Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Constable'

English Word: constable

Key Russian Translations:

• констебль [ˈkonstʲɪblʲ] - [Formal, Historical]
• полицейский [pəlʲɪˈt͡seɪ̯skʲɪj] - [Neutral, Modern Usage]

Frequency: Low (especially for "констебль", which is less common in modern Russian)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "полицейский"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "констебль" due to its historical context

Pronunciation (Russian):

констебль: [ˈkonstʲɪblʲ]

Note on констебль: Stress falls on the first syllable. The word is borrowed from English and retains a foreign sound, which may be challenging for beginners.

полицейский: [pəlʲɪˈt͡seɪ̯skʲɪj]

Note on полицейский: Stress on the third syllable. The "ц" sound is a distinct affricate in Russian, often tricky for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A police officer of low rank (modern context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• полицейский - Commonly used in modern Russian to refer to a police officer.

Usage Examples:

• Полицейский остановил машину для проверки документов.

  The police officer stopped the car to check the documents.

• Я обратился к полицейскому за помощью.

  I turned to the police officer for help.

• Полицейский патрулировал улицу ночью.

  The police officer was patrolling the street at night.

2. A historical term for a law enforcement officer (British context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• констебль - Used in historical or literary contexts to refer to a British constable.

Usage Examples:

• В старой Англии констебль отвечал за порядок в деревне.

  In old England, the constable was responsible for order in the village.

• Констебль был важной фигурой в местном управлении.

  The constable was an important figure in local governance.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

полицейский (masculine noun, animate):

констебль (masculine noun, animate): Follows similar declension patterns as "полицейский".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for полицейский:

• милиционер (historical term, used in Soviet times)
• страж порядка (formal, "guardian of order")

Note: "милиционер" is outdated but still understood; it refers to police during the Soviet era.

Antonyms:

• преступник (criminal)

Related Phrases:

• полицейский участок - Police station
• полицейский патруль - Police patrol
• обратиться к полицейскому - To approach a police officer

Usage Notes:

• "полицейский" is the standard and modern term for a police officer in Russian. It is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.
• "констебль" is a rare, historical term mostly encountered in translations of British literature or historical texts. It may confuse modern Russian speakers if used out of context.
• Be mindful of the animate nature of these nouns when using them in the accusative case, as they follow different rules compared to inanimate nouns.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "констебль" in modern contexts. Wrong: "Я видел констебля на улице." Correct: "Я видел полицейского на улице." (I saw a police officer on the street.) Explanation: "констебль" is outdated and specific to historical British contexts.
• Error: Incorrect case usage due to animate noun rules. Wrong: "Я вижу полицейский." Correct: "Я вижу полицейского." Explanation: Animate nouns take the genitive form in the accusative case for singular masculine nouns.

Cultural Notes:

In modern Russia, the term "полицейский" replaced "милиционер" after a 2011 reform of law enforcement terminology. This change reflects a shift in perception and modernization of the police force. However, older generations might still use "милиционер" nostalgically or colloquially.

Related Concepts:

• полиция (police force)
• закон (law)
• порядок (order)