Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cadet'

English Word: cadet

Key Russian Translations:

• курсант [kʊrˈsant] - [Formal, Used for military or police trainees]
• кадет [kɐˈdʲet] - [Formal, Historical, Often refers to students in pre-revolutionary military schools]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like military or educational settings)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

курсант: [kʊrˈsant]

Note on курсант: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'р' sound is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

кадет: [kɐˈdʲet]

Note on кадет: Stress on the second syllable. The 'д' is palatalized, sounding softer due to the following 'е'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A young trainee in a military or police academy

Translation(s) & Context:

• курсант - Used for students training in military, naval, or police academies in modern Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Курсант военной академии готовится к экзаменам.

  A cadet at the military academy is preparing for exams.

• Курсанты проходят интенсивную физическую подготовку.

  Cadets undergo intensive physical training.

• Этот курсант показал отличные результаты на стрельбище.

  This cadet showed excellent results at the shooting range.

2. A student in a historical military school (pre-revolutionary Russia)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кадет - Refers to students of military schools in the Russian Empire, often carries a historical or nostalgic tone.

Usage Examples:

• Мой прадед был кадетом в царской России.

  My great-grandfather was a cadet in tsarist Russia.

• Кадеты того времени получали строгое воспитание.

  Cadets of that time received a strict upbringing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

курсант (kursant) - Noun, Masculine, Animate

Declension follows the standard masculine pattern for animate nouns in Russian.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	курсант	курсанты
Genitive	курсанта	курсантов
Dative	курсанту	курсантам
Accusative	курсанта	курсантов
Instrumental	курсантом	курсантами
Prepositional	о курсанте	о курсантах

кадет (kadet) - Noun, Masculine, Animate

Declension follows the standard masculine pattern for animate nouns in Russian.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	кадет	кадеты
Genitive	кадета	кадетов
Dative	кадету	кадетам
Accusative	кадета	кадетов
Instrumental	кадетом	кадетами
Prepositional	о кадете	о кадетах

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for курсант:

• ученик (in broader educational contexts)
• слушатель (used for certain training programs)

Note: While "ученик" is more general, it lacks the specific military connotation of "курсант".

Antonyms for курсант:

• офицер (officer, someone who has completed training)

Related Phrases:

• курсант военного училища - Cadet of a military school (used to specify the type of institution).
• кадетский корпус - Cadet corps (historical term for military schools in tsarist Russia).
• присяга курсанта - Cadet’s oath (refers to the formal pledge taken by trainees).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between translations: Use "курсант" for modern contexts involving military or police trainees. Use "кадет" when referring to historical contexts or pre-revolutionary military schools.
• Register: Both terms are formal and typically used in professional or educational settings.
• Grammar: As masculine animate nouns, both "курсант" and "кадет" take the genitive form in the accusative case, which is a common point of confusion for learners.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кадет" in modern contexts. Incorrect: "Он кадет военной академии." Correct: "Он курсант военной академии." (Explanation: "кадет" is outdated for modern trainees.)
• Error: Incorrect declension in accusative case. Incorrect: "Я вижу курсант." Correct: "Я вижу курсанта." (Explanation: Animate masculine nouns take the genitive form in accusative.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "кадет" evokes a sense of nostalgia for the pre-revolutionary era, often associated with aristocratic upbringing and strict military discipline. Modern "курсант" reflects the Soviet and post-Soviet system of military training, with a more practical, less romanticized connotation. Cadet corps or schools are sometimes revived in modern Russia as a way to instill patriotic values in youth.

Related Concepts:

• военное училище (military school)
• присяга (oath)
• офицер (officer)