Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'immigrant'

English Word: immigrant

Key Russian Translations:

• иммигрант /ɪmʲɪˈɡrant/ - [Formal, Singular; Used in official, legal, or demographic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of migration, politics, and social issues, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; As a borrowed word from English/French, it's straightforward for learners with basic vocabulary, but requires understanding of noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

иммигрант: /ɪmʲɪˈɡrant/

Note on иммигрант: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ɡrant'). Be mindful of the palatalized 'мʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person who moves to a foreign country to live there permanently, often for work, family, or refuge.

Translation(s) & Context:

• иммигрант - Used in formal contexts such as government policies, news reports, or academic discussions about population movement. It implies a legal or long-term status.

Usage Examples:

• Мой друг — иммигрант из США, и он уже освоился в России.

  My friend is an immigrant from the USA, and he has already settled in Russia.

• В России многие иммигранты работают в IT-сфере и вносят вклад в экономику.

  In Russia, many immigrants work in the IT sector and contribute to the economy.

• Правительство ввело новые правила для иммигрантов, желающих получить гражданство.

  The government introduced new rules for immigrants who wish to obtain citizenship.

• Как иммигрант, она столкнулась с культурным шоком, но быстро адаптировалась.

  As an immigrant, she faced culture shock but adapted quickly.

• Иммигранты часто учат русский язык, чтобы интегрироваться в общество.

  Immigrants often learn Russian to integrate into society.

Secondary Meaning: In broader contexts, can refer to someone who has recently arrived and is adapting, sometimes with connotations of social integration.

Translation(s) & Context:

• иммигрант - Applied in everyday or semi-formal settings, such as community events or personal stories, emphasizing the process of settlement.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый иммигрант проходит через этап адаптации к новой культуре.

  Every immigrant goes through a stage of adapting to a new culture.

• В фильме показан опыт иммигранта, борющегося с бюрократией.

  The film depicts the experience of an immigrant struggling with bureaucracy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

иммигрант is a masculine noun (мужской род) of the second declension. It follows standard patterns for borrowed nouns in Russian, with changes based on case and number. It is regular but requires attention to the soft sign (ь) in some forms.

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively easy for learners, but always check for agreement with adjectives and verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • переселенец (implies voluntary relocation, often within or to Russia; less formal than иммигрант)
  • новоприбывший (focuses on recent arrivals, more neutral)
• Antonyms:
  • эмигрант (emigrant; someone leaving their country)
  • абориген (native; someone indigenous to the area)

Related Phrases:

• новый иммигрант - A new immigrant; Refers to someone who has recently arrived and is in the early stages of integration.
• иммигрантский поток - Immigrant flow; Used in discussions about migration trends or demographics.
• иммигрант из Европы - Immigrant from Europe; A common phrase in contexts of international migration.
• легальный иммигрант - Legal immigrant; Emphasizes status in legal or policy conversations.

Usage Notes:

иммигрант directly corresponds to the English "immigrant" but is more formal in Russian. It is typically used in written or official contexts rather than casual speech, where alternatives like "приезжий" might be preferred. When choosing between translations, opt for иммигрант in legal or governmental scenarios. Note the grammatical agreement: it must align with gender, number, and case in sentences. For example, English speakers often overlook case endings, so practice with prepositions like "о" (about) which requires prepositional case.

• Always specify the country of origin for clarity, e.g., "иммигрант из США."
• In informal settings, Russian speakers might use it interchangeably with synonyms, but it's best for precise, neutral descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing иммигрант with эмигрант (emigrant). For instance, a learner might say "Он эмигрант в Россию" when meaning "He is an immigrant to Russia."

  Correct: "Он иммигрант в Россию." Explanation: эмигрант means someone leaving their home country, while иммигрант means arriving to a new one. This mix-up stems from similar roots but changes the direction of movement.

• Error: Forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "Я разговаривал иммигрант" instead of "Я разговаривал с иммигрантом."

  Correct: "Я разговаривал с иммигрантом." Explanation: The instrumental case is needed after prepositions like "с" (with), so always check the sentence structure for proper agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, the term иммигрант often carries connotations of the country's history with migration, such as during the Soviet era or post-1991 influxes from former Soviet states. It can evoke themes of cultural diversity and challenges like integration into a society with strong national identity, but it's generally neutral unless politicized in discussions about demographics or xenophobia.

Related Concepts:

• миграция (migration)
• беженец (refugee)
• адаптация (adaptation)
• гражданство (citizenship)