Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'legitimate'

English Word: legitimate

Key Russian Translations:

• законный /zəˈkonnɨj/ - [Formal, Legal context]
• легитимный /lʲɪˈɡʲitʲimnɨj/ - [Formal, Often in political or international contexts]
• обоснованный /ɐbɐsˈnovənnɨj/ - [Informal, Emphasizing reasonableness]

Frequency: Medium - 'законный' and 'легитимный' are commonly encountered in legal, political, and everyday discussions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - These translations involve understanding nuances of Russian adjectives and contexts; 'законный' is slightly easier at B1, while 'легитимный' may reach C1 due to its specialized usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

законный: /zəˈkonnɨj/

легитимный: /lʲɪˈɡʲitʲimnɨj/ - Note: The 'лʲ' sound is a palatalized 'l', which can be challenging for English speakers; pronounce it softly as in "lute".

обоснованный: /ɐbɐsˈnovənnɨj/ - Note: Stress on the third syllable; the ending '-ый' softens in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lawful or authorized by law

Translation(s) & Context:

• законный - Used in formal legal or official contexts, such as contracts or government documents.
• легитимный - Applied in political or international scenarios, like recognizing a government.

Usage Examples:

• Этот документ является законным доказательством. (This document is a legitimate proof.)

  English Translation: This document serves as legitimate proof.

• Правительство считает этот процесс легитимным. (The government considers this process legitimate.)

  English Translation: The government regards this process as legitimate.

• Без подписи, договор не будет законным. (Without a signature, the contract won't be legitimate.)

  English Translation: Without a signature, the contract won't be legitimate.

• Легитимный лидер должен быть избран народом. (A legitimate leader must be elected by the people.)

  English Translation: A legitimate leader must be elected by the people.

• Законный наследник получит имущество. (The legitimate heir will receive the property.)

  English Translation: The legitimate heir will receive the property.

Meaning 2: Reasonable or justifiable

Translation(s) & Context:

• обоснованный - Used in everyday discussions to indicate something is logically sound or fair.

Usage Examples:

• Его обоснованный аргумент убедил всех. (His legitimate argument convinced everyone.)

  English Translation: His legitimate argument convinced everyone.

• Это обоснованное решение для проблемы. (This is a legitimate solution to the problem.)

  English Translation: This is a legitimate solution to the problem.

• Обоснованная критика помогает улучшить работу. (Legitimate criticism helps improve the work.)

  English Translation: Legitimate criticism helps improve the work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ('законный', 'легитимный', 'обоснованный') are adjectives in Russian, which follow standard adjectival inflection patterns. Russian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. They are generally regular but can have variations based on the noun's characteristics.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners, but always ensure agreement with the noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • законный - правомерный (more legalistic), допустимый (permissible)
  • легитимный - законный (overlaps), признанный (recognized)
  • обоснованный - разумный (reasonable), логичный (logical) - Note: 'разумный' is often used in philosophical contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • законный - незаконный (illegal)
  • легитимный - нелегитимный (illegitimate)
  • обоснованный - необоснованный (unjustified)

Related Phrases:

• Законный брак - A legitimate marriage; refers to a legally recognized union.
• Легитимная власть - Legitimate authority; used in discussions of governance.
• Обоснованная жалоба - A legitimate complaint; common in customer service scenarios.
• Законное право - Legitimate right; emphasizes enforceable claims.

Usage Notes:

'Законный' directly corresponds to the legal sense of 'legitimate' and is preferred in formal writing, while 'легитимный' is more specific to authority or validation in international contexts. 'Обоснованный' aligns with the 'reasonable' meaning and is versatile in daily conversations. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these words often require agreement in gender and case, which differs from English. For example, choose 'законный' over 'легитимный' in everyday legal matters to sound more natural. If the context involves ethics, 'обоснованный' might be more appropriate.

• Always pair with the correct noun form to maintain grammatical accuracy.
• In informal speech, 'обоснованный' can soften criticisms, making it useful in debates.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse 'законный' by treating it as invariant, forgetting to inflect it (e.g., saying 'законный дом' for a feminine noun like 'квартира', which should be 'законная квартира'). Correct usage: Incorrect - "Это законный проблема" (wrong case and gender); Correct - "Это законная проблема". Another error is confusing 'легитимный' with 'законный'; the former implies broader legitimacy beyond just law, so use it only in political contexts to avoid overstatement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'легитимный' often carry historical connotations from events like the Russian Revolution or Soviet-era politics, where legitimacy of power was frequently debated. This can add layers of meaning in modern discussions, emphasizing not just legality but social acceptance.

Related Concepts:

• правовой (legal)
• законность (legality)
• авторитет (authority)
• справедливость (justice)