Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Clergyman'

English Word: Clergyman

Key Russian Translations:

• священник [svʲɪˈɕːenːɪk] - [Formal, Most Common]
• духовное лицо [dʊˈxovnəjə ˈlʲit͡sə] - [Formal, Broader Term]
• поп [pop] - [Informal, Sometimes Pejorative]

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

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "священник"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "духовное лицо" due to nuanced usage; A2 (Beginner) for "поп"

Pronunciation (Russian):

священник: [svʲɪˈɕːenːɪk]

Note on священник: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian, often challenging for English speakers.

духовное лицо: [dʊˈxovnəjə ˈlʲit͡sə]

Note on духовное лицо: Stress on the first syllable of both words. "лицо" literally means "face" but here refers to "person."

поп: [pop]

Note on поп: A short, simple word with stress on the single syllable. Be cautious of tone as it can sound derogatory.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A member of the clergy, typically a priest in Christian contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• священник - Most direct and common translation, used for priests in the Orthodox Church or general Christian contexts.
• духовное лицо - A broader, formal term meaning "spiritual person," often used in official or legal contexts to refer to any clergy member.

Usage Examples:

• Священник провёл службу в церкви.

  The clergyman conducted a service in the church.

• Мы обратились к священнику за советом.

  We turned to the clergyman for advice.

• Духовное лицо имеет право на особый статус.

  A clergyman has the right to a special status.

2. Informal or colloquial reference to a priest

Translation(s) & Context:

• поп - Informal and sometimes derogatory term for a priest, often used in casual or critical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот поп только и делает, что деньги собирает.

  This clergyman only collects money.

• В деревне поп был уважаемым человеком.

  In the village, the clergyman was a respected person.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

священник (Noun, Masculine, Animate):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	священник	священники
Genitive	священника	священников
Dative	священнику	священникам
Accusative	священника	священников
Instrumental	священником	священниками
Prepositional	о священнике	о священниках

духовное лицо (Compound Noun Phrase, Neuter): As a phrase, it declines based on "лицо" (neuter). It is less commonly inflected in casual speech but follows standard neuter noun declension for "лицо."

поп (Noun, Masculine, Animate): Follows a simpler masculine declension pattern similar to "священник."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for священник:

• иерей
• пастырь (literary)

Note: "иерей" is a more specific term often used in Orthodox contexts, while "пастырь" (shepherd) is metaphorical and literary.

Antonyms:

• мирянин (layperson)

Related Phrases:

• священник православной церкви - Orthodox Church clergyman
• духовное лицо общины - Spiritual leader of the community
• поп в деревне - Village priest (informal)

Usage Notes:

• "священник" is the safest and most neutral term for a clergyman, especially in the context of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the predominant religious institution in Russia.
• "духовное лицо" is more formal and can refer to clergy from any religion, often used in legal or official documents.
• "поп" should be used with caution as it can be perceived as disrespectful or mocking, depending on the tone and context.
• Unlike English, Russian often specifies the religious context of a clergyman, so additional descriptors (e.g., "православный священник" for Orthodox priest) are common.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "поп" in formal or respectful contexts.
  Incorrect: Уважаемый поп, благословите нас. (Respected pop, bless us.)
  Correct: Уважаемый священник, благословите нас. (Respected clergyman, bless us.)
  Explanation: "поп" is informal and can sound derogatory; "священник" is the appropriate choice for respectful address.
• Error: Misusing "духовное лицо" as a direct synonym for "священник."
  Incorrect: Духовное лицо крестил ребёнка. (The spiritual person baptized the child.)
  Correct: Священник крестил ребёнка. (The clergyman baptized the child.)
  Explanation: "духовное лицо" is too broad and formal for everyday actions like baptizing; use "священник" instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "священник" is strongly associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, which plays a significant role in national identity and history. Clergymen are often addressed with respect using terms like "отец" (Father) followed by their name (e.g., "Отец Иван"). The informal "поп" reflects historical tensions or satire regarding the clergy, especially in Soviet-era literature or humor.

Related Concepts:

• церковь (church)
• служба (service)
• монах (monk)
• епископ (bishop)