Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'revoke'

English Word: revoke

Key Russian Translations:

• Отменить /ɐtˈmʲenʲɪtʲ/ - [Formal, Perfective verb]
• Аннулировать /ɐnʊlʲɪrəˈvatʲ/ - [Formal, Legal contexts]
• Отозвать /ɐtɐzˈvatʲ/ - [Formal, Used for withdrawing statements or permissions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in official, legal, and administrative contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb aspects and conjugations, which can vary by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Отменить: /ɐtˈmʲenʲɪtʲ/ (Note: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'мʲ' indicates a palatalized 'm', which is a common challenge for English speakers.)

Аннулировать: /ɐnʊlʲɪrəˈvatʲ/ (Note: Pay attention to the rolling 'r' and the palatalized 'лʲ' sound.)

Отозвать: /ɐtɐzˈvatʲ/ (Note: The 'зʲ' is softly palatalized, making it sound more fluid in spoken Russian.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To cancel or revoke a decision officially

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отменить - Used in general contexts for canceling events, decisions, or agreements, often in everyday or bureaucratic settings.
• Аннулировать - Applied in formal legal or contractual situations, such as revoking licenses or invalidating documents.
• Отозвать - Specifically for withdrawing statements, permissions, or invitations, with a connotation of recalling something previously issued.

Usage Examples:

• Правительство отменило указ. (Pravitel'stvo otmenilo ukaz.)

  The government revoked the decree. (This example shows the verb in a past tense context, highlighting official actions.)

• Суд аннулировал контракт из-за нарушения условий. (Sud annulirolval kontrakt iz-za narusheniya usloviy.)

  The court revoked the contract due to breach of conditions. (Illustrates legal usage in a formal sentence structure.)

• Она отозвала своё заявление в последний момент. (Ona otozvala svoe zayavlenie v posledniy moment.)

  She revoked her application at the last minute. (Demonstrates personal or administrative contexts with reflexive implications.)

• Компания отменила мероприятие из-за плохой погоды. (Kompaniya otmenila meropriyatie iz-za plokhoy pogody.)

  The company revoked the event due to bad weather. (Shows everyday decision-making in a conditional scenario.)

To withdraw a permission or right

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отозвать - Common in contexts involving the withdrawal of rights, such as revoking a visa or statement.
• Аннулировать - Used when permanently invalidating a right, like revoking citizenship.

Usage Examples:

• Власти отозвали лицензию у компании. (Vlasti otozvali litsenziyu u kompanii.)

  The authorities revoked the company's license. (This highlights administrative actions in a direct object structure.)

• Банк аннулировал карту после жалобы. (Bank annulirolval kartu posle zhaloby.)

  The bank revoked the card after the complaint. (Example in a financial context, showing cause-and-effect.)

• Он отозвал приглашение, узнав правду. (On otozval priglashenie, uznav pravdu.)

  He revoked the invitation upon learning the truth. (Illustrates interpersonal dynamics with a subordinate clause.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. "Отменить" is a perfective verb (indicating completion), while its imperfective counterpart is "отменять". "Аннулировать" and "Отозвать" are also perfective verbs. Below is a conjugation table for "Отменить" in the present tense (for its imperfective form) and past tense, as an example. Note that perfective verbs like these often lack a full present tense conjugation and are used in future or past forms.

For unchanging aspects, note that these verbs do not change in infinitive form but must agree with gender and number in past tense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Прервать (preryvat') - To interrupt or terminate (more abrupt than отменаить).
  • Упразднить (uprazdnit') - To abolish or eliminate (used in formal contexts).
• Antonyms:
  • Подтвердить (podtverditi) - To confirm.
  • Утвердить (utverdit') - To approve or establish.

Related Phrases:

• Отменить заказ (Otmienit' zakaz) - To cancel an order (used in retail or online shopping contexts).
• Аннулировать визу (Annulirovat' vizu) - To revoke a visa (common in immigration scenarios).
• Отозвать заявление (Otozvat' zayalvenie) - To withdraw an application (often in legal or job-related situations).

Usage Notes:

Choose "Отменить" for general revocation of decisions or events, as it aligns closely with everyday English usage of "revoke". "Аннулировать" is more precise for legal or contractual cancellations, implying permanence. "Отозвать" is ideal for withdrawing personal statements or permissions. Be mindful of Russian verb aspects: perfective forms like these focus on completed actions, so they pair well with past or future tenses. In formal writing, these verbs often appear in official documents, and their usage is restricted to standard Russian rather than slang.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners might use the imperfective "отменять" when "отменить" is needed for a completed action. Error: "Я отменяю решение" (incorrect for a finished revocation). Correct: "Я отменил решение" (I revoked the decision). Explanation: Russian requires aspect agreement for precise tense usage.
• Misapplying translations: Using "Аннулировать" in casual contexts, e.g., "Я аннулирую ужин" instead of "Я отменяю ужин". Correct: Stick to "Отменить" for non-legal scenarios. Explanation: This over-formalizes everyday language and can sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, revoking decisions or permissions, as with "отменить" or "аннулировать", often reflects bureaucratic processes influenced by historical Soviet-era administration. For instance, revoking licenses or invitations can carry implications of authority and hierarchy, emphasizing the importance of formal communication in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• Запретить (zapretit') - To forbid
• Отказать (otkazat') - To refuse
• Прекратить (prekratit') - To stop or terminate