Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Council'

English Word: Council

Key Russian Translations:

• совет [sɐˈvʲet] - [Formal, Neutral, General Use]
• собрание [sɐˈbranʲɪjə] - [Formal, Often for Meetings or Assemblies]

Frequency: High (especially "совет")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "совет"); B1 (Intermediate for "собрание")

Pronunciation (Russian):

совет: [sɐˈvʲet]

Note on совет: The stress falls on the second syllable. The 'в' is pronounced softly due to the following 'е'.

собрание: [sɐˈbranʲɪjə]

Note on собрание: Stress is on the second syllable. The ending 'ие' is pronounced as a soft 'yə' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A Group of People for Decision-Making or Advice (e.g., City Council)

Translation(s) & Context:

• совет - Commonly used for official bodies like city councils or advisory groups.

Usage Examples:

• Городской совет принял новое постановление.

  The city council passed a new resolution.

• Совет директоров обсуждает стратегию компании.

  The board of directors (council) is discussing the company's strategy.

• Совет старейшин решает споры в деревне.

  The council of elders resolves disputes in the village.

2. A Formal Meeting or Assembly

Translation(s) & Context:

• собрание - Refers to a gathering or assembly, often with a deliberative purpose.

Usage Examples:

• На собрании обсудили важные вопросы.

  Important issues were discussed at the council (meeting).

• Собрание жильцов состоится завтра.

  The residents' council (assembly) will take place tomorrow.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

совет (Noun, Masculine, 2nd Declension):

собрание (Noun, Neuter, 2nd Declension):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for совет:

• комитет (committee, often more specific)
• правление (board, often for organizations)

Synonyms for собрание:

• заседание (session, meeting)
• встреча (meeting, less formal)

Antonyms: None directly applicable for either term.

Related Phrases:

• дать совет - to give advice (can overlap with "council" in advisory contexts)
• общее собрание - general assembly (a common formal meeting)
• Совет Безопасности - Security Council (as in the UN Security Council)

Usage Notes:

• "Совет" is the most common and versatile translation for "council," covering both advisory bodies and the concept of advice. It is widely used in formal and neutral contexts.
• "Собрание" is more specific to gatherings or assemblies and is less frequently used for permanent bodies like councils. It implies a temporary or event-based meeting.
• Be cautious with "совет" as it can also mean "advice" in other contexts. Context determines the correct meaning.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "совет" to mean "meeting" without considering the context. For example, saying "Я иду на совет" to mean "I'm going to a meeting" might confuse listeners as it can imply "advice."
  Correct Usage: Use "собрание" or "заседание" for meetings: "Я иду на собрание."
• Error: Misusing cases after prepositions. For example, "о совет" instead of "о совете" in the prepositional case.
  Correct Usage: Always use the correct case form as shown in the inflection table.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "совет" carries historical weight due to its use during the Soviet era (e.g., "Советский Союз" - Soviet Union, derived from "совет" meaning council). This can evoke associations with collective decision-making or governance in older generations. Understanding this context can help in interpreting formal or historical texts.

Related Concepts:

• комитет (committee)
• правительство (government)
• администрация (administration)