Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'defender'

English Word: defender

Key Russian Translations:

• защитник [zɐˈɕːitnʲɪk] - [Formal, Informal, Masculine]
• защитница [zɐˈɕːitnʲɪtsɐ] - [Formal, Informal, Feminine]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

защитник: [zɐˈɕːitnʲɪk]

Note on защитник: Pay attention to the soft 'н' sound and stress on the second syllable.

защитница: [zɐˈɕːitnʲɪtsɐ]

Note on защитница: Similar to защитник but with a feminine ending; stress remains on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person who defends or protects (literal or figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• защитник - Used for a male defender, such as in sports (e.g., soccer player) or a protector in a general sense.
• защитница - Used for a female defender, less common but applicable in similar contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он был лучшим защитником в команде.

  He was the best defender on the team.

• Защитник прав человека выступил с речью.

  The human rights defender gave a speech.

• Она стала настоящей защитницей животных.

  She became a true defender of animals.

• Защитники города сражались до последнего.

  The defenders of the city fought to the last.

• Этот адвокат — защитник в суде.

  This lawyer is a defender in court.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

защитник (Masculine Noun): Follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in -к.

защитница (Feminine Noun): Follows the first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for защитник/защитница:

• покровитель (male protector, often in a patronage sense)
• покровительница (female protector, similar nuance)
• оборонец (less common, used in military contexts)

Antonyms for защитник/защитница:

• нападающий (attacker, often in sports)
• агрессор (aggressor, in broader contexts)

Related Phrases:

• защитник прав человека - Human rights defender
• защитник Отечества - Defender of the Fatherland (often tied to a Russian holiday)
• играть в роли защитника - To play the role of a defender (e.g., in sports or metaphorically)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between защитник and защитница depends on the gender of the person being described. Use защитник for males and защитница for females.
• In sports contexts, защитник is commonly used to refer to a defender (e.g., in soccer or hockey) and is almost always masculine unless explicitly referring to a female player.
• In legal contexts, защитник can mean "defense attorney" or "advocate," so context is key to accurate translation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using защитница for a male defender.
  Incorrect: Он — защитница команды.
  Correct: Он — защитник команды.
  Explanation: Gender agreement is crucial in Russian. Always match the noun to the gender of the subject.
• Error: Misusing защитник in contexts where another term like "адвокат" (lawyer) might be more precise.
  Incorrect: Мой защитник в суде выиграл дело (ambiguous).
  Correct: Мой адвокат выиграл дело.
  Explanation: While защитник can mean "defender" in court, "адвокат" is more specific for a lawyer.

Cultural Notes:

The term защитник Отечества (Defender of the Fatherland) is deeply tied to a Russian national holiday celebrated on February 23rd, honoring military service and often associated with men. It is sometimes referred to as "Men's Day" informally, and the term carries patriotic connotations.

Related Concepts:

• оборона (defense)
• защита (protection)
• воин (warrior)