Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Chieftain'

English Word: chieftain

Key Russian Translations:

• вождь [vɐʐdʲ] - [Formal, Often Historical or Tribal Context]
• главарь [ɡlɐˈvarʲ] - [Informal, Often Negative or Criminal Context]
• предводитель [prʲɪdvɐˈdʲitʲɪlʲ] - [Formal, Leadership Context]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like history or leadership)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; varies by context and translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вождь: [vɐʐdʲ]

Note on вождь: The "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers. It resembles the "s" in "measure" but with a harder, more rolled articulation.

главарь: [ɡlɐˈvarʲ]

предводитель: [prʲɪdvɐˈdʲitʲɪlʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Tribal or Historical Leader

Translation(s) & Context:

• вождь - Commonly used for tribal leaders or historical figures (e.g., a chief of a tribe or a revolutionary leader).

Usage Examples:

• Вождь племени был мудрым и справедливым.

  The chieftain of the tribe was wise and just.

• Вождь революции вдохновил массы.

  The chieftain of the revolution inspired the masses.

2. Leader of a Group (Often Negative or Informal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• главарь - Used for a leader of a gang or criminal group, carries a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Главарь банды был арестован вчера.

  The chieftain of the gang was arrested yesterday.

• Главарь приказал своим людям скрыться.

  The chieftain ordered his men to hide.

3. General Leader or Commander

Translation(s) & Context:

• предводитель - Refers to a leader or commander, often in a formal or literary context.

Usage Examples:

• Предводитель войска повёл солдат в бой.

  The chieftain of the army led the soldiers into battle.

• Он был предводителем этого движения.

  He was the chieftain of this movement.

• Предводитель всегда шёл впереди.

  The chieftain always walked ahead.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вождь (noun, masculine):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	вождь	вожди
Genitive	вождя	вождей
Dative	вождю	вождям
Accusative	вождя	вождей
Instrumental	вождём	вождями
Prepositional	о вожде	о вождях

главарь (noun, masculine): Follows similar declension patterns as "вождь."

предводитель (noun, masculine): Regular masculine noun declension as above, with a longer stem.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for вождь:

• лидер
• руководитель

Note: "лидер" is more modern and general, while "руководитель" is often used in organizational contexts.

Antonyms for вождь:

• подчинённый
• последователь

Related Phrases:

• вождь революции - "chieftain of the revolution" (a historical or symbolic leader).
• главарь шайки - "chieftain of a gang" (leader of a criminal group).
• предводитель восстания - "chieftain of the uprising" (leader of a rebellion).

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "вождь," "главарь," and "предводитель" depends heavily on context and tone. "вождь" is often historical or symbolic, "главарь" has a negative connotation, and "предводитель" is formal or literary.
• English speakers should avoid overusing "вождь" in modern contexts, as it can sound outdated or overly dramatic unless referring to tribal or historical leaders.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "главарь" in a positive context. For example, saying "Он был главарём движения" (He was the chieftain of the movement) implies a criminal or negative tone. Correct usage would be "предводитель движения" for a neutral or positive tone.

Error 2: Mispronouncing "вождь" by stressing the wrong syllable. The stress is on "вождь" [vɐʐdʲ], not "вóждь."

Cultural Notes:

The term "вождь" carries significant historical weight in Russian, often associated with figures like Lenin, who was referred to as "вождь революции" (chieftain of the revolution). Using it in casual contexts may evoke unintended historical or political connotations.

Related Concepts:

• лидерство (leadership)
• власть (power)
• командир (commander)