Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ordinance'

English Word: ordinance

Key Russian Translations:

• указ /uˈkas/ - [Formal]
• постановление /pəstənɐˈvlʲenʲje/ - [Formal, Legal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal and legal contexts, such as government documents, but not everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; Requires familiarity with Russian legal terminology and noun declensions.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

указ: /uˈkas/

постановление: /pəstənɐˈvlʲenʲje/

Note on указ: The stress falls on the second syllable (/uˈkas/), which is a common feature in Russian words ending in consonants. Be careful with the hard 'k' sound.

Note on постановление: This word has a complex consonant cluster; the 'в' is pronounced as /v/, and the ending '-ение' often softens preceding consonants. Pronounce it deliberately in formal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A law, regulation, or official decree enacted by a government or authority.

Translation(s) & Context:

• указ - Used in formal legal or governmental contexts, often referring to presidential or executive orders.
• постановление - Applied to resolutions or ordinances from legislative bodies, emphasizing official decisions.

Usage Examples:

• Новый указ был принят президентом для регулирования экологических норм.

  A new ordinance was adopted by the president to regulate environmental standards.

• Муниципальное постановление запрещает парковку в этом районе по вечерам.

  The municipal ordinance prohibits parking in this area in the evenings.

• Правительство выпустило указ о введении новых налоговых правил.

  The government issued an ordinance introducing new tax regulations.

• Это постановление было отменено после общественных протестов.

  This ordinance was repealed following public protests.

• В указе подробно описаны меры по борьбе с коррупцией.

  The ordinance outlines detailed measures to combat corruption.

Meaning 2: In some contexts, an ecclesiastical or religious ordinance (less common).

Translation(s) & Context:

• указ - Rarely used for religious decrees, typically in historical or formal religious texts.

Usage Examples:

• Церковный указ регулирует обряды крещения в православной традиции.

  The church ordinance governs baptism rituals in the Orthodox tradition.

• Этот указ был издан патриархом в XIX веке.

  This ordinance was issued by the patriarch in the 19th century.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "указ" and "постановление" are nouns. "Указ" is a masculine noun with standard declension patterns, while "постановление" is a neuter noun that follows regular patterns but can be more complex due to its length.

Note: These are regular declensions. "Указ" does not have irregularities, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • распоряжение (rasporiazhenie) - Similar to "указ" but often implies a more administrative order; used in bureaucratic contexts.
  • декрет (dekret) - Formal synonym for "постановление," especially in historical or revolutionary contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • запрет (zapret) - Directly opposes ordinances that impose restrictions, meaning "prohibition."

Related Phrases:

• Указ президента (Ukaz prezidenta) - Meaning: Presidential decree; Used in political discussions to refer to executive orders.
• Постановление правительства (Postanovlenie pravitelstva) - Meaning: Government resolution; Common in legal and administrative language for official decisions.
• Принять указ (Prinjat' ukaz) - Meaning: To adopt an ordinance; A phrase indicating the process of enacting a law.

Usage Notes:

"Ordinance" translates most accurately to "указ" or "постановление" in Russian, depending on the context—choose "указ" for executive or presidential decrees and "постановление" for legislative resolutions. These terms are strictly formal and should be avoided in casual conversation. Grammatically, always decline them according to the case required in the sentence, as Russian nouns must agree with prepositions and verbs. For English speakers, note that Russian legal language often emphasizes hierarchy, so "указ" might carry more authority than its English counterpart.

• Use "указ" when referring to top-down commands, as in military or presidential contexts.
• Avoid mixing with informal synonyms; stick to precise terms in official writing.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing "указ" with "указатель" (which means "indicator" or "pointer"), leading to misuse in sentences. For example, learners might say "Я прочитал указ" when meaning a law, but if they intend "indicator," it's incorrect. Correct usage: Use "указ" only for decrees. Another error is failing to decline properly; e.g., saying "в указ" instead of "в указе" (in the decree). Explanation: Always check the prepositional case for location or context; incorrect: "Я работаю в указ" (wrong), correct: "Я работаю в указе" (I work in the decree context).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "указ" often evoke historical references to tsarist or Soviet decrees, symbolizing centralized authority. For instance, many "указы" from the Soviet era shaped social policies, reflecting Russia's tradition of strong executive power. Understanding this helps English users grasp the cultural weight behind these words, beyond their literal meanings.

Related Concepts:

• закон (zakon)
• решение (resheniye)
• приказ (prikaz)