Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Broker'

English Word: broker

Key Russian Translations:

• брокер [ˈbrokʲɪr] - [Formal, Business Context]
• посредник [pɐˈsrʲednʲɪk] - [Neutral, General Use]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in business and financial contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "брокер"; A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "посредник"

Pronunciation (Russian):

брокер: [ˈbrokʲɪr]

Note on брокер: The stress falls on the first syllable, and the "р" sound is rolled slightly, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

посредник: [pɐˈsrʲednʲɪk]

Note on посредник: The stress is on the second syllable, and the "ср" cluster requires smooth articulation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person who arranges transactions (e.g., in finance or real estate)

Translation(s) & Context:

• брокер - Used specifically in financial or stock market contexts (e.g., stock broker).
• посредник - More general, can refer to any middleman or intermediary, not limited to finance.

Usage Examples:

• Я нанял брокера для покупки акций.

  I hired a broker to buy stocks.

• Брокер помог мне найти выгодную сделку.

  The broker helped me find a profitable deal.

• Посредник связал нас с продавцом недвижимости.

  The intermediary connected us with the real estate seller.

• Без посредника сделка бы не состоялась.

  Without the intermediary, the deal would not have happened.

• Посредник взял комиссию за свои услуги.

  The intermediary took a commission for their services.

2. A mediator in negotiations or disputes

Translation(s) & Context:

• посредник - Commonly used for someone mediating between parties in non-financial contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он выступил как посредник в переговорах.

  He acted as a mediator in the negotiations.

• Нам нужен был посредник, чтобы разрешить конфликт.

  We needed a mediator to resolve the conflict.

• Посредник помог достичь соглашения.

  The mediator helped reach an agreement.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

брокер (noun, masculine, animate): Follows the standard second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	брокер	брокеры
Genitive	брокера	брокеров
Dative	брокеру	брокерам
Accusative	брокера	брокеров
Instrumental	брокером	брокерами
Prepositional	о брокере	о брокерах

посредник (noun, masculine, animate): Also follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	посредник	посредники
Genitive	посредника	посредников
Dative	посреднику	посредникам
Accusative	посредника	посредников
Instrumental	посредником	посредниками
Prepositional	о посреднике	о посредниках

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for брокер:

• агент
• маклер

Note: "маклер" is less common and often used in historical or specific regional contexts.

Synonyms for посредник:

• переговорщик
• посланник

Antonyms for посредник:

• сторона (direct party)

Related Phrases:

• фондовый брокер - Stock broker; refers specifically to a broker dealing with stocks and securities.
• страховой брокер - Insurance broker; a broker specializing in insurance products.
• действовать как посредник - To act as a mediator; commonly used in conflict resolution or negotiations.

Usage Notes:

• "брокер" is a loanword from English and is almost exclusively used in professional or financial contexts. It does not carry the broader meaning of "mediator" outside business.
• "посредник" is more versatile and can be used in everyday language to describe any kind of middleman or mediator, whether in business or personal matters.
• When choosing between the two, consider the context: use "брокер" for financial or specialized brokers, and "посредник" for general intermediaries or mediators.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "брокер" in non-financial mediation contexts. For example, saying "Он был брокером в споре" (He was a broker in the dispute) is incorrect.
  Correct Usage: Use "посредник" instead: "Он был посредником в споре."
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation, especially with "посредник." Stressing the first syllable ("ПОсредник") changes the meaning or sounds unnatural.
  Correct Usage: Stress the second syllable: [pɐˈsrʲednʲɪk].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking countries, the term "брокер" became widely used after the 1990s with the rise of market economies and stock trading. It often carries a modern, Western connotation compared to the more traditional "посредник," which has been in use for centuries to describe intermediaries in various social and economic contexts.

Related Concepts:

• агентство (agency)
• сделка (deal/transaction)
• переговоры (negotiations)