Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'usurious'

English Word: usurious

Key Russian Translations:

• ростовщический /rɐˈstovʲʃʲɪkʲɪj/ - [Formal, used in legal or financial contexts]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in specialized discussions on finance, law, or economics in Russian media and literature.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate to Advanced; requires understanding of financial terminology and Russian adjective inflections, making it challenging for learners below CEFR B2 level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ростовщический: /rɐˈstovʲʃʲɪkʲɪj/

Note on ростовщический: The stress falls on the third syllable (/ˈstovʲ/), and the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to usury, involving the charging of excessive or illegal interest rates.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ростовщический - Used in formal contexts such as legal documents, financial discussions, or critiques of economic practices, often implying moral or ethical disapproval.

Usage Examples:

• Ростовщический кредитор взимал непомерные проценты с заёмщиков, что привело к их финансовому краху.

  The usurious lender charged exorbitant interest rates from borrowers, leading to their financial ruin.

• В некоторых странах ростовщические практики строго запрещены законом для защиты уязвимых слоёв населения.

  In some countries, usurious practices are strictly prohibited by law to protect vulnerable segments of the population.

• Эта ростовщическая схема была разоблачена, и её организаторы предстали перед судом.

  This usurious scheme was exposed, and its organizers were brought to court.

• Ростовщический подход к кредитованию часто приводит к долгосрочным экономическим проблемам.

  A usurious approach to lending often leads to long-term economic issues.

• В исторических текстах ростовщический капитал описывается как источник социальной несправедливости.

  In historical texts, usurious capital is described as a source of social injustice.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Ростовщический" is an adjective in Russian, which typically follows standard adjective inflection patterns. It agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective follows the first declension pattern for adjectives, with no irregularities. If the word is used predicatively, it may not inflect but still agrees with the subject.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • лихий - Often used interchangeably but with a connotation of recklessness or excessiveness.
  • обдирательский - Implies exploitation, commonly in informal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • справедливый - Means fair or just, contrasting with the exploitative nature.
  • разумный - Indicates reasonable or moderate, especially in financial terms.

Related Phrases:

• Ростовщический процент - A usurious interest rate; commonly used in discussions about predatory lending.
• Ростовщическая схема - A usurious scheme; refers to fraudulent financial arrangements.
• Заниматься ростовщичеством - To engage in usury; a phrase highlighting illegal or unethical lending practices.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "ростовщический" directly corresponds to "usurious" in English, emphasizing excessive interest rates in financial contexts. It is typically formal and carries a negative connotation, so avoid using it in neutral or positive descriptions. When choosing between translations like "лихий" or "обдирательский," opt for "ростовщический" in legal or economic writing for precision. Be mindful of grammatical agreement: always inflect it to match the noun's gender, number, and case. For English learners, this word is best used in written contexts rather than spoken ones due to its low frequency.

Common Errors:

• Error: Failing to inflect the adjective correctly, e.g., using "ростовщический" with a feminine noun without changing it to "ростовщическая." Correct: Instead of saying "ростовщический кредит" (for a feminine noun like "кредит"), use "ростовщическая кредит." Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify, which is a common oversight for English speakers accustomed to invariable adjectives.

• Error: Confusing it with synonyms like "лихий," leading to misuse in formal contexts. Correct: Use "ростовщический" for legal precision rather than "лихий," which might sound more casual. Explanation: "лихий" can imply excitement or boldness, diluting the specific meaning of usury.

• Error: Overusing in everyday speech. Correct: Reserve it for professional discussions; in casual talk, native speakers might say "обдираловка" instead. Explanation: This prevents sounding overly formal or archaic in inappropriate settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "ростовщический" evoke historical resentment towards moneylenders, stemming from Tsarist-era practices and Soviet-era critiques of capitalism. It often appears in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to symbolize social inequality, reflecting a broader cultural wariness of financial exploitation in post-Soviet societies.

Related Concepts:

• лихой
• обдираловка
• финансовый обман