Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clique'

English Word: clique

Key Russian Translations:

• клика [ˈklʲikə] - [Informal, often used in social or political contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of social dynamics but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of social nuances and basic Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клика: [ˈklʲikə]

Note on клика: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'к' is pronounced with a palatalized 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) affecting the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A small, exclusive group of people with shared interests or exclusivity.

Translation(s) & Context:

• клика - Used in informal settings to describe a tight-knit, often exclusive social or political group, such as in schools, workplaces, or politics.

Usage Examples:

• В школе есть клика популярных учеников, которые не пускают других в свой круг.

  In school, there is a clique of popular students who don't let others into their circle.

• Эта клика политиков контролирует все решения в партии.

  This clique of politicians controls all decisions in the party.

• В компании образовалась клика, где только старшие менеджеры решают всё.

  In the company, a clique has formed where only senior managers decide everything.

• Молодёжная клика собирается каждые выходные в парке.

  The youth clique gathers every weekend in the park.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"клика" is a feminine noun of the second declension in Russian. It follows standard patterns for most Russian nouns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic declensions are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • группа (gruppa) - More neutral, used for any group, but less implies exclusivity.
  • круг (krug) - Refers to a circle of people, often with a sense of closeness; suitable in social contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • открытое общество (otkrytoye obshchestvo) - Open society, contrasting the closed nature of a clique.
  • масса (massa) - The masses or crowd, implying inclusivity rather than exclusivity.

Related Phrases:

• Закрытая клика (Zakrytaya klička) - A closed clique; refers to an exclusive group that is hard to join. (Used to describe highly selective social circles.)
• Влиятельная клика (Vliyatel'naya klička) - Influential clique; often in political contexts to denote a powerful subgroup. (Common in discussions of power dynamics.)
• Школьная клика (Shkol'naya klička) - School clique; typically refers to peer groups in educational settings. (Helps illustrate social hierarchies among youth.)

Usage Notes:

"Клика" directly corresponds to the English "clique" in meaning an exclusive group, but it's more commonly used in Russian for negative or critical contexts, such as in politics or social commentary. Be mindful of the informal tone; it's not suitable for very formal writing. When choosing between synonyms like "группа" or "круг," opt for "клика" if the exclusivity and potential negativity are key. Grammatically, always decline it according to the sentence's case to maintain correct Russian syntax.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget to decline "клика" properly. For example, incorrect: "Я видел клика" (should be "Я видел клику" in accusative case). Correct usage: "Я видел клику политиков." Explanation: Russian nouns change endings based on case, so always check the context.

• Confusing it with "клик" (click, as in computer mouse), which is a false cognate. Incorrect example: Using "клика" to mean a mouse click. Correct: Use "щелчок" or "нажатие" for that. Explanation: Pay attention to context to avoid mix-ups with similar-sounding words.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a "клика" often carries connotations of Soviet-era politics, where small groups of influential figures would dominate decisions, leading to distrust of exclusive circles. This word can evoke historical references to elite factions, helping users understand deeper social dynamics in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• элита (élita) - Elite
• группировка (gruppirovka) - Faction or grouping
• клан (klan) - Clan