Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clientele'

English Word: clientele

Key Russian Translations:

• клиентела /klʲiˈɛntʲɪlə/ - [Formal, Used in business or professional contexts]
• клиенты /ˈklʲiɛntɨ/ - [Informal, Plural, General reference to customers]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal business writing and discussions, but less frequent in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and formal vocabulary; for 'клиентела', it is B2, while 'клиенты' is A2-B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клиентела: /klʲiˈɛntʲɪlə/

клиенты: /ˈklʲiɛntɨ/

Note on клиентела: The stress is on the third syllable ('tel'), and the 'л' sound is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; pronounce it with a soft 'l' as in 'million'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The group of customers or clients of a business, often implying a regular or specific demographic.

Translation(s) & Context:

• клиентела - Used in formal contexts, such as marketing or business reports, to refer to a loyal customer base.
• клиенты - Applied in informal or everyday situations, emphasizing a plural group without the formal connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Наш ресторан гордится своей верной клиентелой, которая возвращается из года в год.

  Our restaurant prides itself on its loyal clientele, who return year after year.

• В этом бутике обслуживают исключительно богатую клиентелу, предпочитающую эксклюзивные бренды.

  This boutique caters exclusively to a wealthy clientele that prefers exclusive brands.

• Клиенты нашего отеля в основном — бизнесмены, но мы также привлекаем туристов.

  The clientele of our hotel is mainly businesspeople, but we also attract tourists.

• Из-за пандемии, клиентела кафе значительно сократилась, и владельцы ввели новые меры безопасности.

  Due to the pandemic, the clientele of the cafe has significantly decreased, and the owners introduced new safety measures.

• Молодежная клиентела предпочитает онлайн-заказы, в то время как старшее поколение выбирает личные визиты.

  The younger clientele prefers online orders, while the older generation opts for in-person visits.

Secondary meaning: A specific type or segment of customers in a service industry.

Translation(s) & Context:

• клиентела - In contexts like law or consulting, to denote a specialized group.

Usage Examples:

• Адвокатская фирма нацелена на клиентелу из корпоративного сектора.

  The law firm targets a clientele from the corporate sector.

• Эта галерея искусства привлекает клиентелу, интересующуюся современным авангардом.

  This art gallery attracts a clientele interested in modern avant-garde.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Клиентела' is a feminine noun in the first declension, which follows regular patterns in Russian. It changes based on case and number. 'Клиенты' is a plural form of the masculine noun 'клиент' and also follows standard declensions.

Note: These are standard inflections; 'клиентела' does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • посетители (visitors; more general and less formal)
  • покупатели (buyers; specific to retail contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • конкуренты (competitors; implies rivalry in business)

Related Phrases:

• Постоянная клиентела - Refers to a regular or loyal customer base.
• Целевая клиентела - Means target clientele, as in marketing strategies.
• Элитная клиентела - Denotes an exclusive or high-end clientele.

Usage Notes:

'Клиентела' is the most direct and formal equivalent to 'clientele' in English, often used in professional settings like business reports or advertising. Choose 'клиенты' for more casual or plural references. Be mindful of Russian's case system; for example, in genitive contexts (e.g., "of the clientele"), use 'клиентелы'. This word pair highlights differences in formality: English 'clientele' is inherently somewhat formal, while Russian offers options based on context. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; adapt to the sentence's grammatical structure.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'клиентела' with 'клиент' (singular client): Beginners might say "мой клиент" when meaning "my clientele," which is incorrect. Correct usage: "моя клиентела" for the group. Error example: "Я имею клиент" (wrong) vs. "У меня есть клиентела" (correct) – the latter conveys the collective sense.
• Overusing in informal speech: English speakers might inappropriately use 'клиентела' in casual talk; instead, opt for 'клиенты'. Error: "Мои друзья — моя клиентела" (sounds overly formal) vs. "Мои друзья — мои клиенты" (more natural).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, especially in business and service industries, 'клиентела' often carries connotations of loyalty and exclusivity, reflecting the importance of personal relationships in Russian commerce. For instance, in smaller businesses or traditional markets, building a 'клиентела' can involve social elements like hospitality, which aligns with Russia's emphasis on community and trust in professional dealings.

Related Concepts:

• рынок (market)
• бизнес (business)
• потребители (consumers)