Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'brigade'

English Word: brigade

Key Russian Translations:

• бригада [brʲɪˈɡadə] - [General, Neutral]
• отряд [ɐtˈrʲat] - [Often used for smaller or specialized groups]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

бригада: [brʲɪˈɡadə]

Note on бригада: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'г' is pronounced as a voiced fricative in standard Russian.

отряд: [ɐtˈrʲat]

Note on отряд: Stress on the second syllable. The 'р' is rolled, typical of Russian pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A group of people organized for a specific task (e.g., military or work unit)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бригада - Commonly used for work teams (e.g., construction brigade) or military units.
• отряд - Often refers to a smaller detachment or squad, especially in military or scouting contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Строительная бригада закончила работу за неделю.

  The construction brigade finished the work in a week.

• Бригада врачей прибыла на место катастрофы.

  A brigade of doctors arrived at the disaster site.

• Отряд солдат охранял границу.

  A detachment of soldiers guarded the border.

• Детский отряд отправился в поход.

  A children's squad went on a hike.

• Бригада рабочих ремонтировала дорогу всю ночь.

  A brigade of workers repaired the road all night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бригада (feminine noun, 1st declension):

отряд (masculine noun, 2nd declension):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бригада:

• команда
• группа

Note: 'команда' often implies a team with a leader, while 'группа' is more general.

Synonyms for отряд:

• подразделение
• звено

Antonyms: None directly applicable for either word in most contexts.

Related Phrases:

• строительная бригада - Construction brigade (a team of builders).
• бригада скорой помощи - Emergency medical brigade (ambulance team).
• отряд разведчиков - Scout detachment (a group of scouts or recon soldiers).

Usage Notes:

• 'бригада' is more commonly used for larger, organized groups, especially in professional or military contexts. It often carries a sense of structure and hierarchy.
• 'отряд' typically refers to smaller groups or detachments and is frequently used in contexts like military squads or children's groups (e.g., summer camps).
• Choose 'бригада' when referring to work teams or formal units; use 'отряд' for more informal or smaller-scale groups.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'бригада' for a small informal group. Incorrect: "Маленькая бригада друзей пошла в лес." Correct: "Маленький отряд друзей пошёл в лес." (A small squad of friends went to the forest.)
• Error: Using 'отряд' for large, professional teams. Incorrect: "Отряд строителей ремонтировала здание." Correct: "Бригада строителей ремонтировала здание." (A brigade of builders repaired the building.)

Cultural Notes:

In Soviet and post-Soviet contexts, 'бригада' often refers to labor collectives or teams, reflecting the historical emphasis on collective work in socialist ideology. It may evoke associations with Soviet-era construction or agricultural projects. 'отряд', on the other hand, is commonly associated with youth organizations like the Pioneers, where children were grouped into 'отряды' for activities.

Related Concepts:

• команда (team)
• группа (group)
• подразделение (unit/subdivision)