Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Chairman'

English Word: Chairman

Key Russian Translations:

• председатель [prʲɪdʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ] - [Formal, Commonly Used]
• глава [ɡlɐˈva] - [Formal, Often Used for Head of Organization]

Frequency: High (Widely used in formal and professional contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "председатель"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "глава" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

председатель: [prʲɪdʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ]

Note on председатель: Stress falls on the third syllable. The soft "д" sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

глава: [ɡlɐˈva]

Note on глава: Stress is on the second syllable. The "а" sounds are pronounced clearly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Leader of a Meeting or Committee

Translation(s) & Context:

• председатель - Used for someone presiding over a meeting, committee, or organization.

Usage Examples:

• Председатель открыл собрание ровно в девять часов.

  The chairman opened the meeting exactly at nine o'clock.

• Она была избрана председателем совета директоров.

  She was elected chairman of the board of directors.

• Председатель попросил всех участников высказаться.

  The chairman asked all participants to speak up.

2. Head of an Organization or Group

Translation(s) & Context:

• глава - Refers to the head or leader of a larger entity, often with broader authority.
• председатель - Can also be used, but less common in this broader sense.

Usage Examples:

• Глава компании объявил о новой стратегии развития.

  The chairman of the company announced a new development strategy.

• Он является главой профсоюза уже десять лет.

  He has been the chairman of the union for ten years.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

председатель (Masculine Noun): Follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns. Below is the declension table:

глава (Feminine Noun): Follows the first declension pattern глава has a slightly irregular stress pattern in some forms, but generally follows standard feminine noun declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for председатель:

• руководитель (leader, manager - broader term)
• директор (director - often used in business contexts)

Synonyms for глава:

• лидер (leader - more informal or ideological)
• начальник (chief, boss - often used in hierarchical structures)

Antonyms:

• подчинённый (subordinate)
• сотрудник (employee)

Related Phrases:

• председатель собрания - Chairman of the meeting (used for someone leading a specific event).
• глава государства - Head of state (used in political contexts).
• председатель комиссии - Chairman of the commission (specific to committees or commissions).

Usage Notes:

• "председатель" is the most direct and widely used translation for "chairman" in the context of meetings or committees. It is gender-neutral in modern usage, though historically it implied a male speaker.
• "глава" is used for higher-level leadership positions, often implying significant authority, such as the head of a company or state. It is less tied to procedural roles like chairing a meeting.
• Be cautious with tone and formality: "глава" can sound more imposing or official than "председатель."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "глава" when referring to the chairman of a small meeting.
  Incorrect: Глава собрания сказал...
  Correct: Председатель собрания сказал...
  Explanation: "глава" implies a broader or higher authority, not suitable for temporary or procedural roles.
• Error: Incorrect gender agreement when using "председатель" for a female.
  Incorrect: Председатель была избрана... (mixing masculine and feminine forms)
  Correct: Председатель был избран... (if male) or use context to clarify.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking cultures, the role of a "председатель" or "глава" often carries significant respect and authority, especially in formal or political contexts. Historically, during the Soviet era, "председатель" was a common title for leaders of collective farms (kolkhozes) or local councils, which may evoke specific connotations for older generations.

Related Concepts:

• руководство (leadership)
• власть (power, authority)
• управление (management)