Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'federation'

English Word: federation

Key Russian Translations:

• федерация [fɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə] - [Formal, Used in political and administrative contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in political, historical, and geographical discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of basic political vocabulary and noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

федерация: [fɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə]

Note on федерация: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ratsɨ"). Pay attention to the palatalized 'dʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in pronunciation may occur based on regional accents in Russia.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: A political entity consisting of a union of states or regions with a central government, often sharing sovereignty.

Translation(s) & Context:

• федерация - Used in formal contexts to describe countries like Russia or the United States, emphasizing a system of shared governance. Commonly appears in legal, historical, or news-related discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Россия является федерацией, где субъекты имеют определённую автономию.

  Russia is a federation where its constituent entities have a certain degree of autonomy.

• Федерация объединяет разные регионы под единым федеральным правительством.

  The federation unites various regions under a single federal government.

• В федерации, как в США, баланс власти между центром и штатами строго регулируется.

  In a federation like the US, the balance of power between the center and states is strictly regulated.

• Создание федерации помогло стабилизировать регион после конфликтов.

  The creation of a federation helped stabilize the region after conflicts.

• Федерация Австралия известна своей федеративной структурой и разнообразием штатов.

  The Federation of Australia is known for its federal structure and diversity of states.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

федерация is a feminine noun (3rd declension in Russian). It follows standard noun declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -ия. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • союз (soyuz) - Often used for unions or alliances, with a broader connotation of unity.
  • федеративное государство (federativnoe gosudarstvo) - Emphasizes the state aspect, suitable for more technical discussions.
• Antonyms:
  • унитарное государство (unitarnoe gosudarstvo) - Refers to a centralized state without regional autonomy.
  • конфедерация (konfederatsiya) - A looser association of states with more independence.

Related Phrases:

• Российская Федерация - Refers to the Russian Federation as a whole, often used in official contexts to denote the country.
• Федеративная структура - Describes a federal structure, highlighting organizational aspects in governance.
• Вступить в федерацию - Means "to join a federation," used in discussions about political unions or integrations.

Usage Notes:

федерация directly corresponds to the English "federation" in political contexts, but it is more commonly used in formal or written Russian rather than everyday speech. When translating, ensure the context specifies the type of federation (e.g., national vs. organizational). For instance, in Russian, it often implies a multi-level government system, so avoid direct equivalents if the English term refers to something like a sports federation (which might use "федерация" but with additional context). Grammatically, always decline it according to the sentence structure, as Russian nouns must agree in case.

• Choose федерация over synonyms like союз if emphasizing a structured, legal union.
• In informal settings, Russians might use abbreviations like "РФ" for Russian Federation.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake федерация for a non-declinable word, leading to incorrect case usage. For example:

• Error: *Я живу в федерация (incorrect, as it should be in the prepositional case).
• Correct: Я живу в федерации. (Explanation: The prepositional case requires "федерации" to indicate location.)
• Another common error is confusing it with конфедерация, which implies a weaker union; always check the level of centralization in context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, федерация often evokes the post-Soviet reorganization of Russia into a federal state in 1993, symbolizing national unity amid ethnic diversity. It carries connotations of balancing central authority with regional autonomy, reflecting Russia's vast geography and multicultural society. This term is deeply tied to national identity, especially in discussions of federal subjects like republics and oblasts.

Related Concepts:

• республика (respublika)
• область (oblast')
• федеральный (federal'nyy)