Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Collection'

English Word: Collection

Key Russian Translations:

• коллекция [kɐˈlʲekt͡sɨjə] - [Formal/Neutral, Singular]
• собрание [sɐˈbranʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often used for gatherings or collections of works]
• подборка [pɐdˈborkə] - [Informal, Often used for curated selections]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like art, hobbies, or literature)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate, varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

коллекция: [kɐˈlʲekt͡sɨjə]

Note on коллекция: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'ц' sounds like 'ts'.

собрание: [sɐˈbranʲɪjə]

Note on собрание: Stress on the second syllable; 'р' is rolled slightly.

подборка: [pɐdˈborkə]

Note on подборка: Stress on the second syllable; short, crisp 'о' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A group of objects gathered together (e.g., art, stamps)

Translation(s) & Context:

• коллекция - Used for personal or curated sets of items (e.g., a stamp collection).

Usage Examples:

• У меня большая коллекция марок.

  I have a large collection of stamps.

• Её коллекция картин впечатляет.

  Her collection of paintings is impressive.

• Он начал собирать коллекцию монет в детстве.

  He started collecting a coin collection in childhood.

2. A gathering or assembly of works or people

Translation(s) & Context:

• собрание - Often refers to a formal collection of works or a meeting (e.g., a collection of essays or an assembly).

Usage Examples:

• Это собрание сочинений Пушкина.

  This is a collection of Pushkin’s works.

• На собрании обсудили важные вопросы.

  Important issues were discussed at the assembly (collection of people).

3. A curated selection (e.g., of articles, music)

Translation(s) & Context:

• подборка - Used for informal or thematic selections (e.g., a playlist or article compilation).

Usage Examples:

• Я сделал подборку лучших песен.

  I made a collection of the best songs.

• Эта подборка статей очень полезна.

  This collection of articles is very useful.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

коллекция (Noun, Feminine): Follows the first declension pattern in Russian. Below is the declension table for singular and plural forms:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	коллекция	коллекции
Genitive	коллекции	коллекций
Dative	коллекции	коллекциям
Accusative	коллекцию	коллекции
Instrumental	коллекцией	коллекциями
Prepositional	коллекции	коллекциях

собрание (Noun, Neuter): Follows the second declension pattern. It is often used in formal contexts and can refer to both a collection and a meeting.

подборка (Noun, Feminine): Follows the first declension pattern, similar to коллекция, but is less formal.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for коллекция:

• набор (set, often for smaller collections)
• ассортимент (assortment, often commercial)

Note: 'набор' is more casual and often implies a smaller or practical set, while 'ассортимент' is used in retail or variety contexts.

Antonyms for коллекция:

• разброс (scattering, dispersion)

Related Phrases:

• собирать коллекцию - To build a collection (used for hobbies or personal interests).
• полное собрание сочинений - Complete collection of works (used for literature or academic works).
• подборка материалов - Selection of materials (used for curated content).

Usage Notes:

• 'коллекция' is the most direct and widely used translation for 'collection' when referring to physical or personal collections (e.g., stamps, art).
• 'собрание' is more formal and can mean both a collection of works and a gathering of people, so context is key when choosing this term.
• 'подборка' is best for informal or curated selections, such as playlists or article compilations, and is less appropriate for tangible collections.
• Pay attention to grammatical agreement; all three nouns have different genders and declension patterns which affect adjective and verb agreement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'собрание' to refer to a personal hobby collection. Incorrect: У меня собрание марок. Correct: У меня коллекция марок. Explanation: 'собрание' is too formal and often implies a meeting or published works, not personal items.
• Error: Misusing cases due to declension errors. Incorrect: Я купил коллекция. Correct: Я купил коллекцию. Explanation: 'коллекция' must be in the accusative case (коллекцию) after verbs like 'купить' (to buy).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, collecting items (e.g., stamps, coins, or Soviet memorabilia) has historically been a popular hobby, especially during the Soviet era when access to goods was limited. The word 'коллекция' often carries a sense of pride or personal achievement. Additionally, 'собрание' may evoke associations with formal academic or literary contexts, such as the collected works of famous Russian authors.

Related Concepts:

• хобби (hobby)
• архив (archive)
• музей (museum)