Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'repay'

English Word: repay

Key Russian Translations:

• возвращать [vɐzˈkravatʲ] - [Formal, used in financial or general contexts]
• отплатить [ɐtplaˈtʲitʲ] - [Informal, often for repaying in kind or revenge]
• возмещать [vɐzˈmʲeɕʲatʲ] - [Formal, specifically for compensating or reimbursing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday financial discussions, business, and legal contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "to pay").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contexts, with "возвращать" being standard but "отплатить" varying by nuance).

Pronunciation (Russian):

возвращать: [vɐzˈkravatʲ]

отплатить: [ɐtplaˈtʲitʲ]

возмещать: [vɐzˈmʲeɕʲatʲ]

Note on возвращать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in casual speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To repay a debt or loan (financial context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• возвращать - Used in formal settings like banking or loans, emphasizing the act of returning money.
• возмещать - Applied in contexts involving compensation, such as insurance claims.

Usage Examples:

• Я должен возвращать долг в следующем месяце. (I have to repay the debt next month.)

  Translation: I have to repay the debt next month. (This example shows the verb in a future obligation context.)

• Банк требует, чтобы заемщики возвращали кредит timely. (The bank requires borrowers to repay the loan on time.)

  Translation: The bank requires borrowers to repay the loan on time. (Illustrates use in a regulatory or formal scenario.)

• Если вы потеряли товар, компания может возмещать стоимость. (If you lose the item, the company may repay the cost.)

  Translation: If you lose the item, the company may repay the cost. (Demonstrates compensation in business dealings.)

• Он обещал возмещать убытки из своего кармана. (He promised to repay the losses from his own pocket.)

  Translation: He promised to repay the losses from his own pocket. (Shows personal responsibility context.)

2. To repay a favor or in kind (non-financial context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отплатить - Informal, often implying reciprocity or even revenge, used in personal relationships.
• возвращать - Less common here, but possible in polite exchanges.

Usage Examples:

• Друг помог мне, и я отплатил ему добром. (My friend helped me, and I repaid him with kindness.)

  Translation: My friend helped me, and I repaid him with kindness. (This highlights reciprocal favors in social interactions.)

• Она отплатила обидчику той же монетой. (She repaid her offender in the same way.)

  Translation: She repaid her offender in the same way. (Example of using it for revenge or retaliation.)

• Вежливость всегда возвращается сторицей. (Politeness always repays tenfold.)

  Translation: Politeness always repays tenfold. (Shows idiomatic use in proverbs or general advice.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "возвращать" is an imperfective verb, while "отплатить" and "возмещать" can be perfective in certain forms. Here's a basic conjugation table for "возвращать" (imperfective):

For "отплатить" (perfective), it doesn't have a present tense form; it's used in past or future: e.g., отплатил (I repaid). "возмещать" follows similar patterns to "возвращать" but is less irregular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возмещать (similar to repaying, but more about compensation; often interchangeable in financial contexts)
  • отдавать (more general, like "to give back," but less formal for debts)
  • погашать (specifically for loans, emphasizing full settlement)
• Antonyms:
  • брать (to take)
  • занимать (to borrow)

Related Phrases:

• возвращать долг - (To repay a debt; commonly used in financial discussions to indicate settling obligations.)
• отплатить услугой - (To repay with a favor; implies reciprocal actions in social settings.)
• возмещать ущерб - (To repay damages; often in legal or insurance contexts.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "repay" translations like "возвращать" are often tied to the perfective/imperfective aspect system. Use "возвращать" for ongoing actions (e.g., repaying over time) and "отплатить" for completed ones. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require agreement with subject gender and number in past tense. For formal contexts, prefer "возвращать" or "возмещать" over "отплатить," which can sound personal or vengeful. Choose based on context: financial vs. interpersonal.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners often use the imperfective "возвращать" when a perfective like "отплатить" is needed for a completed action. Error: "Я возвращать долг вчера" (incorrect). Correct: "Я отплатил долг вчера." Explanation: Russian requires the perfective for finished events.

• Misusing in informal contexts: Saying "возвращать" for revenge might sound odd. Error: "Я возвращать ему за обиду" (awkward). Correct: "Я отплатил ему за обиду." Explanation: "Отплатить" better conveys retaliation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, repaying debts or favors (e.g., via "возвращать долг") is deeply tied to concepts of honor and reciprocity, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works. It reflects a societal emphasis on mutual obligations, where failing to repay can imply moral failure, unlike in some Western cultures where it's more transactional.

Related Concepts:

• долг (debt)
• кредит (loan)
• услуга (favor)