Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'repossess'

English Word: repossess

Key Russian Translations:

• изъять [izʲatʲ] - [Formal, Legal context]
• отобрать [ɐtɐˈbratʲ] - [Formal, but less common; Used in everyday or enforcement scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (Common in legal and financial discussions but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper-Intermediate; Requires understanding of legal terminology and verb conjugations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

изъять: [izʲatʲ]

отобрать: [ɐtɐˈbratʲ]

Note on изъять: The soft sign 'ъ' indicates palatalization, making the 'z' sound softer; pronounce it with a quick, subtle softening before the 'y' sound. This can be tricky for beginners.

Note on отобрать: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'a' in the first syllable is reduced in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To take back possession of something, especially due to non-payment or breach of contract.

Translation(s) & Context:

• изъять - Used in formal legal contexts, such as repossessing assets from debtors; common in official documents or court proceedings.
• отобрать - Applied in more general enforcement scenarios, like police actions, but can imply force; less precise for financial repossession.

Usage Examples:

• Банк изъял автомобиль за неуплату кредита.

  The bank repossessed the car due to unpaid loan payments.

• Суд разрешил кредитору изъять имущество должника.

  The court allowed the creditor to repossess the debtor's property.

• Власти отобрали контрабандные товары на границе.

  Authorities repossessed the smuggled goods at the border.

• Из-за просрочки платежей лизинговая компания изъяла оборудование.

  Due to late payments, the leasing company repossessed the equipment.

• Полиция отобрала оружие у нарушителя закона.

  The police repossessed the weapon from the lawbreaker.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs and follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. 'Изъять' and 'отобрать' are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They can be conjugated based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for 'изъять' in the present tense; 'отобрать' follows similar patterns with slight variations in imperfective forms.

For 'отобрать': It is also imperfective, but in past tense, it becomes 'отобрал/отобрала' for masculine/feminine singular. These verbs do not have irregular forms but require attention to aspect (e.g., perfective counterparts are 'изъять' and 'отобрать' themselves in some contexts). If the verb is used in perfective aspect, it might require a prefixed form like 'изымать' for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: конфисковать (konfiskovat' - implies seizure by authorities), отнять (otnyat' - more forceful, general removal)
• Antonyms: вернуть (vernuty' - to return), отдать (otdat' - to give back; often used for voluntary actions)

Related Phrases:

• Изъятие имущества - Repossession of property; Used in legal contexts to describe the act formally.
• Отобрать по суду - To repossess through court order; Implies a judicial process.
• Конфискованное имущество - Repossessed assets; Refers to items taken back and held by authorities.

Usage Notes:

'Изъять' is the most precise translation for 'repossess' in financial or legal English contexts, as it conveys official reclamation without implying violence. It is typically used in formal writing or speech, such as in contracts or news reports. Avoid 'отобрать' if the context is purely financial, as it can suggest physical force. In Russian, these verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, and they often pair with prepositions like 'за' (for) to indicate reasons. For learners, choose 'изъять' when translating 'repossess' directly, unless the scenario involves enforcement.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Using 'вернуть' (to return) instead of 'изъять', thinking it means the same as repossess. Incorrect: "Банк вернул автомобиль" (The bank returned the car). Correct: "Банк изъял автомобиль" (The bank repossessed the car). Explanation: 'Вернуть' implies voluntary giving back, whereas 'изъять' involves taking back against the owner's will.

• Another error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying 'изымает' for plural subjects incorrectly. Incorrect: "Они изымает" (They repossesses). Correct: "Они изымают" (They repossess). Explanation: Russian verbs must match the subject in number and person.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, repossession (e.g., 'изъятие') is often tied to strict legal processes under civil law, influenced by the country's Soviet history. For instance, during economic crises, repossessions of vehicles or homes have been common, but they require court approval, reflecting a cultural emphasis on due process over individual creditor rights. This can contrast with more flexible systems in English-speaking countries.

Related Concepts:

• Долг (debt)
• Кредит (loan)
• Конфискация (confiscation)