Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'perpetrate'

English Word: perpetrate

Key Russian Translations:

• совершать [sɐˈvʲerʂɐtʲ] - [Formal, Imperfective aspect, used for ongoing or repeated actions]
• совершить [sɐˈvʲerʂɨtʲ] - [Formal, Perfective aspect, used for completed actions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal, legal, or journalistic contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding Russian verb aspects; for 'совершать' and 'совершить', both are B2 due to aspectual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

совершать: [sɐˈvʲerʂɐtʲ]

совершить: [sɐˈvʲerʂɨtʲ]

Note on совершать: The 'ш' sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'she', and the word has stress on the second syllable. For совершить, note the subtle vowel shift in the perfective form, which can be challenging for learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To commit a crime or wrongdoing (primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• совершать - Used in contexts involving ongoing criminal activity, such as in reports or discussions about habitual offenses.
• совершить - Applied to a single, completed act, like in legal indictments or historical accounts.

Usage Examples:

• Преступник всегда совершает преступления в тёмное время суток.

  The criminal always perpetrates crimes during the dark hours of the night.

• Во время войны солдаты совершили множество актов насилия.

  During the war, the soldiers perpetrated numerous acts of violence.

• Он регулярно совершает мошенничества, чтобы обмануть доверчивых людей.

  He regularly perpetrates frauds to deceive trusting people.

• Правительство должно предотвратить, чтобы никто не смог совершить террористический акт.

  The government must prevent anyone from perpetrating a terrorist act.

• В романе главный герой совершает ошибку, которая изменяет его жизнь навсегда.

  In the novel, the main character perpetrates a mistake that changes his life forever.

To carry out or execute an action (extended meaning, less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• совершать - In metaphorical or non-criminal contexts, such as executing a plan.

Usage Examples:

• Учёные совершают эксперименты, чтобы проверить гипотезу.

  Scientists perpetrate experiments to test the hypothesis.

• Художник совершает шедевры, вдохновлённый природой.

  The artist perpetrates masterpieces, inspired by nature.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'совершать' and 'совершить' are verbs, with 'совершать' being imperfective and 'совершить' perfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, mood, person, and number. 'Совершать' follows the first conjugation pattern, while 'совершить' is irregular in some forms due to its perfective aspect.

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the infinitive or future forms but do in the past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • исполнять (ispolnyat' - to execute or carry out, often in a more neutral context)
  • осуществлять (osushchestvlyat' - to implement or realize, with a focus on achieving something)
• Antonyms:
  • предотвращать (predotvrashchat' - to prevent)
  • прекращать (prekrashchat' - to stop or cease)

Related Phrases:

• совершать преступление - To commit a crime; used in legal or news contexts to describe illegal acts.
• совершить ошибку - To make a mistake; common in everyday discussions about errors.
• совершать акт насилия - To perpetrate an act of violence; often in reports of conflicts or abuses.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, choose 'совершать' for imperfective actions (ongoing or habitual) and 'совершить' for perfective ones (completed). This mirrors the English 'perpetrate' but requires attention to aspect, which English lacks. It's typically formal, so avoid in casual speech. When translating, pair with nouns like 'преступление' (crime) for clarity. For learners, remember that Russian verbs must agree in person and number.

Common Errors:

• Using 'совершать' when a perfective verb is needed: Error - "Я совершаю преступление вчера" (incorrect, as it implies ongoing action). Correct: "Я совершил преступление вчера." Explanation: Yesterday indicates a completed action, so use the perfective 'совершить'.
• Confusing with synonyms: Error - Using 'исполнять' for criminal acts, like "Он исполняет преступление." Correct: "Он совершает преступление." Explanation: 'Исполнять' implies lawful execution, not wrongdoing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and media, words like 'совершать' often appear in discussions of historical events, such as Soviet-era crimes or modern legal cases, reflecting a societal emphasis on accountability. This can evoke connotations of state control or moral judgment, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works, where perpetrating acts symbolizes inner conflict.

Related Concepts:

• преступление (crime)
• насилие (violence)
• ошибка (mistake)