Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'abroad'

English Word: abroad

Key Russian Translations:

• за границей [zə ɡrəˈnʲitsɨ] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• за рубежом [zə rʊˈbʲeʐəm] - [Formal, Often Used in Official Contexts]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

за границей: [zə ɡrəˈnʲitsɨ]

Note on за границей: Stress falls on the second syllable of "границей". The "ц" sound is a soft affricate, similar to 'ts' in English.

за рубежом: [zə rʊˈbʲeʐəm]

Note on за рубежом: Stress is on the second syllable of "рубежом". The "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, like 's' in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. In or to a foreign country or countries

Translation(s) & Context:

• за границей - Commonly used to refer to being or going to a foreign country in everyday speech.
• за рубежом - More formal, often used in written or official contexts to denote international matters.

Usage Examples:

• Она живёт за границей уже пять лет.

  She has been living abroad for five years.

• Мы планируем поехать за границу летом.

  We are planning to go abroad in the summer.

• Наша компания активно работает за рубежом.

  Our company actively operates abroad.

• За границей он выучил новый язык.

  He learned a new language while abroad.

• Многие специалисты уезжают работать за рубеж.

  Many specialists leave to work abroad.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both за границей and за рубежом are prepositional phrases and do not inflect as they are fixed expressions. They consist of the preposition "за" (meaning "beyond" or "behind") and the nouns "граница" (border) or "рубеж" (boundary), respectively, in the instrumental case. These forms remain unchanged regardless of the sentence structure.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• в чужих краях (in foreign lands, more literary)
• за кордоном (beyond the border, less common, slightly dated)

Note: "в чужих краях" carries a more poetic or emotional tone, while "за кордоном" might be used in historical or specific regional contexts.

Antonyms:

• дома (at home)
• в родной стране (in one’s native country)

Related Phrases:

• жить за границей - to live abroad
• путешествовать за границу - to travel abroad
• работать за рубежом - to work abroad
• учиться за границей - to study abroad

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between translations: Use "за границей" for casual or everyday contexts (e.g., talking about travel or living in another country). Opt for "за рубежом" in formal, business, or official discussions (e.g., international trade or diplomacy).
• Prepositional usage: Both phrases are typically used with verbs of motion or static location, such as "жить" (to live), "поехать" (to go), or "работать" (to work).
• Direct correspondence to English: Both Russian expressions directly correspond to the English "abroad" but lack the adverbial flexibility of "abroad" in some contexts (e.g., "spread abroad" would require a different translation).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "за границей" in formal writing or speeches where "за рубежом" is more appropriate.
  Incorrect: Наша политика направлена на развитие за границей.
  Correct: Наша политика направлена на развитие за рубежом.
  Explanation: "за рубежом" is the preferred term in formal or political contexts.
• Error: Incorrect preposition usage or case with "граница" or "рубеж".
  Incorrect: Я поехал в границу.
  Correct: Я поехал за границу.
  Explanation: The preposition "за" followed by the accusative or instrumental case is required for the correct meaning of "abroad".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "abroad" (за границей/за рубежом) often carries a sense of curiosity or prestige, especially historically when travel outside the Soviet Union was restricted. Today, it might imply opportunities for education, work, or tourism but can also evoke discussions about cultural differences or "brain drain" when referring to emigration.

Related Concepts:

• эмиграция (emigration)
• иммиграция (immigration)
• заграничный паспорт (foreign passport)
• международный (international)