Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prohibit'

English Word: prohibit

Key Russian Translations:

• запрещать [zəprʲɪˈʂatʲ] - [Informal/Verbal, Imperfective Aspect]
• запретить [zəprʲɪˈtʲitʲ] - [Formal/Command, Perfective Aspect]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday legal, regulatory, and social contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to be" or "to have").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb aspects and conjugations, which can be challenging for learners beyond A2 level. For 'запрещать': B1; for 'запретить': B2 due to perfective-imperfective nuances.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

запрещать: [zəprʲɪˈʂatʲ] (The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' with a slight whistle; stress on the third syllable.)

запретить: [zəprʲɪˈtʲitʲ] (Similar to the above, but with a harder 'т' in the perfective form; stress on the second syllable.)

Note on запрещать: Be cautious with the palatalized 'рʲ' which can be tricky for English speakers; it softens the preceding consonant.

Note on запретить: This form often implies completion, so pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To forbid something by authority or law

Translation(s) & Context:

• запрещать - Used in ongoing or habitual prohibitions, such as rules in society or regulations (e.g., in informal or descriptive contexts).
• запретить - Used for a specific, completed act of prohibition, often in formal or authoritative settings (e.g., legal commands).

Usage Examples:

• Правительство запрещает ввоз запрещённых веществ в страну.

  The government prohibits the import of banned substances into the country. (Shows imperfective aspect in a regulatory context.)

• Родители запретили детям играть на улице после захода солнца.

  The parents prohibited the children from playing outside after sunset. (Illustrates perfective aspect in a familial, everyday scenario.)

• В школе запрещают использование мобильных телефонов во время уроков.

  In school, they prohibit the use of mobile phones during classes. (Demonstrates habitual prohibition in an educational setting.)

• Мэр запретил парковку на центральной площади во время фестиваля.

  The mayor prohibited parking on the central square during the festival. (Highlights a temporary, event-specific ban.)

• Законы запрещают дискриминацию по признаку пола или возраста.

  Laws prohibit discrimination based on gender or age. (Shows broader legal application with imperfective form.)

To prevent something from happening

Translation(s) & Context:

• запрещать - In contexts where prevention is ongoing, such as safety measures.
• запретить - For immediate or decisive prevention.

Usage Examples:

• Доктор запрещает пациенту есть жирную пищу.

  The doctor prohibits the patient from eating fatty food. (Medical context with imperfective aspect.)

• Полиция запретила митинг из-за угрозы безопасности.

  The police prohibited the rally due to safety threats. (Perfective aspect in an urgent situation.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'запрещать' and 'запретить' are verbs, with 'запрещать' being imperfective and 'запретить' perfective. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, number, and mood. 'Запрещать' follows the first conjugation pattern with irregularities in some forms.

These verbs do not have irregular forms beyond standard conjugation rules, but aspect choice is key in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воспрещать (vospreshchat') - Similar to запрещать, but more formal and literary.
  • запретить (for perfective contexts) - Often interchangeable with the perfective form above, but emphasizes completion.
• Antonyms:
  • разрешать (razreshat') - Allows or permits, opposite in regulatory contexts.
  • позволять (pozvolyat') - Grants permission, more general.

Related Phrases:

• Запрет на ввоз - Ban on import (Used in trade or customs contexts; refers to prohibiting entry of goods).
• Полный запрет - Total prohibition (Implies a complete ban, e.g., on substances).
• Запретить доступ - To prohibit access (Common in security or digital contexts, meaning to block entry).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, choose between 'запрещать' (imperfective for ongoing actions) and 'запретить' (perfective for completed ones) based on context, unlike English 'prohibit' which doesn't distinguish aspects. For formal writing, 'запретить' is preferred in legal documents. Be mindful of subject-verb agreement and aspect when translating; e.g., use 'запрещать' for habits and 'запретить' for commands. English learners should practice with real-life scenarios like laws or rules to master these nuances.

Common Errors:

• Mixing verb aspects: Learners often use 'запрещать' when 'запретить' is needed, e.g., saying "Я запрещать курить" instead of "Я запрещаю курить" (correct imperfective) or "Я запретил курить" (correct perfective for past). Explanation: Russian requires aspect to convey action completion, so always check the timeline.

• Overgeneralizing: Confusing with 'воспрещать', which is more archaic; beginners might use it incorrectly in modern speech. Correct: Stick to 'запрещать' for everyday use.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, prohibitions like those in 'запрет' often stem from historical contexts, such as Soviet-era restrictions on free speech or current laws on public behavior. This reflects a societal emphasis on collective order, where individual rights are balanced against state regulations, helping users understand the word's frequent use in legal and social discourse.

Related Concepts:

• разрешение (razresheniye) - Permission
• ограничение (ogranicheniye) - Restriction
• санкции (sanktsii) - Sanctions