Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cadre'

English Word: cadre

Key Russian Translations:

• кадр [kadr] - [Neutral, Singular, Often used in professional or military contexts]
• кадры [kadry] - [Neutral, Plural, Refers to personnel or staff]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

кадр: [kadr]

Note on кадр: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'r' sound is rolled slightly, typical of Russian phonetics.

кадры: [kadry]

Note on кадры: Stress remains on the first syllable even in plural form. The 'ы' sound is a distinct Russian vowel, pronounced as a short 'i'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A small group of trained people (e.g., in military or political contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кадр - Used for a single member or a small core group, often in military or organizational settings.

Usage Examples:

• Этот кадр был подготовлен для специальной операции.

  This cadre was trained for a special operation.

• Кадр офицеров готов к выполнению задач.

  The cadre of officers is ready to carry out tasks.

• Он был ключевым кадром в этой организации.

  He was a key cadre in this organization.

2. Personnel or staff (collective term)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кадры - Refers to a group of employees or workers, often in professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Кадры компании нуждаются в обучении.

  The company's staff needs training.

• Мы ищем новые кадры для нашего проекта.

  We are looking for new personnel for our project.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кадр (Singular, Masculine Noun):

кадры (Plural, Masculine Noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for кадр/кадры:

• специалист (specialist, for singular кадр)
• персонал (personnel, for plural кадры)
• сотрудники (employees, for plural кадры)

Note: "специалист" is more specific to skilled individuals, while "персонал" and "сотрудники" are broader terms for staff.

Antonyms for кадр/кадры:

• любитель (amateur, for singular кадр)

Related Phrases:

• кадровый вопрос - Personnel issue (used in discussions about staffing or HR problems)
• кадровый резерв - Personnel reserve (refers to a pool of potential employees or candidates)
• подготовка кадров - Staff training (used in professional development contexts)

Usage Notes:

• The singular "кадр" often refers to an individual or a small core group, especially in military or political contexts, while the plural "кадры" is more commonly used to denote staff or personnel in general.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between singular and plural forms, as "кадры" is far more frequent in everyday business or organizational speech.
• In Russian, "кадр" can also mean "frame" (as in a photo or movie frame), so context is crucial to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кадр" instead of "кадры" when referring to a group of people.
  Incorrect: У нас новый кадр в компании.
  Correct: У нас новые кадры в компании.
  Explanation: "Кадр" in singular often implies a single key person or a frame, while "кадры" is used for multiple staff members.
• Error: Mispronouncing "кадры" with stress on the second syllable.
  Incorrect Pronunciation: [ka-DRY]
  Correct Pronunciation: [KAD-ry]
  Explanation: Stress in Russian nouns like "кадры" typically remains on the root syllable.

Cultural Notes:

In Soviet and post-Soviet contexts, "кадры" often carried a significant connotation related to workforce planning and state-organized labor. The phrase "кадры решают всё" ("personnel decide everything") was a famous Soviet slogan emphasizing the importance of skilled workers and loyal staff in achieving goals.

Related Concepts:

• персонал (personnel)
• трудовые ресурсы (labor resources)
• обучение (training)