Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Congregation'

English Word: congregation

Key Russian Translations:

• собрание [sɐˈbranʲɪjə] - [Neutral, General Use]
• конгрегация [kɐnɡrʲɪˈɡatsɨjə] - [Formal, Religious Context]
• община [ɐpˈɕːinə] - [Informal, Community Context]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "собрание" and "община"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "конгрегация"

Pronunciation (Russian):

собрание: [sɐˈbranʲɪjə]

Note on собрание: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly.

конгрегация: [kɐnɡrʲɪˈɡatsɨjə]

Note on конгрегация: Stress on the fourth syllable. Borrowed term, often used in formal or religious contexts.

община: [ɐpˈɕːinə]

Note on община: Stress on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft "shch".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A group of people assembled for religious worship

Translation(s) & Context:

• конгрегация - Used specifically in religious contexts, often referring to a formal assembly or organization.
• община - Refers to a community or smaller group of worshippers, less formal.

Usage Examples:

• Конгрегация собирается каждое воскресенье в церкви.

  The congregation gathers every Sunday at the church.

• Эта община поддерживает своих членов в трудные времена.

  This community supports its members in difficult times.

• Конгрегация приняла решение о строительстве нового храма.

  The congregation made a decision to build a new temple.

2. A gathering or assembly of people for a common purpose

Translation(s) & Context:

• собрание - General term for any assembly or meeting, not necessarily religious.

Usage Examples:

• На собрании обсудили планы на следующий год.

  At the meeting, they discussed plans for the next year.

• Большое собрание людей прошло в центре города.

  A large gathering of people took place in the city center.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

собрание (noun, neuter): Regular declension in all cases.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	собрание	собрания
Genitive	собрания	собраний
Dative	собранию	собраниям
Accusative	собрание	собрания
Instrumental	собранием	собраниями
Prepositional	о собрании	о собраниях

конгрегация (noun, feminine): Regular declension, borrowed term.

община (noun, feminine): Regular declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "собрание":

• встреча
• сход
• митинг

Note: "встреча" is more informal, often implying a planned meeting; "митинг" refers to public gatherings or rallies.

Antonyms for "собрание":

• разобщение
• расхождение

Related Phrases:

• общее собрание - General meeting (often used in organizational contexts).
• религиозная община - Religious community (refers to a group sharing beliefs).
• церковная конгрегация - Church congregation (formal, religious assembly).

Usage Notes:

• "собрание" is the most versatile translation, applicable to both formal and informal gatherings, though it lacks a specific religious connotation unless contextually implied.
• "конгрегация" is almost exclusively used in religious or institutional contexts and might sound overly formal or outdated in everyday speech.
• "община" emphasizes the sense of community or shared identity, often used for smaller or local groups, including religious ones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "конгрегация" for any general gathering. Incorrect: "Конгрегация друзей на вечеринке." Correct: "Собрание друзей на вечеринке." (Explanation: "конгрегация" is reserved for formal or religious contexts.)
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation, e.g., saying [sɐbrɐˈnʲɪjə] instead of [sɐˈbranʲɪjə] for "собрание". (Explanation: Stress errors can lead to misunderstandings or sound unnatural.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "община" carries historical weight, often tied to traditional village communities or collective identities. It may evoke a sense of closeness or shared responsibility, unlike the more neutral "собрание".

Related Concepts:

• сообщество
• группа
• коллектив