Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rescind'

English Word: rescind

Key Russian Translations:

• отменить [ɐtmʲɪˈnʲitʲ] - [Formal, General use for canceling decisions or agreements]
• аннулировать [ɐnʊlʲɪˈravatʲ] - [Formal, Legal contexts, such as annulling contracts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal, legal, or administrative contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of formal Russian verb conjugations and legal terminology. For 'отменить', it's B2; for 'аннулировать', it may approach C1 due to its specialized use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отменить: [ɐtmʲɪˈnʲitʲ]

Note on отменить: The stress falls on the third syllable ('nʲitʲ'). Be mindful of the palatalized 'n' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

аннулировать: [ɐnʊlʲɪˈravatʲ]

Note on аннулировать: This word has a rolling 'r' and a stressed second-to-last syllable; it's derived from Latin influence, making it less intuitive for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To formally cancel or revoke a law, agreement, or decision

Translation(s) & Context:

• отменить - Typically used in everyday formal contexts, such as canceling a meeting or decision, and is more versatile in non-legal settings.
• аннулировать - Reserved for legal or official contexts, like invalidating a contract, emphasizing permanence or nullification.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство отменило старый закон о налогах.

  The government rescinded the old tax law.

• Суд аннулировал договор из-за нарушения условий.

  The court rescinded the contract due to breach of conditions.

• Компания решила отменить мероприятие в связи с погодой.

  The company decided to rescind the event because of the weather.

• Он аннулировал свою подписку на журнал, так как она была ошибочной.

  He rescinded his magazine subscription since it was erroneous.

• Парламент отменил реформу, вызвавшую общественный протест.

  The parliament rescinded the reform that sparked public protest.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'отменить' and 'аннулировать' are verbs in Russian, belonging to the first conjugation group. They follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. 'Отменить' is imperfective, while related perfective forms exist (e.g., 'отменить' pairs with 'отменить' in some contexts, but typically uses aspects like 'отменить' for completed actions). 'Аннулировать' is also imperfective and regular.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections, but aspect changes (e.g., perfective 'отменить' can imply completion) are important in Russian grammar.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • упразднить (uprazdnit') - More formal, implying abolition or elimination, often used for institutions.
  • ликвидировать (likvidirovat') - Focuses on liquidation or dissolution, with a nuance of ending something permanently.
• Antonyms:
  • принять (prinjat') - To adopt or accept, directly opposite in legal contexts.
  • установить (ustanovit') - To establish or set up, contrasting with cancellation.

Related Phrases:

• отменить решение (otmenit' reshenie) - To rescind a decision; used in administrative or personal contexts.
• аннулировать контракт (annulirovat' kontrakt) - To rescind a contract; common in business and legal settings.
• отменить заказ (otmenit' zakaz) - To rescind an order; everyday usage in commerce.

Usage Notes:

Use 'отменить' for general formal cancellations, as it aligns closely with everyday English 'rescind' in non-legal scenarios. 'Аннулировать' is preferable for legal or contractual matters, where permanence is implied. Be aware of Russian's aspect system: pair with perfective forms for completed actions. In formal writing, these verbs often appear in official documents, and their choice depends on context—e.g., avoid 'аннулировать' in casual speech to prevent sounding overly bureaucratic.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'отменить' with 'отложить' (to postpone): English learners might say 'отложить решение' when meaning 'rescind', but this implies delay, not cancellation. Correct: Use 'отменить решение' for full revocation.

• Overusing 'аннулировать' in non-legal contexts: Beginners might incorrectly use it for everyday cancellations, e.g., saying 'Я аннулировал встречу' instead of 'Я отменил встречу'. Explanation: 'Аннулировать' carries legal weight, making it inappropriate for informal settings.

• Ignoring verb aspects: Forgetting to adjust for perfective/imperfective, e.g., using 'отменить' without specifying completion, which can lead to ambiguity in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'аннулировать' often reflect the influence of Soviet-era bureaucracy, where formal cancellations of agreements were common in legal and governmental processes. This can evoke a sense of rigidity in modern contexts, highlighting the importance of precision in official communications, unlike the more flexible approach in English-speaking cultures.

Related Concepts:

• закон (zakon) - Law
• договор (dogovor) - Contract
• решение (reshenie) - Decision