Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clergy'

English Word: clergy

Key Russian Translations:

• духовенство [dʊxɐˈvʲenstvə] - [Formal, Neutral, Collective Noun]
• священство [svʲɪˈɕːenstvə] - [Formal, Often Religious Context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal or religious discussions)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations due to formal context and specific usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

духовенство: [dʊxɐˈvʲenstvə]

Note on духовенство: Stress falls on the third syllable. The 'х' sound is a guttural fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers.

священство: [svʲɪˈɕːenstvə]

Note on священство: Stress on the second syllable. The 'щ' sound is a soft, prolonged 'sh' sound, unique to Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General term for religious leaders as a group:

Translation(s) & Context:

• духовенство - Used to refer to the collective body of clergy, often in a neutral or formal tone.

Usage Examples:

• Духовенство играет важную роль в обществе.

  The clergy plays an important role in society.

• В средние века духовенство обладало большой властью.

  In the Middle Ages, the clergy held great power.

• Духовенство поддержало реформы церкви.

  The clergy supported the church reforms.

2. Priesthood or specific ordained role:

Translation(s) & Context:

• священство - Refers more specifically to the priesthood or the state of being ordained, often with a religious or spiritual connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он посвятил свою жизнь священству.

  He dedicated his life to the priesthood.

• Священство требует глубокого духовного призвания.

  The priesthood requires a deep spiritual calling.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

духовенство: Neuter noun, collective, does not have a plural form. It follows the 2nd declension pattern for neuter nouns.

священство: Neuter noun, also collective, no plural form. Follows a similar 2nd declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for духовенство:

• клир
• священнослужители

Note: 'клир' is more specific to the Orthodox Church hierarchy, while 'священнослужители' is a broader term for religious servants.

Antonyms:

• миряне (laypeople)

Related Phrases:

• высшее духовенство - Refers to the higher clergy or church hierarchy.
• принадлежать к духовенству - Means "to belong to the clergy."
• духовное призвание священства - Refers to the spiritual calling of the priesthood.

Usage Notes:

• 'духовенство' is the more general and neutral term for "clergy" as a collective group, suitable for most formal and academic contexts.

• 'священство' emphasizes the spiritual or ordained aspect of clergy, often used in religious discussions or when referring to the priesthood specifically.

• Both terms are formal and rarely used in casual conversation. They are mostly encountered in written texts or formal speeches.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'священство' to refer to the general clergy as a group. Incorrect: "Священство собирается на собрание" (intended: The clergy gathers for a meeting). Correct: "Духовенство собирается на собрание." Explanation: 'священство' refers more to the concept of priesthood, not the group of people.

• Error: Misusing cases due to lack of understanding of declension. Incorrect: "Я уважаю духовенство" (correct form, but learners might omit case endings). Explanation: Ensure proper case usage, especially in prepositional phrases like "о духовенстве."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the clergy, especially within the Orthodox Church, holds significant historical and spiritual importance. Terms like 'духовенство' and 'священство' often evoke associations with the Russian Orthodox tradition, which has shaped much of the country's history and identity. Respectful usage of these terms is important in formal or religious settings.

Related Concepts:

• церковь (church)
• священник (priest)
• епископ (bishop)
• монашество (monasticism)