Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'democratic'

English Word: democratic

Key Russian Translations:

• демократический [dʲɪməkrɐˈtʲitɕɪskʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• демократичный [dʲɪməkrɐˈtʲiʃnɨj] - [Informal, Conversational, Adjective]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

демократический: [dʲɪməkrɐˈtʲitɕɪskʲɪj]

Note on демократический: Stress falls on the fourth syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft "ch," which can be tricky for English speakers.

демократичный: [dʲɪməkrɐˈtʲiʃnɨj]

Note on демократичный: Stress also on the fourth syllable. The ending "-чный" is common in conversational adjectives.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Relating to Democracy (Political Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• демократический - Used in formal or political contexts to describe systems, governments, or principles related to democracy.

Usage Examples:

• Это демократическое государство защищает права граждан.

  This democratic state protects the rights of citizens.

• Демократические выборы прошли без нарушений.

  The democratic elections were held without violations.

• Мы стремимся к демократическим реформам.

  We strive for democratic reforms.

2. Fair and Egalitarian (Informal Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• демократичный - Used in everyday speech to describe something or someone as fair, approachable, or not elitist.

Usage Examples:

• У нас очень демократичные цены в магазине.

  We have very democratic (affordable) prices in our store.

• Он такой демократичный руководитель, всегда выслушает.

  He is such a democratic (approachable) manager; he always listens.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

демократический (Adjective): Follows standard Russian adjective declension rules. It agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

демократичный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as above but is used more colloquially. Full table omitted for brevity.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for демократический:

• народный
• свободный (in specific contexts)

Note: "народный" often implies "of the people," while "свободный" relates to freedom but not always democracy.

Antonyms for демократический:

• авторитарный
• тоталитарный

Related Phrases:

• демократическое общество - Democratic society
• демократические ценности - Democratic values
• демократичный подход - Democratic (fair or open) approach

Usage Notes:

• "демократический" is the standard term for formal and political contexts, directly corresponding to "democratic" in English.
• "демократичный" is more conversational and often implies fairness or accessibility rather than a strict political meaning. Use it when describing prices, attitudes, or behaviors.
• Ensure adjective agreement with the noun in gender, number, and case when using either term.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "демократичный" in formal political contexts.
  Incorrect: Демократичное государство.
  Correct: Демократическое государство.
  Explanation: "демократичный" sounds too informal for political discussions.
• Error: Failing to decline the adjective based on the noun it modifies.
  Incorrect: Демократический страна.
  Correct: Демократическая страна.
  Explanation: "страна" (country) is feminine, so the adjective must match.

Cultural Notes:

The concept of "democracy" and its associated terms like "демократический" carry significant historical weight in Russian-speaking countries due to the region's complex political history. The term may evoke different connotations depending on the speaker's perspective or the context (e.g., post-Soviet reforms). Meanwhile, "демократичный" is often used positively in everyday speech to denote fairness or openness.

Related Concepts:

• свобода (freedom)
• равенство (equality)
• выборы (elections)