Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'firefighter'

English Word: firefighter

Key Russian Translations:

• пожарный /pɐˈʐarnɨj/ - [Formal, Masculine, Singular; Used in professional or emergency contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly encountered in news, safety discussions, and everyday conversations about public services, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and basic vocabulary related to professions, as per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

пожарный: /pɐˈʐarnɨj/

Note on пожарный: The stress falls on the second syllable (/ʐar-/). The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in 'measure'. Be mindful of the soft sign 'ы' affecting vowel pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person who fights fires and responds to emergencies, often as part of a professional service.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожарный - Used in formal, professional, or descriptive contexts, such as describing emergency responders or in official reports.

Usage Examples:

• Пожарный быстро прибыл на место пожара и эвакуировал жителей.

  The firefighter quickly arrived at the fire scene and evacuated the residents.

• В России пожарные проходят строгий отбор и обучение для спасения людей.

  In Russia, firefighters undergo strict selection and training to save people.

• Мой отец был пожарным в течение 20 лет, и он всегда рисковал жизнью.

  My father was a firefighter for 20 years, and he always risked his life.

• Во время лесных пожаров пожарные работают круглосуточно.

  During forest fires, firefighters work around the clock.

• Пожарный использовал специальное оборудование, чтобы потушить пламя.

  The firefighter used special equipment to extinguish the flames.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Пожарный" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the second declension. It follows regular patterns for most cases and numbers, but like many nouns, it changes based on grammatical context. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

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

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • огнеборец (ogneborets) - Less common, used in poetic or historical contexts to emphasize fire-fighting heroism.
  • спасатель (spasatel) - More general, implying rescue work, often interchangeable in emergency scenarios but broader in scope.
• Antonyms:
  • Поджигатель (podzhigatel) - Means arsonist, directly opposite in the context of fire-related professions.

Related Phrases:

• Пожарная служба (Pozharnaya sluzhba) - Fire department; Refers to the organized service for fire prevention and response.
• Пожарная машина (Pozharnaya mashina) - Fire truck; Used when discussing emergency vehicles.
• Тушить пожар (Tushit' pozhar) - To put out a fire; A common phrase in safety instructions or narratives.

Usage Notes:

"Пожарный" directly corresponds to "firefighter" in English, emphasizing a professional role in fire suppression and rescue. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as news reports or official documents, and can be gender-neutral in plural forms. When choosing between synonyms like "спасатель," opt for "пожарный" if the focus is specifically on fire-related duties. Grammatically, always decline it according to its case in a sentence for natural flow, e.g., "Я видел пожарного" (I saw a firefighter) in accusative case.

• In informal speech, Russians might use it conversationally, but for precision, pair it with adjectives like "профессиональный" (professional) to match the English connotation.
• Be aware of regional variations; in some contexts, it may imply volunteer roles versus paid professionals.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse cases when declining "пожарный," such as using the nominative form in all situations. For example:

• Error: "Я помог пожарный" (Incorrect; This mixes cases and sounds unnatural.)
• Correct: "Я помог пожарному" (Correct; Dative case for "to the firefighter." Explanation: In Russian, the direct object or recipient requires the appropriate case, here dative for assistance.)
• Another common mistake is confusing it with "пожар" (fire), leading to sentences like "Пожар спас людей" (Error: Fire saved people), which should be "Пожарный спас людей."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, firefighters are highly respected as heroes, especially given the country's history with large-scale fires and disasters, such as those in urban areas or forests. The term "пожарный" often evokes images from Soviet-era propaganda, where they were portrayed as brave defenders of the community, influencing modern perceptions in media and public holidays like Firefighters' Day.

Related Concepts:

• пожар (pozhar) - Fire
• спасение (spaseniye) - Rescue
• экстренные службы (ekstrennye sluzhby) - Emergency services