Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'elect'

English Word: elect

Key Russian Translations:

• Выбирать [vɨˈbʲirətʲ] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• Избирать [ɪzʲbʲɪˈratʲ] - [Formal, used in official or political contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in standard Russian conversations, especially in political or decision-making discussions, but not as common as basic verbs.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and context-specific usage; 'выбирать' may be easier for beginners, while 'избирать' requires more advanced vocabulary.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Выбирать: [vɨˈbʲirətʲ]

Note on Выбирать: The stress is on the second syllable. Be mindful of the soft 'bʲ' sound, which is a palatalized consonant common in Russian. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Избирать: [ɪzʲbʲɪˈratʲ]

Note on Избирать: Stress falls on the third syllable. The initial 'ɪzʲ' has a soft 'zʲ' sound, which might be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To choose or select someone for a position, often through voting (e.g., in elections).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Избирать - Used in formal contexts like political elections or official selections.
• Выбирать - Used in informal or general contexts, such as everyday choices.

Usage Examples:

• Мы будем избирать нового президента на выборах в следующем году. (We will elect a new president in the elections next year.)

  English Translation: We will elect a new president in the elections next year.

• Дети любят выбирать игрушки в магазине. (Children love to elect or choose toys in the store.)

  English Translation: Children love to choose toys in the store. (Note: Here, 'elect' is used metaphorically for selection.)

• Комитет избирает председателя на общем собрании. (The committee elects a chairman at the general meeting.)

  English Translation: The committee elects a chairman at the general meeting.

• Я всегда выбираю лучший вариант из предложенных. (I always elect or choose the best option from those offered.)

  English Translation: I always choose the best option from those offered.

• Голосование позволяет избирать лидеров демократически. (Voting allows us to elect leaders democratically.)

  English Translation: Voting allows us to elect leaders democratically. (This shows the verb in a political context with adverbial modification.)

Meaning 2: To select or pick something in a non-political context (e.g., options or preferences).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Выбирать - Informal, everyday usage for personal choices.

Usage Examples:

• Выбирай книгу, которая тебе нравится. (Elect or choose the book that you like.)

  English Translation: Choose the book that you like. (Demonstrates imperative form in casual advice.)

• Он выбирает маршрут для путешествия заранее. (He elects or chooses the route for the trip in advance.)

  English Translation: He chooses the route for the trip in advance. (Shows future planning context.)

• Мы выбираем продукты в супермаркете каждое воскресенье. (We elect or choose products in the supermarket every Sunday.)

  English Translation: We choose products in the supermarket every Sunday. (Illustrates habitual action.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'выбирать' and 'избирать' are Russian verbs of the first conjugation, which means they follow regular patterns but have imperfective aspects. 'Выбирать' is imperfective, while 'избрать' (perfective form of 'избирать') exists for completed actions.

These verbs are regular but require attention to aspect: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., 'выбрать' for 'выбирать') for completed ones. They do not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Выбирать: Отбирать (otbirat' - to select, often implying careful choice)
  • Избирать: Выдвигать (vydvigat' - to nominate, with a political nuance)
• Antonyms:
  • Отказываться (otkazyvat'sya - to refuse)
  • Исключать (isklyuchat' - to exclude)

Related Phrases:

• Выбрать президента (Vybrat' prezidenta) - To elect a president; used in political contexts for the act of selection.
• Избирать на должность (Izbirat' na dolzhnost') - To elect to a position; formal phrase for official appointments.
• Выборы в России (Vybody v Rossii) - Elections in Russia; a common phrase highlighting cultural elections.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'избирать' is more precise for formal elections, aligning closely with the English 'elect' in political contexts, while 'выбирать' is broader and can translate to 'choose' in everyday scenarios. English speakers should note the aspect system: use imperfective forms for processes and perfective for results (e.g., 'выбрать' for a completed election). Be cautious with formality—'избирать' is preferred in written or official Russian, whereas 'выбирать' suits casual speech. When multiple options exist, choose based on context to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'выбирать' in formal political contexts instead of 'избирать'.
  Correct: Instead of saying "Мы выбираем мэра" (incorrect for formal elections), say "Мы избираем мэра".
  Explanation: 'Выбирать' implies a general choice, which can sound too casual for official processes.
• Mistake: Forgetting verb aspects, e.g., using 'выбирать' when a completed action is needed.
  Correct: Use 'выбрать' for "I elected him" instead of 'выбирать'.
  Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian's perfective-imperfective distinction, leading to tense mismatches.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'избирать' are heavily tied to the country's political history, such as the elections during the Soviet era or modern democratic processes. Elections (выборы) often carry connotations of national unity or contention, reflecting Russia's complex political landscape. Understanding these terms can help English speakers grasp nuances in Russian media and literature.

Related Concepts:

• Выборы (vybody - elections)
• Кандидат (kandidat - candidate)
• Голосование (golososvanie - voting)