Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'incumbency'

English Word: incumbency

Key Russian Translations:

• срок полномочий /srok polnomoˈʧij/ - [Formal, Political context]
• должность /ˈdolʒnəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, General administrative context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in political and legal discussions but not everyday conversation; appears frequently in news and formal writing).

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of political vocabulary and noun phrases, as per CEFR standards. For "срок полномочий", it's B2; for "должность", it could be B1 if used in basic contexts).

Pronunciation (Russian):

срок полномочий: /srok polnomoˈʧij/ (The stress is on the third syllable of "полномочий". Note that "ч" is pronounced as a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to "ch" in "loch".)

должность: /ˈdolʒnəsʲtʲ/ (Stress on the first syllable; the "ж" is a voiced palatal fricative, like "s" in "measure".)

Note on срок полномочий: This compound noun can vary slightly in pronunciation based on regional accents, but the standard Moscow dialect emphasizes clear separation between words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The period of time during which a person holds an official position, especially in politics or business.

Translation(s) & Context:

• срок полномочий - Used in formal political contexts, such as elections or governmental terms, to denote the duration of authority.
• должность - Applied more broadly to refer to the position itself, often implying the tenure in administrative or corporate settings.

Usage Examples:

• В прошлом году президент завершил свой срок полномочий и передал власть преемнику.

  Last year, the president completed his incumbency and handed over power to his successor.

• Из-за экономического кризиса многие чиновники потеряли свои сроки полномочий раньше срока.

  Due to the economic crisis, many officials lost their incumbency earlier than expected.

• Её должность в компании была продлена, так как она эффективно управляла проектами во время своей инкумбентности.

  Her position in the company was extended because she effectively managed projects during her incumbency.

• Срок полномочий мэра истекает в следующем месяце, что вызывает дебаты о новых выборах.

  The mayor's incumbency ends next month, sparking debates about new elections.

• В юридических документах должность часто описывается как временная инкумбентность с фиксированным сроком.

  In legal documents, the position is often described as a temporary incumbency with a fixed term.

Meaning 2: The state or fact of being the current holder of an office or position.

Translation(s) & Context:

• срок полномочий - Emphasizes the ongoing status in formal or official contexts.
• должность - Focuses on the role itself, often in professional evaluations.

Usage Examples:

• Его инкумбентность как CEO принесла компании значительный рост.

  His incumbency as CEO brought significant growth to the company. (Note: In Russian, this is phrased as: Его срок полномочий в качестве CEO принес компании значительный рост.)

• Должность министра требует полной преданности во время инкумбентности.

  The position of minister demands full dedication during incumbency.

• Во время своего срока полномочий она ввела несколько реформ в системе образования.

  During her incumbency, she introduced several reforms to the education system.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Срок полномочий" is a noun phrase where "срок" (term) is a masculine noun and "полномочий" (powers, genitive plural) is a neuter noun in the genitive case. It follows standard Russian declension patterns but is often used as an indeclinable phrase in fixed contexts.

For "должность" (feminine noun), it declines regularly as follows:

Note: These words do not have irregular inflections but must agree in case with surrounding elements in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мандат (mandate; similar but often implies a specific authority granted by voters)
  • пост (post; more general, used for any official role)
• Antonyms:
  • увольнение (dismissal; indicates the end of holding a position)
  • отставка (resignation; voluntary relinquishment)

Related Phrases:

• Конец срока полномочий - End of incumbency; refers to the conclusion of a term in office.
• Вступление в должность - Taking up incumbency; used for assuming a new position.
• Продление срока полномочий - Extension of incumbency; common in political contexts for prolonging a term.

Usage Notes:

"Срок полномочий" is the most precise translation for "incumbency" in political contexts, directly corresponding to the duration of office, while "должность" emphasizes the role itself. Use "срок полномочий" in formal or legal English-Russian translations to maintain accuracy. Be mindful of grammatical agreement in Russian sentences; for example, it must align with adjectives or verbs in case and number. In informal settings, Russians might opt for simpler phrases, so guide learners to choose based on context—e.g., avoid "должность" for purely temporal meanings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "срок полномочий" with "инкумбент" (which means the person holding the office, not the period). Incorrect: "Его инкумбент был длинным." Correct: "Его срок полномочий был длинным." Explanation: "Инкумбент" refers to the incumbent person, so use "срок полномочий" for the time aspect to avoid mixing up the noun's focus.

• Error: Failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Incorrect: "О срок полномочий" (should be genitive). Correct: "О сроке полномочий." Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook, leading to grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and politics, "срок полномочий" often carries implications of stability and legitimacy, especially in the context of presidential terms as per the Russian Constitution. For instance, extensions of incumbency can evoke historical sensitivities related to authoritarian rule, such as during the Soviet era, making it a loaded term in discussions about democracy and power transitions.

Related Concepts:

• выборы (elections)
• президентство (presidency)
• государственная служба (public service)