Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'legalise'

English Word: legalise

Key Russian Translations:

• узаконить [ʊzəkəˈnʲitʲ] - [Formal]
• легализовать [lʲɪɡəlʲɪzɐˈvatʲ] - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in legal, administrative, and official contexts, but not in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

узаконить: [ʊzəkəˈnʲitʲ]

Note on узаконить: The stress falls on the third syllable ("-ни-"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's mobile stress patterns. Pronounce it with a soft 'н' sound.

легализовать: [lʲɪɡəlʲɪzɐˈvatʲ]

Note on легализовать: This word has a borrowed English root, so the pronunciation is relatively straightforward, but pay attention to the soft 'л' at the beginning and the infinitive ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To make something legal (primary meaning of 'legalise')

Translation(s) & Context:

• узаконить - Used in formal legal contexts, such as ratifying laws or documents in Russian administrative settings.
• легализовать - Often applied to international or bureaucratic processes, like legalizing foreign documents for use in Russia.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство решило узаконить новый налог на импорт.

  The government decided to legalise the new import tax.

• Чтобы легализовать документы, вам нужно обратиться в нотариальную контору.

  To legalise the documents, you need to go to a notary office.

• Активисты требуют узаконить однополые браки в стране.

  Activists are demanding to legalise same-sex marriages in the country.

• Эта реформа поможет легализовать нелегальный бизнес в регионе.

  This reform will help legalise illegal businesses in the region.

• Суд узаконил изменения в конституции после длительных дебатов.

  The court legalised the changes to the constitution after lengthy debates.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs in Russian, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Russian verbs have imperfective and perfective aspects; 'узаконить' is typically perfective (indicating completion), while 'легализовать' can be used in both aspects depending on context.

Note: These verbs follow standard first conjugation patterns with some irregularities in stem changes. They do not change for gender in the infinitive form but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • законодательно утвердить (legislatively approve; more bureaucratic connotation)
  • сделать законным (make legal; simpler, less formal alternative)
• Antonyms:
  • запретить (to prohibit)
  • освободить от закона (to exempt from law)

Related Phrases:

• узаконить брак - To legalize a marriage (used in family law contexts).
• легализовать документы - To legalize documents (common in immigration or international affairs).
• узаконить статус - To legalize status (e.g., for immigrants or unregistered properties).

Usage Notes:

'Legalise' corresponds most closely to 'узаконить' in Russian for general legal processes, but 'легализовать' is preferred for official or international legalization due to its direct borrowing from English. Always consider the context: use 'узаконить' in domestic legal discussions and 'легализовать' for cross-border issues. Note that Russian verbs require aspect agreement, so pair with appropriate adverbs or structures for perfective actions. For English learners, choose based on formality—'узаконить' is more traditional, while 'легализовать' feels modern.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'узаконить' instead of 'узаконить' (a common misspelling due to confusion with similar roots). Correct: Always use 'узаконить' for accuracy. Example of error: *Правительство узаконить закон* (incorrect); Correct: Правительство узаконить закон. Explanation: The prefix 'у-' is essential for the meaning.

• Error: Forgetting aspect in sentences, e.g., treating 'легализовать' as always perfective. Correct: Use imperfective forms like 'легализировать' for ongoing actions. Example of error: *Я легализовать документы завтра* (incorrect, as it implies completion); Correct: Я буду легализовать документы завтра. Explanation: Russian requires explicit aspect to convey time nuances.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, terms like 'узаконить' often carry historical connotations from Soviet-era bureaucracy, where formal legalization was crucial for everyday activities like registering property or marriages. This reflects a broader emphasis on state control and documentation in Russian society, differing from more flexible systems in English-speaking countries.

Related Concepts:

• закон (law)
• легальность (legality)
• нотариус (notary)