Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Army'

English Word: Army

Key Russian Translations:

• армия [ˈarmʲɪjə] - [Formal, General Use]
• войско [ˈvojskə] - [Formal, Historical or Literary]

Frequency: High (especially for "армия")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "армия"), B2 (Intermediate for "войско")

Pronunciation (Russian):

армия: [ˈarmʲɪjə]

Note on армия: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'р' sound is rolled, typical of Russian pronunciation.

войско: [ˈvojskə]

Note on войско: Stress on the first syllable. The 'ой' diphthong is pronounced as a single sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Military Force (General)

Translation(s) & Context:

• армия - Commonly used to refer to a nation's military forces in modern contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Армия защищает страну от внешних угроз.

  The army protects the country from external threats.

• Он служит в армии уже два года.

  He has been serving in the army for two years.

• Армия провела крупные учения на границе.

  The army conducted major exercises at the border.

2. Historical or Literary Military Group

Translation(s) & Context:

• войско - Used in historical, literary, or poetic contexts to refer to troops or an army.

Usage Examples:

• Войско царя победило врагов в битве.

  The tsar's army defeated the enemies in battle.

• В старину войско собиралось из крестьян.

  In ancient times, the army was assembled from peasants.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

армия (feminine noun): Follows the first declension pattern in Russian. It changes according to case and number.

войско (neuter noun): Follows the second declension pattern. It also changes by case and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for армия:

• войско (more historical or literary)
• вооружённые силы (broader term for armed forces)

Antonyms for армия:

• мир (peace, as a conceptual opposite)

Related Phrases:

• служить в армии - To serve in the army.
• армия спасения - Salvation Army (organization).
• войско небесное - Heavenly army (often used in religious or poetic contexts).

Usage Notes:

• "Армия" is the most common and neutral term for "army" in modern Russian and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• "Войско" is more archaic or literary and is typically found in historical texts, poetry, or formal speeches. It may sound outdated in casual conversation.
• When referring to a specific branch or type of army, additional descriptors like "воздушная армия" (air army) or "сухопутная армия" (ground army) are often used with "армия".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "войско" in modern contexts. For example, saying "Я хочу служить в войске" sounds unnatural or overly poetic.
  Correct Usage: Use "армия" instead: "Я хочу служить в армии".
• Error: Incorrect case usage with "армия". English speakers often forget to decline nouns, e.g., saying "Я горжусь армия" instead of "Я горжусь армией".
  Correct Usage: Always decline the noun based on the grammatical case required by the verb or preposition.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "армия" is deeply tied to national identity and history, especially due to the Soviet era and events like World War II (known as the Great Patriotic War). Military service is often seen as a rite of passage for many young men, and the army holds a significant place in public consciousness, reflected in holidays like Defender of the Fatherland Day (February 23).

Related Concepts:

• вооружённые силы (armed forces)
• солдат (soldier)
• военная служба (military service)