Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'County'

English Word: county

Key Russian Translations:

• округ [ˈokrug] - [Formal, often used in administrative contexts]
• графство [ˈɡrafstvə] - [Formal, historical or referring to foreign counties, e.g., in the UK]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific administrative or historical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

округ: [ˈokrug]

Note on округ: Stress falls on the first syllable, a common pattern in Russian nouns.

графство: [ˈɡrafstvə]

Note on графство: Stress on the first syllable; the "о" at the end is pronounced as a reduced vowel [ə].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Administrative Division (e.g., in the US or Russia)

Translation(s) & Context:

• округ - Commonly used for administrative divisions within a country, especially in Russia or the US.

Usage Examples:

• Этот округ включает несколько небольших городов.

  This county includes several small towns.

• Округ Колумбия — это особый административный район.

  The District of Columbia is a special administrative county.

• В нашем округе проводятся ежегодные выборы.

  Annual elections are held in our county.

2. Historical or Foreign Territorial Division (e.g., in the UK)

Translation(s) & Context:

• графство - Refers to historical or foreign counties, especially in the context of the UK.

Usage Examples:

• Графство Йоркшир находится в Англии.

  The county of Yorkshire is in England.

• В этом графстве много старинных замков.

  There are many ancient castles in this county.

• Графство Кент известно своими садами.

  The county of Kent is known for its gardens.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

округ (Masculine Noun):

графство (Neuter Noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for округ:

• район
• область (in some contexts)

Note: "район" is often used for smaller divisions, while "область" refers to larger regions but can overlap in meaning.

Synonyms for графство:

• шир (historical, literary)

Antonyms: None directly applicable for either term.

Related Phrases:

• административный округ - Administrative county/district (common in official contexts).
• графство в Англии - County in England (used to specify location).
• округ федерального значения - County of federal significance (specific to Russian administrative terminology).

Usage Notes:

• "округ" is the preferred term when referring to administrative divisions in modern contexts, especially in Russia or the US. It carries a neutral, formal tone.
• "графство" is more specific to historical or foreign contexts, particularly British counties. It may sound outdated or overly formal if used for modern Russian administrative units.
• Be cautious about the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "графство" to refer to a modern administrative county in Russia.
  Incorrect: В этом графстве живёт много людей.
  Correct: В этом округе живёт много людей.
  Explanation: "графство" is associated with historical or foreign counties, not modern Russian divisions.
• Error: Misusing cases due to confusion with noun declension.
  Incorrect: Я живу в округ.
  Correct: Я живу в округе.
  Explanation: The prepositional case requires the ending "-е" for "округ."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "округ" is often tied to the administrative structure of the country, such as federal districts (федеральные округа). On the other hand, "графство" evokes imagery of medieval Europe or British history, often associated with nobility (e.g., "граф" means "count"). Understanding this distinction is key to using these terms appropriately.

Related Concepts:

• область
• район
• территория