Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'reimbursement'

English Word: reimbursement

Key Russian Translations:

• возмещение [vəzmʲɪˈɕːenʲjə] - [Formal, used in legal or financial contexts]
• компенсация [kəmpʲɪnˈsaʦɨjə] - [Formal, interchangeable but often implies broader compensation]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in business, legal, and administrative contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and formal vocabulary, with variations based on context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

возмещение: [vəzmʲɪˈɕːenʲjə]

компенсация: [kəmpʲɪnˈsaʦɨjə]

Note on возмещение: The stress falls on the fourth syllable (-ще-), which can be tricky for learners due to the palatalized consonants; pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Note on компенсация: This word has a soft 'ц' sound, similar to 'ts' in "cats," but with a palatalized ending; be mindful of the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The act of repaying or compensating for expenses, losses, or damages.

Translation(s) & Context:

• возмещение - Used in formal settings like insurance claims or business reimbursements, often in written documents.
• компенсация - Applied in contexts involving broader compensation, such as employee benefits or legal settlements.

Usage Examples:

• Ваша компания должна произвести возмещение расходов на поездку.

  Your company should reimburse the travel expenses.

• Суд вынес решение о компенсации ущерба от аварии.

  The court ruled for compensation of damages from the accident.

• Для возмещения потерь мы предоставим полный отчет.

  To reimburse the losses, we will provide a full report.

• Компенсация за опоздание поезда была выдана пассажирам.

  Compensation for the train delay was given to the passengers.

• Он подал заявку на возмещение медицинских расходов.

  He filed a claim for reimbursement of medical expenses.

Secondary Meaning: Financial return or refund in commercial transactions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• возмещение - Common in retail or online shopping for refunds.
• компенсация - Less common here, but used for larger-scale financial adjustments.

Usage Examples:

• Магазин гарантирует возмещение стоимости товара в случае брака.

  The store guarantees reimbursement of the product cost in case of defects.

• После возврата товара покупатель получил компенсацию в полном объеме.

  After returning the item, the buyer received full compensation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "возмещение" and "компенсация" are neuter nouns in Russian, following the standard third declension pattern. They are regularly inflected based on case, number, and gender. Below is a declension table for "возмещение" as a representative example:

For "компенсация," the inflections follow a similar pattern, with no irregularities. These nouns do not change in the plural form as frequently as some others, but always decline based on context.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возврат (return, often for refunds)
  • отшкодование (indemnification, with a legal nuance)
  • выплата (payment, in financial contexts; less formal)
• Antonyms:
  • убыток (loss, implying no compensation)
  • штраф (fine, a punitive measure)

Note: "возврат" is more casual and specific to returning items, while "отшкодование" shares subtle differences in legal applicability.

Related Phrases:

• возмещение убытков - Reimbursement of losses (used in insurance or legal claims).
• компенсация морального вреда - Compensation for moral damage (refers to non-financial emotional harm in court cases).
• получить возмещение - To receive reimbursement (common in everyday financial transactions).

Usage Notes:

"Возмещение" directly corresponds to "reimbursement" in formal English contexts, such as business or legal affairs, and is preferred in written Russian. "Компенсация" can be used interchangeably but often implies a broader or more comprehensive form of repayment. Be mindful of the noun's declension to match the sentence structure; for example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "для" (for). In informal speech, simpler alternatives like "возврат" might be chosen, but for accuracy with "reimbursement," stick to these formal options.

• Contextual choice: Use "возмещение" for direct financial refunds and "компенсация" for compensatory actions involving non-monetary elements.
• Grammar tip: These nouns are invariable in gender but must agree in case with other elements in the sentence.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "возмещение" with "компенсация" and use them interchangeably without considering context. For example:

• Error: Incorrectly using "компенсация" in a simple refund scenario, e.g., "Я требую компенсация за товар" (wrong because it sounds overly dramatic).
• Correct: "Я требую возмещение за товар" – This is more precise for a standard reimbursement.
• Explanation: The error stems from overgeneralization; always check the specific context to avoid implying broader compensation. Another common mistake is forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "для возмещение" instead of "для возмещения" (genitive case required).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, concepts like "возмещение" are heavily influenced by Soviet-era policies, where state compensation for workplace injuries or property losses was standardized. This reflects a cultural emphasis on collective responsibility, differing from more individualistic approaches in English-speaking countries. Understanding this can help learners appreciate why such terms are prevalent in official documents.

Related Concepts:

• страхование (insurance)
• выплата пособий (payment of benefits)
• иск в суд (lawsuit)