Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'usury'

English Word: usury

Key Russian Translations:

• ростовщичество /rɐˈstovʂːʲɪstvə/ - [Formal, used in legal, historical, or financial contexts]
• лихва /ˈlʲixva/ - [Formal, often in moral or religious discussions]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in specialized texts on finance, law, or history.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate to Advanced; requires understanding of financial concepts and Russian nominal inflections, with 'ростовщичество' being more challenging due to its length and formal nature, while 'лихва' is slightly easier.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ростовщичество: /rɐˈstovʂːʲɪstvə/

лихва: /ˈlʲixva/

Note on ростовщичество: The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' (like in 'fresh cheese'), which can be tricky for English speakers; stress on the third syllable. Pronounce it slowly to master the consonant cluster.

Note on лихва: The 'л' is soft; it sounds like 'lyih-va'. This word is easier for beginners due to its shorter length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest

Translation(s) & Context:

• ростовщичество - Used in formal, legal, or historical contexts, such as discussing economic policies or religious prohibitions.
• лихва - Applied in moral, ethical, or religious contexts, emphasizing the exploitative aspect.

Usage Examples:

• В средние века ростовщичество было строго запрещено церковью и считалось грехом.

  In the Middle Ages, usury was strictly prohibited by the church and considered a sin.

• Он обвиняется в лихве, так как выдавал займы под непомерно высокие проценты.

  He is accused of usury, as he was lending money at exorbitantly high interest rates.

• Ростовщичество часто приводит к социальным конфликтам, как показано в классической русской литературе.

  Usury often leads to social conflicts, as depicted in classical Russian literature.

• В современном обществе лихва регулируется законами, чтобы защитить заемщиков от эксплуатации.

  In modern society, usury is regulated by laws to protect borrowers from exploitation.

• Из-за ростаовщичества многие семьи в прошлом веке оказались в долгах на всю жизнь.

  Due to usury, many families in the last century ended up in lifelong debt.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'ростовщичество' and 'лихва' are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard nominal inflections. 'Ростовщичество' is a more complex word with regular declensions, while 'лихва' is simpler. Russian nouns change based on case, number, and gender.

Note: These words do not have plural forms in most contexts as they refer to abstract concepts. They are invariant in number unless used metaphorically.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • лихва (similar to the main translation, but with a more moral connotation)
  • рост (meaning 'interest' in a financial sense, but less formal)
• Antonyms:
  • беспроцентный кредит (interest-free loan, emphasizing the opposite of high-interest lending)

Related Phrases:

• Выдавать в рост - A phrase meaning 'to lend at usury', often used in historical or literary contexts to describe exploitative lending.
• Заниматься лихвой - Means 'to engage in usury', highlighting unethical financial practices in everyday or moral discussions.
• Ростовщический процент - Refers to 'usurious interest rates', commonly used in legal or economic conversations to denote excessive charges.

Usage Notes:

'Ростовщичество' and 'лихва' are precise translations for 'usury' but are more formal and less common in modern Russian speech. Use 'ростовщичество' in legal or historical contexts for its specificity, while 'лихва' suits discussions involving ethics or religion. Be aware of the negative connotation in Russian culture, where these terms often imply exploitation. Grammatically, always decline them according to the case required in the sentence. For English learners, choose based on context: 'лихва' for shorter, everyday explanations, and 'ростовщичество' for detailed analyses.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'лихва' with 'лихой' (meaning 'daring' or 'wild'), which is unrelated. Incorrect: "Он занимается лихой" (wrong, as it implies something adventurous). Correct: "Он занимается лихвой" – This error stems from similar-sounding words; always check the context for financial meanings.
• Using the word without proper inflection, e.g., saying "в ростовщичество" instead of "в ростовщичестве" in prepositional case. Incorrect example: "Я думаю о ростовщичество" (grammatically wrong). Correct: "Я думаю о ростовщичестве" – English learners often forget Russian case endings, so practice declensions.
• Overusing in casual speech; 'лихва' might sound overly dramatic in informal settings, leading to misunderstandings. For instance, describing a high-interest loan as 'лихва' in a friendly chat could make it seem more severe than intended.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'ростовщичество' and 'лихва' carry strong historical and moral undertones, often linked to 19th-century literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) where usury symbolizes social inequality and exploitation. During the Soviet era, these practices were heavily criticized as capitalist vices, influencing modern perceptions of finance and ethics.

Related Concepts:

• кредит (credit)
• долг (debt)
• процент (interest)
• эксплуатация (exploitation)