Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dominate'

English Word: dominate

Key Russian Translations:

• доминировать [dɐ.mʲɪ.nʲɪ.ˈra.vatʲ] - [Formal, often used in professional or academic contexts]
• господствовать [ɡɐ.spo.dʲstvɐ.'vatʲ] - [Formal, with a historical or authoritative connotation, e.g., in geopolitical discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in business, politics, and sports contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

доминировать: [dɐ.mʲɪ.nʲɪ.ˈra.vatʲ]

господствовать: [ɡɐ.spo.dʲstvɐ.'vatʲ]

Note on доминировать: The stress is on the penultimate syllable, and the 'р' is rolled, which can be challenging for beginners. Variations in informal speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To have control or power over something or someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• доминировать - Used in contexts involving superiority in competitions, markets, or discussions (e.g., a company dominating the industry).
• господствовать - Applied to historical or formal scenarios, such as a nation dominating a region.

Usage Examples:

• В этой игре наша команда доминировала на поле с самого начала.

  In this game, our team dominated the field from the very beginning.

• Крупные корпорации доминируют на рынке, затеняя мелких конкурентов.

  Large corporations dominate the market, overshadowing smaller competitors.

• В исторических текстах часто описывается, как империя господствовала над соседними землями.

  In historical texts, it's often described how the empire dominated neighboring lands.

• Он любит господствовать в разговорах, не давая другим высказаться.

  He likes to dominate conversations, not allowing others to speak.

• В науке новые теории доминируют, если они доказаны экспериментально.

  In science, new theories dominate if they are proven experimentally.

Secondary Meaning: To be the most prominent or influential

Translation(s) & Context:

• доминировать - In cultural or social contexts, e.g., a style dominating fashion trends.
• господствовать - Less common, but used for enduring influence, like a dominant ideology.

Usage Examples:

• В этой эпохе рок-музыка доминировала в популярной культуре.

  In this era, rock music dominated popular culture.

• Идеи Просвещения господствовали в интеллектуальных кругах XVIII века.

  Ideas of the Enlightenment dominated intellectual circles in the 18th century.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs and follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Доминировать" is an imperfective verb, while "господствовать" can be used in both imperfective and perfective forms. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, and number.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms but follow standard patterns for first-conjugation verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • контролировать (to control; more neutral and administrative)
  • преобладать (to prevail; often in statistical or quantitative contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • подчиняться (to submit; implies yielding to authority)
  • зависеть (to depend; suggests reliance rather than control)

Related Phrases:

• Доминировать в рынке - To dominate the market; refers to a company's leading position in business.
• Господствовать над кем-то - To dominate over someone; used in personal or power dynamics.
• Доминирующая роль - Dominant role; common in discussions of influence or leadership.

Usage Notes:

"Доминировать" is a direct cognate of the English "dominate" and is often used in modern contexts like business or sports, making it a straightforward translation. However, "господствовать" carries a more archaic or formal tone, suitable for historical or literary discussions. Choose based on context: use "доминировать" for contemporary scenarios and "господствовать" for emphasis on authority. Be mindful of aspect in Russian; pair with perfective forms like "загосподствовать" for completed actions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "доминировать" in the wrong tense, e.g., saying "Я доминировал вчера" when meaning a future action.
  Correct: "Я буду доминировать завтра" (I will dominate tomorrow). Explanation: Russian verbs require correct aspect and tense alignment.
• Error: Confusing with synonyms, e.g., using "контролировать" interchangeably, which might understate dominance.
  Correct: Opt for "доминировать" for stronger connotations of superiority. Explanation: "Контролировать" implies management, not overwhelming power.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "господствовать" often evoke historical contexts, such as the Russian Empire's dominance over territories, reflecting themes of imperialism and power struggles in literature and media. This can add a layer of national pride or critique in discussions.

Related Concepts:

• власть (power)
• лидерство (leadership)
• контроль (control)