Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Citizenship'

English Word: Citizenship

Key Russian Translations:

• гражданство [ˈɡrɐʐdɐnstvə] - [Formal, Neutral]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гражданство: [ˈɡrɐʐdɐnstvə]

Note on гражданство: Stress falls on the first syllable, and the "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Legal Status of Belonging to a Country

Translation(s) & Context:

• гражданство - Used in formal and legal contexts to refer to the status of being a citizen of a country.

Usage Examples:

• Он получил гражданство России в прошлом году.

  He received Russian citizenship last year.

• Гражданство определяет ваши права и обязанности.

  Citizenship determines your rights and obligations.

• У неё двойное гражданство: США и Канады.

  She has dual citizenship: USA and Canada.

• Процесс получения гражданства может занять годы.

  The process of obtaining citizenship can take years.

• Гражданство этой страны даёт право на безвизовый въезд.

  Citizenship of this country grants visa-free entry.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The word гражданство is a neuter noun in Russian. It follows the standard declension pattern for neuter nouns ending in "-о".

Note: This noun does not typically have a plural form, as it refers to an abstract concept.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• подданство (less common, often used in historical contexts)

Note: подданство is more archaic and often implies allegiance to a monarch rather than a modern state.

Antonyms:

• безгражданство (statelessness)

Related Phrases:

• двойное гражданство - Dual citizenship, referring to holding citizenship of two countries.
• получить гражданство - To obtain citizenship, used in the context of naturalization.
• лишить гражданства - To deprive of citizenship, used in legal contexts.

Usage Notes:

• The term гражданство is the standard and most widely used translation for "citizenship" in Russian, applicable in legal, formal, and everyday contexts.
• It is often used in discussions of nationality, legal rights, and state affiliation, but it does not carry the same connotations of civic duty or identity as "citizenship" might in English.
• Be mindful of the context when translating related terms like "nationality," which in Russian is often rendered as национальность (ethnic identity) rather than гражданство.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing гражданство (citizenship) with национальность (ethnic nationality). For example, saying "Моё гражданство - русский" instead of "Моя национальность - русский" or "У меня гражданство России". Explanation: Гражданство refers to legal affiliation with a state, not ethnicity.
• Error: Incorrect case usage, such as using nominative case after prepositions. For example, "Я прошу о гражданство" instead of "Я прошу о гражданстве". Explanation: Russian prepositions require specific cases; "о" (about) requires the prepositional case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking countries, the concept of гражданство is closely tied to legal and bureaucratic processes. Historically, during the Soviet era, citizenship was a critical marker of identity and rights, and discussions of dual citizenship remain sensitive due to legal restrictions in some post-Soviet states.

Related Concepts:

• национальность (nationality/ethnicity)
• паспорт (passport)
• регистрация (registration/residency)