Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rob'

English Word: rob

Key Russian Translations:

• грабить [ɡrɐˈbʲitʲ] - [Informal, used for ongoing or repeated actions]
• ограбить [ɐˈɡrabʲitʲ] - [Formal, used for a completed action]

Frequency: Medium (Common in crime-related contexts in everyday Russian media and literature)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations, but straightforward for learners familiar with basic Russian verbs)

Pronunciation (Russian):

грабить: [ɡrɐˈbʲitʲ]

Note on грабить: The stress falls on the second syllable ("bʲitʲ"). Be careful with the palatalized 'bʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

ограбить: [ɐˈɡrabʲitʲ]

Note on ограбить: Similar to грабить, but with a prefix; the stress is on the third syllable, and the 'o-' prefix softens the initial sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To steal money or property from a person or place, especially using force or threat.

Translation(s) & Context:

• грабить - Used in informal contexts for ongoing theft, such as in narratives or descriptions of criminal activities.
• ограбить - Applied in formal or completed-action scenarios, like in legal or news reports.

Usage Examples:

• Воры грабили дом ночью, угрожая владельцам оружием.

  The thieves were robbing the house at night, threatening the owners with weapons.

• Преступник ограбил банк и скрылся на машине.

  The criminal robbed the bank and escaped in a car.

• Во время войны солдаты грабили деревни, чтобы добыть еду.

  During the war, soldiers were robbing villages to obtain food.

• Она ограбila магазин, но была поймана полицией.

  She robbed the store but was caught by the police.

• Гангстеры грабили прохожих в тёмных переулках города.

  Gangsters were robbing passersby in the dark alleys of the city.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "грабить" and "ограбить" are verbs of the first conjugation in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have irregularities in certain forms. "Грабить" is imperfective, indicating ongoing actions, while "ограбить" is perfective, for completed actions.

Note: These verbs are irregular in their past tense forms due to gender and number agreements, which is standard for Russian verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воровать (to steal; more general, without implying force)
  • хищать (to embezzle; often used in formal or white-collar contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • вернуть (to return)
  • защитить (to protect)

Related Phrases:

• Грабить банк - To rob a bank; A phrase used in crime stories, implying a high-stakes heist.
• Ограбить на улице - To mug someone on the street; Refers to street-level robberies, common in urban safety discussions.
• Грабить с применением оружия - To rob with a weapon; Highlights violent aspects, often in legal contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "грабить" is preferred for describing habitual or ongoing theft, while "ограбить" is used for one-time events. Unlike English "rob," which can apply to both people and places, Russian verbs often require context for precision. For formal writing, such as reports, opt for "ограбить." Be mindful of aspect: imperfective for processes and perfective for results. English learners should note that Russian verbs agree with the subject in person, number, and gender in the past tense.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Using "грабить" when a perfective verb is needed, e.g., saying "Я грабить банк" instead of "Я ограбил банк." Correct usage: "Я ограбил банк" for a completed action. Explanation: Russian aspect is crucial; mixing them can confuse the timeline of events.

• Another error: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., saying "Она ограбил" (incorrect for feminine subject) instead of "Она ограбила." Correct: Always match the past tense ending to the subject's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, themes of robbery often appear in literature and folklore, such as in stories by Dostoevsky, where crime reflects societal issues like poverty. The word "грабить" can evoke historical contexts, like raids during wars, symbolizing disruption and loss, which adds a layer of emotional weight in modern discussions of crime.

Related Concepts:

• Вор (thief)
• Кража (theft)
• Преступление (crime)