеж" implies force or threat. Incorrect: "Он совершил кража с применением силы" (wrongly using кража). Correct: "Он совершил грабеж с применением силы" (He committed robbery with force). Explanation: "Кража" lacks the element of violence, so always check the context to avoid understatement of the crime.

• Improper declension: Forgetting to change the noun in sentences, e.g., saying "обвинить в кража" instead of "обвинить в краже" (genitive case). Correct form: "обвинить в краже". Explanation: Russian nouns must decline based on case, which can trip up beginners from non-inflected languages like English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal system, "larceny" equivalents like "кража" carry significant social stigma, often linked to historical contexts such as Soviet-era property crimes. Under modern Russian law (e.g., Criminal Code Article 158), larceny is treated as a felony if the value exceeds a certain threshold, reflecting a cultural emphasis on collective property rights inherited from communist influences.

Related Concepts:

• вор (vor) - Thief
• грабеж (grabezh) - Robbery
• мошенничество (moshennichestvo) - Fraud