Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Confederacy'

English Word: Confederacy

Key Russian Translations:

• конфедерация [kɐnfʲɪdʲɪˈratsɪjə] - [Formal, Often used in political or historical contexts]
• союз [sɐˈjus] - [Neutral, Can refer to alliances or unions, less formal than конфederation]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific historical or political discussions)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "конфедерация"; B1 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "союз"

Pronunciation (Russian):

конфедерация: [kɐnfʲɪdʲɪˈratsɪjə]

Note on конфедерация: Stress falls on the fourth syllable ("ра"). The "ц" is pronounced as a soft "ts".

союз: [sɐˈjus]

Note on союз: Stress on the second syllable. The "ю" sounds like "yu".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Political or Historical Union of States

Translation(s) & Context:

• конфедерация - Used specifically for a formal confederation of states or regions with significant autonomy.

Usage Examples:

• Конфедерация Швейцарии состоит из 26 кантонов.

  The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons.

• Конфедерация была создана для защиты общих интересов.

  The confederation was created to protect common interests.

• Историческая конфедерация распалась из-за внутренних конфликтов.

  The historical confederacy fell apart due to internal conflicts.

2. General Alliance or Union

Translation(s) & Context:

• союз - Refers to a broader sense of alliance or union, not necessarily a formal confederation.

Usage Examples:

• Они образовали союз для борьбы с общим врагом.

  They formed a confederacy to fight a common enemy.

• Союз стран был временным решением.

  The confederacy of countries was a temporary solution.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

конфедерация (feminine noun):

союз (masculine noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for конфедерация:

• федерация
• объединение

Note: "федерация" implies a tighter union than "конфедерация", with less autonomy for member states.

Synonyms for союз:

• альянс
• объединение

Antonyms:

• разделение
• распад

Related Phrases:

• конфедерация государств - Confederation of states (used in formal political contexts).
• союз наций - Union of nations (used for international alliances).
• союз друзей - Confederacy of friends (figurative use for a close group).

Usage Notes:

• "конфедерация" is more specific and formal, often used in historical or political contexts to describe a union of states with significant autonomy (e.g., the Confederate States of America or the Swiss Confederation).
• "союз" is broader and can refer to any kind of alliance or union, including informal or personal ones. It is more commonly used in everyday speech.
• When translating "confederacy", choose "конфедерация" for formal or historical contexts and "союз" for general or less formal alliances.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "федерация" instead of "конфедерация". While both can refer to a union of states, "федерация" implies a stronger central authority, whereas "конфедерация" emphasizes autonomy.
  Incorrect: Федерация Швейцарии (sounds odd as Switzerland is a confederation).
  Correct: Конфедерация Швейцарии.
• Error: Overusing "союз" in formal contexts where "конфедерация" is more appropriate.
  Incorrect: Союз Швейцарии.
  Correct: Конфедерация Швейцарии.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the term "конфедерация" often evokes historical discussions, such as the Confederate States of America during the U.S. Civil War. It may also be associated with discussions of autonomy and decentralization in political systems. "союз", on the other hand, might remind Russian speakers of the Soviet Union (Советский Союз), carrying historical connotations of unity and alliance.

Related Concepts:

• федерация
• автономия
• объединение