Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Administer'

English Word: Administer

Key Russian Translations:

• управлять [ʊprɐˈvlʲætʲ] - [Formal, General Use]
• администрировать [ɐdmʲɪnʲɪˈstrʲirəvətʲ] - [Formal, Technical/Administrative Context]
• давать [dɐˈvatʲ] - [Informal, Often Used for Administering Medicine or Tests]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "управлять" is more common in general use, while "администрировать" is niche)

Difficulty: управлять - B1 (Intermediate); администрировать - B2 (Upper-Intermediate); давать - A2 (Elementary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

управлять: [ʊprɐˈvlʲætʲ]

Note on управлять: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'л' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

администрировать: [ɐdmʲɪnʲɪˈstrʲirəvətʲ]

Note on администрировать: A long word with stress on the fifth syllable. Pay attention to the rolled 'р' and soft consonants.

давать: [dɐˈvatʲ]

Note on давать: Simple pronunciation with stress on the second syllable. A common verb with broad usage.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Manage or Govern (e.g., Administer a Company or Organization)

Translation(s) & Context:

• управлять - Used for managing organizations, teams, or processes in a general or formal sense.
• администрировать - Specifically used in technical or bureaucratic contexts, such as administering a system or policy.

Usage Examples:

• Он управляет крупной компанией уже десять лет.

  He has been administering a large company for ten years.

• Она умеет хорошо управлять проектами.

  She knows how to administer projects well.

• Мы администрируем серверы круглосуточно.

  We administer servers around the clock.

2. To Give or Provide (e.g., Administer Medicine or a Test)

Translation(s) & Context:

• давать - Commonly used in informal or medical contexts for giving medicine, tests, or aid.

Usage Examples:

• Врач дал лекарство пациенту.

  The doctor administered medicine to the patient.

• Учитель давал тест всему классу.

  The teacher administered a test to the whole class.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

управлять (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb with standard conjugation for imperfective aspect. Governs the instrumental case (e.g., управлять чем-то).

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense
Я (I)	управляю	управлял/управляла
Ты (You, sing.)	управляешь	управлял/управляла
Он/Она (He/She)	управляет	управлял/управляла

администрировать (Verb, Imperfective): Borrowed word with regular conjugation. Often used with direct objects.

давать (Verb, Imperfective): Irregular verb with stem changes in conjugation (e.g., дам in future tense).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for управлять:

• руководить
• командовать

Note: "руководить" is more formal and often implies leadership, while "командовать" can imply stricter control.

Antonyms for управлять:

• подчиняться

Related Phrases:

• управлять страной - To administer a country (govern or rule).
• давать клятву - To administer an oath (formal context).
• администрировать систему - To administer a system (technical context).

Usage Notes:

• "управлять" is the most versatile translation for "administer" when referring to managing or governing something. It often requires the instrumental case (e.g., управлять компанией).
• "администрировать" is more specific and often used in technical or bureaucratic contexts, such as IT systems or policies.
• "давать" is used when "administer" means to give or provide, especially in medical or educational contexts. It’s less formal and broader in meaning.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "давать" when referring to managing an organization. Incorrect: "Я даю компанию." Correct: "Я управляю компанией." Explanation: "давать" means "to give" and cannot be used for management contexts.
• Error: Forgetting case agreement with "управлять." Incorrect: "управлять компания." Correct: "управлять компанией." Explanation: "управлять" requires the instrumental case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "administering" in formal contexts (like governance or bureaucracy) often carries a connotation of hierarchical control, reflecting historical and cultural emphasis on centralized authority. Using "управлять" in formal discussions may evoke this sense of structure.

Related Concepts:

• руководство (leadership)
• администрация (administration)
• контроль (control)