Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Activist'

English Word: Activist

Key Russian Translations:

• активист [ɐktʲɪˈvʲist] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• деятель [ˈdʲeɪtʲɪlʲ] - [Formal, Often Used for Prominent Figures]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "активист"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "деятель"

Pronunciation (Russian):

активист: [ɐktʲɪˈvʲist]

Note on активист: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "а" is pronounced as a short, unstressed "uh" sound.

деятель: [ˈdʲeɪtʲɪlʲ]

Note on деятель: Stress on the first syllable. The soft "л" at the end requires a palatalized pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person who campaigns for social or political change

Translation(s) & Context:

• активист - Commonly used for individuals involved in grassroots movements or community activism.
• деятель - Used for someone with a prominent or influential role in a cause, often with a formal tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он активист за права животных.

  He is an activist for animal rights.

• Эта женщина — известный активист в борьбе за экологию.

  This woman is a well-known activist in the fight for ecology.

• Деятель профсоюзного движения был награждён за свои усилия.

  The trade union activist was awarded for his efforts.

• Многие активисты собрались на митинг в центре города.

  Many activists gathered for a rally in the city center.

• Он деятель культуры и образования в нашем регионе.

  He is a prominent figure in culture and education in our region.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

активист (Noun, Masculine, Animate): Follows the standard second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

деятель (Noun, Masculine, Animate): Also follows the second declension pattern with similar endings to "активист".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for активист:

• борц (Fighter for a cause - more intense tone)
• сторонник (Supporter - milder tone)

Synonyms for деятель:

• лидер (Leader - implies authority)
• организатор (Organizer - focuses on planning)

Antonyms:

• пассивный человек (Passive person)
• безучастный (Indifferent person)

Related Phrases:

• активист движения - Activist of a movement (common collocation for specific causes).
• общественный деятель - Public figure (used for prominent activists in formal contexts).
• деятель культуры - Cultural figure (used for activists in arts or education).

Usage Notes:

• "активист" is the most direct and common translation for "activist", suitable for most contexts involving social or political causes.
• "деятель" carries a more formal tone and often implies a higher level of influence or recognition. Use it for well-known figures or in official contexts.
• Both terms are masculine by default, but can refer to females as well. For explicitly feminine reference, use "активистка" for "активист".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "деятель" in casual contexts. Incorrect: "Он деятель за экологию" (sounds overly formal). Correct: "Он активист за экологию".
• Error: Misusing gender forms. Incorrect: "Она активист" (grammatically correct but less common). Preferred: "Она активистка".
• Error: Incorrect case usage. Incorrect: "Я встретил активист" (wrong accusative form). Correct: "Я встретил активиста".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "активист" often carries a historical connotation linked to Soviet times, where it referred to enthusiastic participants in communist youth organizations like the Komsomol. Today, it is more neutral but can still evoke a sense of dedication to a cause.

Related Concepts:

• движение (Movement)
• протест (Protest)
• реформа (Reform)