Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Civic'

English Word: civic

Key Russian Translations:

• гражданский [ɡrɐˈʐdanskʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• общественный [ɐpˈɕːestvʲɪnnɨj] - [Formal/Informal, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal and academic contexts)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate, due to contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гражданский: [ɡrɐˈʐdanskʲɪj]

Note on гражданский: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

общественный: [ɐpˈɕːestvʲɪnnɨj]

Note on общественный: Stress on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a long, soft "sh" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Related to citizens or citizenship

Translation(s) & Context:

• гражданский - Used in formal contexts to describe something related to citizens or civil rights (e.g., civic duties).

Usage Examples:

• Гражданский долг каждого человека - участвовать в выборах.

  The civic duty of every person is to participate in elections.

• Гражданские права защищены конституцией.

  Civic rights are protected by the constitution.

• Он проявил гражданскую ответственность, сообщив о проблеме.

  He showed civic responsibility by reporting the issue.

2. Related to community or public affairs

Translation(s) & Context:

• общественный - Used for community or public matters, often less formal than "гражданский."

Usage Examples:

• Общественная инициатива помогла очистить парк.

  A civic initiative helped clean up the park.

• Она активно участвует в общественной жизни города.

  She actively participates in the civic life of the city.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

гражданский (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective patterns.

общественный (Adjective): Follows similar declension rules as above.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for гражданский:

• цивильный (less common, formal)

Synonyms for общественный:

• публичный (public, often interchangeable)
• социальный (social, broader context)

Antonyms:

• частный (private, opposite of public/civic)
• личный (personal, opposite of civic/community-related)

Note: "общественный" and "публичный" may overlap, but "публичный" often implies something openly accessible, while "общественный" emphasizes community involvement.

Related Phrases:

• гражданская позиция - civic stance (refers to one’s attitude toward civic duties or societal issues)
• общественная деятельность - civic activity (involvement in community or public affairs)
• общественный транспорт - public transport (a common civic service)

Usage Notes:

• "гражданский" is more formal and often tied to legal or citizenship-related contexts, such as rights and duties. Use it when referring to civic responsibilities or laws.
• "общественный" is broader and can apply to community or public matters. It is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between the two translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "общественный" when referring to legal civic duties. Incorrect: "общественные права" (public rights). Correct: "гражданские права" (civic rights). Explanation: "общественный" implies general public matters, not legal rights tied to citizenship.
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation, e.g., stressing the first syllable of "гражданский." Correct stress is on the second syllable: [ɡrɐˈʐdanskʲɪj].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "гражданский" often carries a strong historical connotation tied to Soviet-era emphasis on civic duties and collective responsibility. Terms like "гражданская ответственность" (civic responsibility) are still widely used in discussions about societal roles.

Related Concepts:

• патриотизм (patriotism)
• общество (society)
• государство (state)