Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Agriculture'

English Word: Agriculture

Key Russian Translations:

• сельское хозяйство [ˈsʲelʲskəjə xəˈzʲajstvə] - [Formal, Neutral]
• агрокультура [ˌaɡrəˈkulʲtʊrə] - [Technical, Less Common]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal and academic contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "сельское хозяйство"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "агрокультура"

Pronunciation (Russian):

сельское хозяйство: [ˈsʲelʲskəjə xəˈzʲajstvə]

Note on сельское хозяйство: Stress falls on the first syllable of "сельское" and the second syllable of "хозяйство". The "х" is a guttural sound, unfamiliar to many English speakers.

агрокультура: [ˌaɡrəˈkulʲtʊrə]

Note on агрокультура: Stress is on the third syllable. The rolled "р" might be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Farming and Cultivation

Translation(s) & Context:

• сельское хозяйство - Refers to the broad concept of agriculture, including farming, livestock, and crop production. Used in both formal and everyday contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Сельское хозяйство играет важную роль в экономике страны.

  Agriculture plays an important role in the country's economy.

• Он изучает сельское хозяйство в университете.

  He studies agriculture at university.

• Развитие сельского хозяйства требует новых технологий.

  The development of agriculture requires new technologies.

2. Agricultural Science or Techniques

Translation(s) & Context:

• агрокультура - Refers more specifically to agricultural science or cultivation techniques. Used in technical or academic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Агрокультура включает методы повышения урожайности.

  Agricultural science includes methods to increase crop yields.

• Современная агрокультура основана на научных исследованиях.

  Modern agriculture is based on scientific research.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сельское хозяйство: This is a compound noun (neuter gender) and follows standard declension patterns for neuter nouns. It does not change in the plural as it is typically used in the singular to denote the concept.

агрокультура: This is a feminine noun and follows the standard declension for feminine nouns ending in "-а".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сельское хозяйство:

• земледелие (more specific to crop farming)
• аграрный сектор (refers to the agricultural sector)

Note: "земледелие" is narrower in scope, focusing on cultivation rather than the entire industry.

Antonyms:

• промышленность (industry, as opposed to agriculture)

Related Phrases:

• развитие сельского хозяйства - Development of agriculture
• сельскохозяйственная продукция - Agricultural products
• методы агрокультуры - Methods of agricultural science

Usage Notes:

• "сельское хозяйство" is the most common and versatile term for "agriculture" in Russian, suitable for both formal and general discussions. It directly corresponds to the English term in most contexts.
• "агрокультура" is more specialized and less frequent. Use it only in academic or technical contexts focusing on cultivation techniques or agricultural science.
• Be mindful of the compound structure of "сельское хозяйство". It is always used as a single unit and does not split in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Translating "agriculture" as "земледелие" in all contexts. Explanation: "земледелие" specifically refers to crop farming, not the broader concept of agriculture. Correct Usage: Use "сельское хозяйство" for the general concept. Example: "Сельское хозяйство включает земледелие и животноводство" (Agriculture includes crop farming and livestock breeding).
• Error: Mispronouncing "хозяйство" by softening the "х". Explanation: The "х" sound is a hard, guttural sound. Practice this to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

Agriculture has deep historical significance in Russia, with vast rural areas and a long tradition of farming. The term "сельское хозяйство" often evokes associations with Soviet-era collective farms (kolkhozes) and state-driven agricultural policies. Understanding this context can help English learners grasp the cultural weight of the term in Russian discourse.

Related Concepts:

• животноводство (livestock breeding)
• фермерство (farming)
• урожай (harvest)