Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'racketeer'

English Word: racketeer

Key Russian Translations:

• рэкетир [rɪˈkɛtɪr] - [Informal, used in contexts of organized crime or extortion]

Frequency: Medium (This term is commonly encountered in discussions of crime, media, and modern Russian society, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate level; requires familiarity with Russian vocabulary related to law, society, and foreign loanwords, as per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рэкетир: [rɪˈkɛtɪr]

Note on рэкетир: The stress falls on the second syllable. Be cautious with the 'э' sound, which is a mid-open front vowel, similar to the 'e' in "bed" in English. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person who engages in racketeering, involving extortion or organized crime.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рэкетир - Typically used in informal or journalistic contexts to describe someone involved in illegal protection rackets, often linked to mafia or criminal syndicates in Russia.

Usage Examples:

• В 1990-е годы рэкетир контролировал местный рынок, вымогая деньги у торговцев.

  In the 1990s, the racketeer controlled the local market, extorting money from traders.

• Этот рэкетир был арестован полицией за серию нападений на бизнесменов.

  This racketeer was arrested by the police for a series of attacks on businessmen.

• Рэкетир в фильме изображён как хитрый и опасный персонаж, скрывающийся в тени.

  The racketeer in the film is portrayed as a cunning and dangerous character lurking in the shadows.

• Молодой рэкетир пытался создать свою банду, но был разоблачён властями.

  The young racketeer tried to form his own gang but was exposed by the authorities.

• Рэкетир угрожал владельцу кафе, требуя ежемесячную плату за "защиту".

  The racketeer threatened the cafe owner, demanding a monthly payment for "protection".

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Рэкетир" is a masculine noun (masc. animate) borrowed from English via French. It follows the standard patterns of second-declension nouns in Russian, with regular inflections. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners, but pay attention to the animate accusative form, which matches the genitive.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бандит (bandit) - More general term for a criminal, often implying violence.
  • эксторционер (extortionist) - Focuses on the act of extortion, similar to racketeer but less specific to organized crime.
  • мафиози (mafioso) - Implies involvement in a larger criminal organization, with a connotation of Italian-style mafia.
• Antonyms:
  • законник (lawman or enforcer) - Refers to someone upholding the law, such as a police officer.
  • честный бизнесмен (honest businessman) - Contrasts with the illegal activities associated with a racketeer.

Related Phrases:

• рэкетирский синдикат - A racketeering syndicate; refers to an organized group involved in extortion and crime.
• вымогательство рэкетиров - Extortion by racketeers; commonly used in legal or news contexts to describe protection rackets.
• рэкетир в маске - Racketeer in disguise; an idiomatic phrase often used in media to describe hidden criminal identities.

Usage Notes:

"Рэкетир" directly corresponds to the English "racketeer" in meaning, particularly in post-Soviet contexts where organized crime was prevalent. It is typically used in informal or formal discussions of crime, such as in news articles or films, but avoid it in polite conversation due to its negative connotations. When choosing between synonyms like "бандит" or "эксторционер," opt for "рэкетир" if the context specifically involves systematic extortion. Grammatically, remember that as a masculine noun, it requires agreement in gender and number with adjectives and verbs (e.g., "этот рэкетир был опасен").

• In formal writing, pair it with phrases like "вовлечённый в рэкет" for precision.
• Be aware of regional variations; in some areas, it might carry stronger implications of 1990s Russian criminality.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "рэкетир" with "бандит" and use it interchangeably, but "рэкетир" specifically implies organized extortion, not just general criminality. For example:

• Error: Using "рэкетир" for any thief, e.g., "Он вор, рэкетир." (Incorrect: Он вор, бандит.)
• Correct: "Он рэкетир, вымогавший деньги." (He is a racketeer extorting money.) - This specifies the extortion aspect.
• Another common mistake is improper inflection, such as saying "рэкетирa" in nominative case instead of "рэкетир." Always check the case based on sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

The term "рэкетир" is deeply rooted in Russia's post-Soviet era (1990s), when organized crime syndicates, known as "rackets," emerged during economic turmoil. It evokes images from films like "Brother" (Брат), reflecting a period of lawlessness and corruption. In modern Russian culture, it symbolizes the darker side of transition to capitalism, often discussed in media to highlight ongoing issues with organized crime and anti-corruption efforts.

Related Concepts:

• мафия (mafia)
• коррупция (corruption)
• экстortion (extortion)
• бригада (gang or brigade, often in criminal contexts)