Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'smuggle'

English Word: smuggle

Key Russian Translations:

• контрабандить [kən.trəˈban.dʲitʲ] - [Informal, often used in contexts involving illegal activities]
• провозить контрабандой [prəˈvo.zʲitʲ kən.trəˈban.dɐj] - [Formal, more descriptive phrase for smuggling goods]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it's more prevalent in legal, journalistic, or fictional contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding legal terminology and verb conjugations; for 'контрабандить', it's B2, while 'провозить контрабандой' might be A2 for basic phrases.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

контрабандить: [kən.trəˈban.dʲitʲ]

Note on контрабандить: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ban'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'dʲ' sound. Pronounce it with a clear rolling 'r' if in a Russian accent.

Audio: []

провозить контрабандой: [prəˈvo.zʲitʲ kən.trəˈban.dɐj]

Note on провозить контрабандой: The phrase has two stressed syllables: 'vo' in 'провозить' and 'ban' in 'контрабандой'. The 'zʲ' sound is palatalized, similar to 's' in 'measure'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To import or export goods secretly and illegally, often to evade taxes or laws.

Translation(s) & Context:

• контрабандить - Used in informal or narrative contexts to describe the act of smuggling, especially for personal gain or organized crime.
• провозить контрабандой - Employed in formal settings, such as legal documents or news reports, to emphasize the method of illegal transportation.

Usage Examples:

• Он часто контрабандит редкие антиквари через границу, рискуя быть пойманным.

  He often smuggles rare antiques across the border, risking getting caught.

• Мafia провозит контрабандой оружие в страну под видом легального груза.

  The mafia smuggles weapons into the country disguised as legal cargo.

• В некоторых регионах люди контрабандят сигареты, чтобы обойти высокие налоги.

  In some regions, people smuggle cigarettes to bypass high taxes.

• Она была арестована за то, что провозила контрабандой наркотики в своем багаже.

  She was arrested for smuggling drugs in her luggage.

• Группа контрабандистов планирует провозить контрабандой алмазы через морскую границу.

  The group of smugglers plans to smuggle diamonds across the sea border.

To secretly transport people or items in violation of regulations.

Translation(s) & Context:

• контрабандить - Applied to human smuggling, such as migrants, in informal or dramatic contexts.
• провозить контрабандой - Used for broader illegal transport, including people, in official reports.

Usage Examples:

• Контрабандисты контрабандят мигрантов через реки, используя лодки.

  Smugglers transport migrants across rivers using boats.

• Чтобы избежать проверки, они провозят контрабандой запрещенные вещества в тайниках автомобилей.

  To avoid inspection, they smuggle prohibited substances in hidden car compartments.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'контрабандить' is a verb (infinitive form) and follows the pattern of first-conjugation verbs in Russian. It is somewhat irregular due to its rarity, but generally conjugates like other -ить verbs.

For 'провозить контрабандой', 'провозить' is a verb that conjugates regularly as a first-conjugation verb, while 'контрабандой' is an instrumental case noun and does not inflect in this phrase. It remains unchanged in most contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: провозить нелегально, переправлять тайно
• провозить подпольно (slang for smuggling in underground ways; often used in informal speech)
• Antonyms: импортировать легально (implies legal import), экспортировать официально (formal export processes)

Related Phrases:

• Контрабандные товары - Refers to smuggled goods, often used in customs contexts.
• Переправлять через границу - Means to smuggle across the border, commonly in narratives about illegal migration.
• Заниматься контрабандой - A phrase for engaging in smuggling activities, implying ongoing involvement.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'контрабандить' is not as commonly used as English 'smuggle'; instead, phrases like 'провозить контрабандой' are preferred for clarity. Choose 'контрабандить' for informal or literary contexts, but opt for the phrase in formal writing. Be aware of the legal implications, as this term often carries negative connotations. When translating, ensure the context specifies illegality to match the English word accurately.

• Grammar note: Always use in the appropriate tense to reflect the action's time (e.g., present for ongoing smuggling).
• Context tip: In Russian media, these words appear in crime reports, so they're useful for advanced learners studying societal issues.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake 'контрабандить' for general transportation verbs like 'везти' (to carry), leading to sentences like "Я везу товары" instead of "Я контрабанжу товары" for illegal activities. Correct usage: Use 'контрабандить' only for illegal contexts; for example, incorrect: "Он везёт контрабандой" (implies legal transport), correct: "Он контрабандит товары". Another error is improper conjugation, such as saying "контрабандишь" incorrectly as "контрабандитьш"; remember to follow standard verb endings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, smuggling has historical roots tied to the Soviet era's black market and border regions like the Caucasus or Far East, where goods like alcohol or electronics were smuggled to bypass shortages. Today, it reflects ongoing issues with corruption and economic sanctions, adding a layer of cultural sensitivity when using these terms in conversation.

Related Concepts:

• Коррупция
• Нелегальная торговля
• Государственная граница