Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'terminate'

English Word: terminate

Key Russian Translations:

• Прекратить [prʲɪˈkratʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in general contexts to indicate stopping an action or process]
• Завершить [zɐˈvʲɛrʂʲɪtʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Verb, Used when completing something, such as a task or process]
• Расторгнуть [rɐˈstɔrnʊtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used specifically in legal or contractual contexts, such as ending an agreement]

Frequency: Medium (These verbs are commonly used in everyday Russian, especially in professional, technical, and administrative contexts, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "делать").

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and context-specific usage. "Прекратить" and "Завершить" are B1, while "Расторгнуть" may be B2 due to its legal connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Прекратить: [prʲɪˈkratʲɪtʲ]

Note on Прекратить: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variant in casual speech might soften the initial 'п'.

Завершить: [zɐˈvʲɛrʂʲɪtʲ]

Note on Завершить: The 'ж' sound (like 'zh' in 'measure') is retroflex; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Расторгнуть: [rɐˈstɔrnʊtʲ]

Note on Расторгнуть: The 'г' is pronounced as a hard 'g'; this word often appears in formal settings and may have regional variations in speed.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To end or stop an action, process, or activity

Translation(s) & Context:

• Прекратить - Used in everyday contexts for abruptly stopping something, such as a conversation or a job.
• Завершить - Applied when bringing something to a planned conclusion, like finishing a project.

Usage Examples:

• Я должен прекратить этот разговор, чтобы не опоздать на встречу.

  I need to terminate this conversation so I don't miss the meeting.

• Компания решила завершить проект раньше срока из-за бюджетных ограничений.

  The company decided to terminate the project ahead of schedule due to budget constraints.

• Если вы не согласны с условиями, мы можем прекратить сделку немедленно.

  If you disagree with the terms, we can terminate the deal immediately.

• Врач посоветовал завершить лечение антибиотиками через две недели.

  The doctor advised to terminate the antibiotic treatment after two weeks.

Meaning 2: To end a contract or agreement legally

Translation(s) & Context:

• Расторгнуть - Specifically used in formal or legal settings, such as dissolving a contract.

Usage Examples:

• Стороны договора решили расторгнуть соглашение по взаимному согласию.

  The parties to the contract decided to terminate the agreement by mutual consent.

• Если платежи не будут произведены, банк имеет право расторгнуть кредитный договор.

  If payments are not made, the bank has the right to terminate the loan agreement.

• Суд помог расторгнуть брак без дополнительных споров.

  The court helped terminate the marriage without further disputes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which follow standard Russian conjugation patterns. Russian verbs are conjugated based on tense, aspect, person, and number. These are imperfective verbs that can have perfective counterparts (e.g., "прекратить" is imperfective; its perfective form is "прекратить" in some contexts, but often paired with "завершить" for completion).

Note: These verbs do not change for gender in the past tense but do for the subject. If the verb is used in perfective aspect, forms may vary; otherwise, they are regular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Остановить (to stop) - More abrupt than прекратить, often used for physical actions.
  • Закончить (to finish) - Similar to завершить but less formal.
  • Прервать (to interrupt) - For temporarily terminating, with a nuance of pausing.
• Antonyms:
  • Начать (to start)
  • Продолжить (to continue)
  • Возобновить (to resume)

Related Phrases:

• Прекратить огонь - Cease fire (Used in military or conflict contexts to mean stopping hostilities).
• Завершить сделку - Close a deal (Common in business for finalizing agreements).
• Расторгнуть контракт - Terminate a contract (Formal phrase for ending legal obligations).

Usage Notes:

"Terminate" in English often implies a final end, which aligns closely with "прекратить" or "завершить" in Russian. However, choose "расторгнуть" for legal contexts to ensure precision. These verbs are aspectual in Russian, so "прекратить" is imperfective (ongoing process), while "завершить" can be perfective. Be mindful of formal vs. informal settings: use these in professional writing or speech, but avoid in casual conversations where simpler synonyms might suffice. When translating, consider the subject and object cases for accurate grammar.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "прекратить" interchangeably with "завершить" without considering aspect. For example, learners might say "Я прекратил проект" when meaning completion, but it implies stopping abruptly. Correct: Use "завершить" for planned endings. Explanation: Russian verbs have perfective and imperfective forms, so mixing them can alter the intended meaning.

• Error: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., saying "Я прекратил" for a female speaker. Correct: "Я прекратила". Explanation: Past tense verbs in Russian agree with the subject's gender, which is a common oversight for English speakers used to gender-neutral verbs.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "расторгнуть" often carry a sense of formality and legal precision, reflecting the historical influence of Soviet bureaucracy. For instance, terminating contracts might involve official documentation, emphasizing the cultural value placed on written agreements in professional life.

Related Concepts:

• Продолжить (to continue)
• Начать заново (to start over)
• Прервать (to interrupt)