Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'emigrate'

English Word: emigrate

Key Russian Translations:

• эмигрировать [ɛmʲɪɡʲɪrʌˈvatʲ] - [Formal; used in contexts involving permanent relocation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of migration, politics, and personal stories, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal vocabulary, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

эмигрировать: [ɛmʲɪɡʲɪrʌˈvatʲ]

Note on эмигрировать: The stress is on the third syllable ("ri"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants (e.g., 'гʲ' is palatalized). Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To leave one's country permanently to live in another

Translation(s) & Context:

• эмигрировать - Used in formal or official contexts, such as legal documents, news reports, or personal narratives about relocation for economic, political, or personal reasons.

Usage Examples:

• Мой дед эмигрировал в США в 1920 году из-за политических репрессий.

  My grandfather emigrated to the USA in 1920 due to political repressions.

• Многие россияне эмигрируют в Европу в поисках лучшей работы и образования.

  Many Russians emigrate to Europe in search of better jobs and education.

• Из-за экономического кризиса некоторые семьи решили эмигрировать в Канаду.

  Due to the economic crisis, some families decided to emigrate to Canada.

• Она эмигрировала из России, чтобы избежать дискриминации, и теперь живет в Австралии.

  She emigrated from Russia to avoid discrimination and now lives in Australia.

• В 1990-е годы тысячи людей эмигрировали из бывшего СССР в поисках стабильности.

  In the 1990s, thousands of people emigrated from the former USSR in search of stability.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Эмигрировать is a verb of the first conjugation in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has some irregularities due to its borrowed origin from Latin/French. It is intransitive and primarily used in the imperfective aspect. Below is a table outlining key inflections:

Note: The verb does not change for gender in the past tense; endings adjust based on the subject's gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • переселяться (pereselyat'sya) - More general, implies moving residence, often with less permanence.
  • уезжать (uezzhat') - Informal synonym, used for any departure, but less formal than эмигрировать.
• Antonyms:
  • иммигрировать (immigrirovat') - The opposite, meaning to move into a country.
  • вернуться (vernutsya) - To return, implying reversal of emigration.

Related Phrases:

• Эмигрировать в другую страну - To emigrate to another country; used when discussing international relocation for better opportunities.
• Принудительная эмиграция - Forced emigration; often refers to historical contexts like political exile.
• Массовый исход и эмиграция - Mass exodus and emigration; common in discussions of migration waves.

Usage Notes:

Эмигрировать directly corresponds to 'emigrate' in English, emphasizing the act of leaving one's home country permanently, as opposed to 'immigrate' (which is иммигрировать in Russian). It is typically used in formal contexts, such as legal, academic, or journalistic writing. Be mindful of the aspect in Russian verbs: эмигрировать is imperfective, so it's used for ongoing or habitual actions. When choosing between translations, opt for эмигрировать if the focus is on departure; for temporary moves, переселяться might be more appropriate. Always consider the subject's perspective in sentences to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Confusing эмигрировать with иммигрировать: English learners often mix these up. Incorrect: "Я иммигрировал из России" (meaning "I immigrated from Russia," which implies arriving elsewhere). Correct: "Я эмигрировал из России" (I emigrated from Russia). Explanation: Эмигрировать focuses on leaving, while иммигрировать focuses on entering.
• Improper conjugation: Forgetting gender agreement in the past tense. Incorrect: "Она эмигрировал" (She emigrated, but wrong ending). Correct: "Она эмигрировала." Explanation: Past tense verbs in Russian agree with the subject's gender.
• Overusing in informal speech: Learners might use эмигрировать casually, but it's formal. Incorrect context: Everyday chat about a vacation. Better: Use уезжать for informal moves.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, эмигрировать carries significant historical connotations, often linked to events like the Russian Revolution (1917) or the dissolution of the USSR (1991), when many intellectuals and dissidents emigrated to escape persecution. This term evokes themes of loss, adaptation, and the Russian diaspora, which remains a sensitive topic in modern discussions about identity and globalization.

Related Concepts:

• беженец (bezhenets) - Refugee
• эмигрант (emigrant) - Emigrant
• переселение (pereseleniye) - Resettlement