Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'federal'

English Word: federal

Key Russian Translations:

• федеральный /fɪdəˈrælʲnɨj/ - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in political, legal, and governmental contexts, but not everyday conversation).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and formal vocabulary, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge).

Pronunciation (Russian):

федеральный: /fɪdəˈrælʲnɨj/

Note on федеральный: The stress is on the third syllable ("rælʲ"), and the "лʲ" is a palatalized "l" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, almost "y"-like quality after the "l".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to a federal system of government, such as a centralized authority over states or regions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• федеральный - Used in formal contexts like politics, law, or administration to describe entities under federal jurisdiction, such as federal laws or agencies.

Usage Examples:

• В России федеральный уровень власти отвечает за национальную оборону.

  In Russia, the federal level of government is responsible for national defense.

• Федеральный бюджет ежегодно утверждается парламентом.

  The federal budget is approved by the parliament every year.

• Президент РФ является главой федерального государства.

  The President of the Russian Federation is the head of the federal state.

• Федеральный закон регулирует отношения между регионами.

  Federal law governs relations between regions.

• В федеральном округе проводятся специальные административные реформы.

  In the federal district, special administrative reforms are carried out.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

федеральный is an adjective in Russian, which means it declines based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard pattern for first-declension adjectives. Below is a table showing its inflections:

Note: This adjective is regular, so it follows standard rules without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • центральный (central) - Often used interchangeably in administrative contexts, but implies more direct control from the center.
  • общероссийский (nationwide) - Emphasizes a broader, all-Russian scope rather than strictly federal.
• Antonyms:
  • региональный (regional) - Refers to local or state-level matters, contrasting with federal authority.
  • местный (local) - Pertains to municipal or community levels, highlighting decentralization.

Related Phrases:

• федеральный закон - A federal law; used in legal contexts to denote laws enacted at the national level.
• федеральный округ - A federal district; refers to administrative divisions in Russia, often with specific governance structures.
• федеральный бюджет - The federal budget; commonly discussed in economic or fiscal policy conversations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "федеральный" directly corresponds to the English "federal" in contexts involving government structures, especially in countries like Russia with a federal system. It is typically used in formal writing or speech and must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For English learners, choose "федеральный" when discussing centralized national authority, but avoid it in everyday informal settings where more general terms like "государственный" (state) might suffice. If multiple translations exist, prioritize "федеральный" for precise political terminology.

Common Errors:

• English learners often forget to decline the adjective correctly. For example, incorrectly saying "в федеральный город" instead of the proper genitive form "в федеральном городе" (in the federal city). Correct usage: Use the appropriate case, e.g., "в федеральном городе" to mean "in the federal city".

• Confusing it with synonyms: Mistaking "федеральный" for "региональный" in sentences, leading to errors like "федеральный закон региона" (which is wrong because regional laws are "региональные законы"). Explanation: Always check the context; "федеральный" implies national-level application.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, "федеральный" carries significant cultural and historical weight due to the country's federal structure, established in the 1993 Constitution. It reflects the balance between central authority in Moscow and the autonomy of regions like Siberia or the Far East, often evoking discussions of national unity versus regional diversity in post-Soviet history.

Related Concepts:

• конституционный (constitutional)
• государственный (state-related)
• административный (administrative)