Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'piracy'

English Word: piracy

Key Russian Translations:

• Пиратство [pʲɪˈratstvə] - [Formal, General usage; refers to acts of piracy, especially in maritime or intellectual contexts]
• Пиратский акт [pʲɪˈratskʲɪj akt] - [Formal, Legal contexts; often used in official or legal discussions of piracy]

Frequency: Medium - This term is commonly encountered in discussions of history, law, and technology, but not in everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level should grasp the vocabulary with some exposure to Russian grammar, as it involves noun inflections typical of intermediate Russian.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Пиратство: [pʲɪˈratstvə]

Note on Пиратство: The stress falls on the third syllable ('rat'), and the initial 'п' is softly palatalized. Pay attention to the 'тств' cluster, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rapid consonant sequence.

Audio: []

Пиратский акт: [pʲɪˈratskʲɪj akt]

Note on Пиратский акт: The adjective 'пиратский' has a soft 'й' sound at the end, and 'акт' is pronounced with a hard 'к'. This phrase is often spoken quickly in formal settings.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Maritime or historical piracy (e.g., acts of robbery at sea)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Пиратство - Used in historical or nautical contexts, such as describing pirate activities in the past; formal and neutral tone.
• Пиратский акт - Applied in legal or storytelling contexts to denote specific pirate raids; often in formal writing or discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В эпоху Великих географических открытий пиратство было распространено в Карибском море.

  In the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, piracy was widespread in the Caribbean Sea.

• Морское пиратство угрожало торговым путям в XVII веке.

  Maritime piracy threatened trade routes in the 17th century.

• Этот фильм рассказывает о пиратском акте, который изменил историю.

  This film tells the story of a pirate act that changed history.

• Современные книги о пиратстве часто романтизируют эту тему.

  Modern books about piracy often romanticize the topic.

• Пиратство в Индийском океане стало проблемой для международной торговли.

  Piracy in the Indian Ocean has become a problem for international trade.

Meaning 2: Intellectual property piracy (e.g., copyright infringement)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Пиратство - Commonly used in modern contexts like software or media piracy; neutral to formal, especially in legal or tech discussions.
• Пиратский акт - Refers to specific illegal actions, such as downloading pirated content; often in formal complaints or reports.

Usage Examples:

• Интернет-пиратство приводит к огромным потерям для киноиндустрии.

  Internet piracy leads to huge losses for the film industry.

• Пиратство программного обеспечения незаконно и может повлечь штрафы.

  Software piracy is illegal and can result in fines.

• Этот пиратский акт был обнаружен во время проверки компании.

  This pirate act was discovered during the company's audit.

• Молодежь часто не осознает последствий цифрового пиратства.

  Young people often don't realize the consequences of digital piracy.

• Пиратство музыки на торрентах остается популярным, несмотря на риски.

  Music piracy on torrents remains popular despite the risks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Пиратство is a neuter noun of the third declension in Russian, which means it follows standard patterns for neuter nouns but has some irregularities in certain cases. It is not a verb, so it doesn't conjugate for tense or person.

For Пиратский акт: 'Пиратский' is an adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies, following standard adjectival inflections (e.g., Пиратского акта in genitive singular). 'Акт' is a masculine noun with its own inflections, but as a phrase, it remains relatively stable.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Грабеж [ɡraˈbʲeʒ] - More general term for robbery, often used interchangeably in historical contexts but less specific to sea-based piracy.
  • Разбой [raˈzboj] - Implies banditry or raiding, with a connotation of lawlessness.
• Antonyms:
  • Законность [zaˈkonnəstʲ] - Legality, emphasizing adherence to laws.
  • Защита [zaˈʂʲita] - Protection, as in safeguarding intellectual property.

Related Phrases:

• Интеллектуальное пиратство - Intellectual piracy; refers to the illegal copying of creative works, often in digital contexts.
• Морское пиратство - Maritime piracy; used for sea-based robbery, with historical or modern security implications.
• Пиратский флаг - Pirate flag; a symbol in literature or history, evoking adventure or danger.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'пиратство' directly corresponds to 'piracy' in English but is more formal and less colloquial than English equivalents. It's commonly used in legal, historical, or technological discussions. When choosing between translations like 'пиратство' and 'пиратский акт', opt for the former for general references and the latter for specific incidents. Be mindful of context: in intellectual property scenarios, pair it with adjectives like 'цифровое' (digital) to specify. Grammatically, ensure the noun agrees with its case in sentences, as Russian requires declension.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'пиратство' without proper declension, e.g., saying "о пиратство" instead of "о пиратстве" (prepositional case). Correct: "О пиратстве в интернете" (About piracy on the internet). Explanation: Russian nouns must change form based on case, which English learners often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing 'пиратство' with 'пират' (pirate, as a person), e.g., using it to mean an individual rather than the act. Correct: Use 'пират' for the person and 'пиратство' for the activity. Explanation: This mix-up can alter the sentence's meaning, so context is key.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'пиратство' often evokes images from literature like Pushkin's works or modern media about historical pirates in the Black Sea region. However, in contemporary Russia, it frequently relates to digital piracy, reflecting ongoing issues with copyright enforcement in the post-Soviet era, where illegal downloads are common due to economic factors.

Related Concepts:

• Кража
• Контрафакт
• Грабёж