Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Commissioner'

English Word: Commissioner

Key Russian Translations:

• комиссар [kəmʲɪˈsar] - [Formal, Historical, Often used in political or military contexts]
• уполномоченный [ʊpəlnɐˈmotʃʲɪnɨj] - [Formal, Administrative, Often used for official representatives]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like governance or history)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate, due to contextual nuances and formal usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

комиссар: [kəmʲɪˈsar]

Note on комиссар: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly, typical of Russian pronunciation.

уполномоченный: [ʊpəlnɐˈmotʃʲɪnɨj]

Note on уполномоченный: Stress on the fourth syllable. The "ч" is pronounced as a soft "ch" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Official in Charge (Government or Organization)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уполномоченный - Used for an authorized representative or official in administrative or governmental roles.

Usage Examples:

• Уполномоченный по правам человека выступил с заявлением.

  The Commissioner for Human Rights made a statement.

• Он был назначен уполномоченным по этому вопросу.

  He was appointed as the commissioner for this issue.

• Уполномоченный провел встречу с гражданами.

  The commissioner held a meeting with citizens.

2. Historical or Military Context (e.g., Soviet Era)

Translation(s) & Context:

• комиссар - Often refers to a political or military officer, especially in historical contexts like the Soviet Union.

Usage Examples:

• Комиссар руководил военной операцией.

  The commissioner led the military operation.

• В те годы комиссары играли ключевую роль в армии.

  In those years, commissioners played a key role in the army.

• Комиссар был ответственен за идеологическую работу.

  The commissioner was responsible for ideological work.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

комиссар (Noun, Masculine, Animate):

уполномоченный (Noun/Adjective, Masculine, Animate):

This word can function as a noun or adjective and declines accordingly. As a noun, it follows a similar pattern to "комиссар". When used as an adjective, it agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for комиссар:

• представитель (representative, often less formal)
• делегат (delegate, context-dependent)

Synonyms for уполномоченный:

• представитель (representative)
• доверенное лицо (trusted person, more specific)

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as the term is role-specific.

Related Phrases:

• политический комиссар - Political commissioner (historical military role)
• уполномоченный по правам человека - Commissioner for Human Rights (official title)
• уполномоченный представитель - Authorized representative (formal administrative term)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "комиссар" and "уполномоченный" depends heavily on context. Use "комиссар" for historical or military references, especially related to the Soviet era. Use "уполномоченный" for modern administrative or official roles.
• "Уполномоченный" can also be used as an adjective, requiring agreement with the noun it describes.
• Both terms are formal and rarely used in casual conversation.

Common Errors:

• Mixing Contexts: English learners often use "комиссар" in modern administrative contexts, which is incorrect. For example, saying "комиссар по правам человека" instead of "уполномоченный по правам человека" sounds outdated or incorrect.
• Pronunciation Errors: Misplacing stress in "уполномоченный" (e.g., stressing the second syllable instead of the fourth) can make the word unintelligible.

Cultural Notes:

The term "комиссар" carries strong historical connotations in Russian, often associated with the Soviet Union and the Bolshevik era. It evokes images of political officers in the Red Army ensuring ideological loyalty. Using it outside historical contexts may confuse or amuse native speakers. On the other hand, "уполномоченный" is a neutral, bureaucratic term widely used in modern Russia for various official roles.

Related Concepts:

• представитель (representative)
• чиновник (official)
• делегат (delegate)