Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Crowd'

English Word: Crowd

Key Russian Translations:

• толпа [ˈtolpə] - [Informal, Common for physical gathering]
• масса [ˈmasə] - [Neutral, Often for abstract or large group]
• скопление [skɐˈplʲenʲɪjə] - [Formal, Refers to accumulation of people]

Frequency: High (especially "толпа")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "толпа"); B1 (Intermediate for "масса" and "скопление")

Pronunciation (Russian):

толпа: [ˈtolpə]

Note on толпа: Stress is on the first syllable. The 'о' sounds like the 'o' in "core".

масса: [ˈmasə]

Note on масса: Stress on the first syllable. The final 'а' is reduced to a schwa sound.

скопление: [skɐˈplʲenʲɪjə]

Note on скопление: Stress on the second syllable. The 'е' is palatalized, softening the preceding 'л'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A large group of people gathered together (physical crowd)

Translation(s) & Context:

• толпа - Most common term for a physical crowd, often with a neutral or slightly negative connotation (e.g., noisy or chaotic group).
• скопление - More formal, often used in written contexts or to describe a dense gathering without emotional connotation.

Usage Examples:

• На улице собралась большая толпа.

  A large crowd gathered on the street.

• Толпа кричала и аплодировала.

  The crowd was shouting and applauding.

• В центре города произошло скопление людей из-за фестиваля.

  There was a gathering of people in the city center due to the festival.

2. A large number of people or things (abstract or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• масса - Used for abstract or uncountable groups, often in intellectual or analytical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Масса людей поддерживает эту идею.

  A mass of people supports this idea.

• У нас масса проблем из-за толпы туристов.

  We have a mass of problems due to the crowd of tourists.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

толпа (feminine noun): Follows the regular feminine declension pattern in Russian.

масса (feminine noun): Follows a similar regular feminine declension pattern.

скопление (neuter noun): Follows the regular neuter declension pattern for nouns ending in -ие.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for толпа:

• народ (people, often positive or neutral)
• группа (group, more neutral and smaller)
• сборище (gathering, often derogatory)

Antonyms for толпа:

• одиночка (loner, single person)
• пустота (emptiness, absence of crowd)

Related Phrases:

• толпа народа - "a crowd of people" (common informal expression)
• пробираться сквозь толпу - "to make one's way through the crowd" (physical movement)
• масса впечатлений - "a mass of impressions" (abstract use of масса)

Usage Notes:

• "толпа" is the most direct and commonly used translation for a physical crowd. It often carries a slightly negative or chaotic connotation compared to English "crowd".
• "масса" is better for abstract or metaphorical uses, such as "a mass of data" or "a mass of supporters".
• "скопление" is formal and often used in official or written contexts, such as reports or descriptions of events.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "масса" for a physical crowd in casual speech. Incorrect: "На улице масса людей." Correct: "На улице толпа людей." Explanation: "масса" sounds unnatural in spoken language for a visible group of people.
• Error: Misusing cases after prepositions. Incorrect: "Я прошел через толпу" (wrong case). Correct: "Я прошел сквозь толпу." Explanation: The preposition "сквозь" requires the accusative case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "толпа" can sometimes imply disorder or lack of individuality, reflecting a historical and cultural emphasis on community and order. It may be used critically in contexts where English speakers might use "crowd" neutrally (e.g., at a concert).

Related Concepts:

• народ (people, nation)
• общество (society)
• собрание (assembly, meeting)