Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ethnic'

English Word: ethnic

Key Russian Translations:

• этнический [ɪtʲˈnʲitɕɪskʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• национальный [nət͡sɪjəˈnalʲnɨj] - [Formal, but can overlap; Used when emphasizing national aspects]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of culture, identity, and demographics)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; Requires understanding of adjectives and cultural contexts; For 'национальный', also B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

этнический: [ɪtʲˈnʲitɕɪskʲɪj]

Note on этнический: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ni'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 't' and 'n' sounds. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

национальный: [nət͡sɪjəˈnalʲnɨj]

Note on национальный: The 'ts' sound is a voiceless alveolar affricate, similar to 'ts' in 'bits', and the word often has a rolling emphasis in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Relating to a population subgroup with a common national or cultural tradition (e.g., ethnic groups, identity).

Translation(s) & Context:

• этнический - Used in formal or academic contexts, such as describing ethnic minorities or cultural heritage.
• национальный - Applied when the context involves national identity, but can be interchangeable; Avoid in purely ethnic discussions to prevent confusion.

Usage Examples:

• Этнический состав населения в России включает более 190 групп.

  The ethnic composition of the population in Russia includes more than 190 groups.

• Эта этническая традиция сохраняется в отдаленных регионах.

  This ethnic tradition is preserved in remote regions.

• Национальный праздник часто отмечается с этническими элементами.

  The national holiday is often celebrated with ethnic elements.

• Этнический конфликт может возникать из-за культурных различий.

  Ethnic conflict can arise due to cultural differences.

• В этнической кухне России преобладают блюда из различных регионов.

  In Russian ethnic cuisine, dishes from various regions predominate.

2. Pertaining to the characteristics of a specific ethnic group (e.g., ethnic attire, customs).

Translation(s) & Context:

• этнический - Common in cultural or anthropological discussions, emphasizing heritage.
• национальный - Used if the context blends with national pride, such as in festivals.

Usage Examples:

• Этническая одежда отражает историческое наследие народа.

  Ethnic clothing reflects the historical heritage of the people.

• Музей представляет этнические искусства различных культур.

  The museum showcases ethnic arts from various cultures.

• Национальный фольклор включает этнические танцы и песни.

  National folklore includes ethnic dances and songs.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'этнический' and 'национальный' are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives, with some irregularities.

These adjectives do not change in predicative position but must agree with the noun they modify. No irregularities beyond standard adjective declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • национальный (similar but broader, often used for state-related contexts)
  • культурный (cultural, emphasizing traditions)
• Antonyms:
  • универсальный (universal, lacking ethnic specificity)
  • глобальный (global, contrasting with local ethnic identities)

Related Phrases:

• Этническая группа - Refers to an ethnic group, often in demographic studies.
• Этническая идентичность - Means ethnic identity, used in social or psychological contexts.
• Национальный состав - Denotes national or ethnic composition, common in census discussions.
• Этнические традиции - Indicates ethnic traditions, highlighting cultural practices.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'этнический' directly corresponds to 'ethnic' when focusing on cultural or racial subgroups, while 'национальный' may imply a national aspect and should be chosen carefully to avoid conflating ethnicity with citizenship. Use 'этнический' in formal academic or legal contexts, such as discussions of minorities. Be mindful of grammar: always ensure adjective agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case. For English learners, note that Russian lacks articles, so phrases like 'the ethnic group' translate to 'этническая группа' without 'the'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'национальный' interchangeably with 'этнический' without context, e.g., saying 'национальный группа' instead of 'этническая группа' for an ethnic minority.

  Correct: 'Этническая группа' – This distinguishes ethnic from purely national affiliations. Explanation: 'Национальный' often relates to the state, leading to confusion in multicultural settings.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., using 'этнический' with a feminine noun like 'культура' without changing to 'этническая'.

  Correct: 'Этническая культура' – Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, terms like 'этнический' carry significant cultural weight due to the country's multi-ethnic composition, with over 190 ethnic groups. It often relates to historical policies like those under the Soviet Union, where ethnic identities were recognized but sometimes suppressed, influencing modern discussions on diversity and identity.

Related Concepts:

• культура (culture)
• нация (nation)
• многонациональный (multinational)