Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bishop'

English Word: bishop

Key Russian Translations:

• епископ [jɪˈpʲiskəp] - [Formal, Religious Context]
• бишоп [ˈbʲiʂəp] - [Informal, Chess Context]

Frequency: Medium (used frequently in religious or chess contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "епископ"; A2 (Beginner) for "бишоп"

Pronunciation (Russian):

епископ: [jɪˈpʲiskəp]

Note on епископ: Stress falls on the second syllable. The initial "е" is pronounced as "ye."

бишоп: [ˈbʲiʂəp]

Note on бишоп: Borrowed from English, stress on the first syllable, with a soft "ш" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Religious Leader (Christianity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• епископ - Used in formal and religious contexts to refer to a senior member of the clergy in Christian denominations.

Usage Examples:

• Епископ благословил прихожан во время службы.

  The bishop blessed the parishioners during the service.

• На соборе присутствовали многие епископы.

  Many bishops attended the council.

• Епископ возглавил процессию в честь праздника.

  The bishop led the procession in honor of the holiday.

2. Chess Piece

Translation(s) & Context:

• бишоп - Informal term borrowed from English, used specifically in the context of chess.
• слон - Traditional Russian term for the chess piece "bishop," literally meaning "elephant."

Usage Examples:

• Я пожертвовал своим слоном, чтобы защитить короля.

  I sacrificed my bishop to protect the king.

• Бишоп на c4 угрожает ферзю.

  The bishop on c4 threatens the queen.

• Слоны в этой позиции очень сильны.

  The bishops are very strong in this position.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

епископ (noun, masculine): Follows the second declension pattern in Russian.

бишоп (noun, masculine): As a borrowed term, it often remains indeclinable in informal usage, though it may follow regular masculine noun patterns in formal contexts.

слон (noun, masculine): Regular second declension noun, similar to "епископ."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for епископ (religious context):

• архиерей (more formal, often used in Orthodox contexts)

Note: "архиерей" may imply a higher rank or be used interchangeably in certain contexts.

Synonyms for слон/бишоп (chess context):

• офицер (older or alternative term for "bishop" in chess)

Antonyms: None directly applicable.

Related Phrases:

• епископская кафедра - "bishop's see" or "episcopal seat," referring to the bishop's official position or cathedral.
• ход слона - "bishop's move," a chess term describing the diagonal movement of the piece.

Usage Notes:

• "епископ" is the primary and formal term for a bishop in religious contexts, especially in the Russian Orthodox Church. It should not be used in chess contexts.
• "бишоп" is a direct borrowing from English and is used exclusively in informal chess discussions. Most native speakers prefer "слон" for the chess piece.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between translations, as using "епископ" in a chess context or "слон" in a religious context will cause confusion.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "епископ" to refer to the chess piece. Incorrect: "Я хожу епископом." Correct: "Я хожу слоном."
• Error: Mispronouncing "епископ" by stressing the first syllable. Stress should be on the second syllable: [jɪˈpʲiskəp].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian Orthodox culture, the role of an "епископ" (bishop) is highly respected, often associated with significant spiritual authority. Bishops play a central role in church governance and ceremonies, and addressing or referring to them requires formal language and titles.

Related Concepts:

• митрополит (metropolitan, a higher rank than bishop)
• священник (priest, a lower rank in the clergy)
• шахматы (chess, related to the term "слон")