Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'director'

English Word: director

Key Russian Translations:

• директор [dʲɪˈrʲektər] - [Formal, General Use, Often for business or school contexts]
• режиссёр [rʲɪʐɨˈsʲor] - [Formal/Informal, Specific to film/theater director]

Frequency: High (both translations are commonly used in their respective contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations; basic vocabulary with straightforward usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

директор: [dʲɪˈrʲektər]

Note on директор: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'р' is rolled, typical of Russian pronunciation.

режиссёр: [rʲɪʐɨˈsʲor]

Note on режиссёр: Stress on the last syllable. The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person in charge of an organization or department (e.g., business, school)

Translation(s) & Context:

• директор - Used for someone managing a company, school, or institution.

Usage Examples:

• Директор школы объявил о новом расписании.

  The school director announced a new schedule.

• Я должен встретиться с директором компании завтра.

  I need to meet with the company director tomorrow.

• Директор подписал все документы.

  The director signed all the documents.

2. A person who directs a film, play, or performance

Translation(s) & Context:

• режиссёр - Refers specifically to a film or theater director.

Usage Examples:

• Этот режиссёр снял несколько известных фильмов.

  This director has made several famous films.

• Режиссёр работал с актёрами над новой постановкой.

  The director worked with the actors on a new production.

• Она мечтает стать режиссёром театра.

  She dreams of becoming a theater director.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

директор (Masculine Noun): Follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

режиссёр (Masculine Noun): Follows a similar second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for директор:

• управляющий (more general term for manager)
• руководитель (leader or head, often in formal contexts)

Note: управляющий is often used for smaller-scale management, while руководитель can imply higher authority.

Synonyms for режиссёр:

• постановщик (specific to staging plays or shows)

Antonyms: None directly applicable for either term.

Related Phrases:

• директор школы - School director (head of a school).
• генеральный директор - General director (CEO or top executive).
• режиссёр-постановщик - Director-producer (a theater or film director who also stages the production).

Usage Notes:

• The choice between директор and режиссёр depends entirely on context. Use директор for administrative or managerial roles, and режиссёр exclusively for artistic direction in film or theater.
• Both terms are formal but can be used in everyday speech without sounding overly stiff.
• Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian; for a female director, you might hear директор (still masculine form, often used regardless of gender in formal titles) or rarely a feminized form like директриса (less common and sometimes outdated).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using режиссёр for a school or business director.
  Incorrect: Режиссёр школы объявил собрание.
  Correct: Директор школы объявил собрание.
  Explanation: Режиссёр is specific to artistic fields and cannot be used for administrative roles.
• Error: Incorrect case usage in sentences.
  Incorrect: Я позвонил директор.
  Correct: Я позвонил директору.
  Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case; after verbs like "позвонить" (to call), the dative case is required.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the role of a директор often carries significant authority, especially in schools or state institutions, where they are seen as key decision-makers. Similarly, a режиссёр in film or theater is often regarded as a visionary artist, with notable cultural prestige in Russia’s rich cinematic and theatrical history.

Related Concepts:

• управление (management)
• кинематограф (cinematography)
• театр (theater)