Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'intelligence'

English Word: intelligence

Key Russian Translations:

• Интеллект (Intellect) /ɪn.tʲɪlʲ.ˈlʲɛkt/ - [Formal, Singular, Used in academic or psychological contexts]
• Разведка (Espionage or Intelligence Service) /rɐ.ˈzʲɛdkə/ - [Formal, Singular, Used in military or governmental contexts]
• Интеллигенция (Intelligentsia, social class) /ɪn.tʲɪlʲ.ɪ.ˈɡʲɛn.tsɨ.ə/ - [Formal, Plural, Used in sociological or historical discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in educated and professional contexts, but not everyday casual speech).

Difficulty: B2-Intermediate for "Интеллект"; C1-Advanced for "Разведка" and "Интеллигенция" due to cultural and contextual nuances.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Интеллект: /ɪn.tʲɪlʲ.ˈlʲɛkt/

Разведка: /rɐ.ˈzʲɛdkə/

Интеллигенция: /ɪn.tʲɪlʲ.ɪ.ˈɡʲɛn.tsɨ.ə/

Note on Интеллект: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on Разведка: Pronounce the 'з' as a voiced 'z' sound; it may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Intellectual capacity or cognitive ability

Translation(s) & Context:

• Интеллект - Used in educational or psychological contexts to refer to mental sharpness or IQ.

Usage Examples:

• Его интеллект позволяет ему решать сложные математические задачи.

  His intelligence allows him to solve complex mathematical problems.

• Развитие интеллекта у детей начинается с раннего возраста.

  The development of intelligence in children begins at an early age.

• В тесте измеряется не только интеллект, но и креативность.

  The test measures not only intelligence but also creativity.

• Интеллект человека формируется под влиянием генетики и среды.

  A person's intelligence is shaped by both genetics and environment.

Meaning 2: Information gathering or espionage

Translation(s) & Context:

• Разведка - Used in contexts involving security, military, or covert operations.

Usage Examples:

• Агенты разведки собрали важные данные о вражеских планах.

  Intelligence agents gathered important data on enemy plans.

• Разведка страны играет ключевую роль в национальной безопасности.

  The country's intelligence plays a key role in national security.

• Он работал в разведке во время холодной войны.

  He worked in intelligence during the Cold War.

• Современная разведка включает кибертехнологии и анализ данных.

  Modern intelligence includes cyber technologies and data analysis.

Meaning 3: Educated social class

Translation(s) & Context:

• Интеллигенция - Refers to a historical or cultural elite, often in literary or social discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Русская интеллигенция XIX века сыграла важную роль в реформах.

  The Russian intelligentsia of the 19th century played a significant role in reforms.

• Интеллигенция часто критикует правительство за социальные проблемы.

  The intelligentsia often criticizes the government for social issues.

• В советское время интеллигенция была оппозиционной силой.

  In Soviet times, the intelligentsia was an oppositional force.

• Современная интеллигенция включает ученых, писателей и активистов.

  Modern intelligentsia includes scholars, writers, and activists.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Интеллект" (a masculine noun):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Интеллект	Интеллекты
Genitive	Интеллекта	Интеллектов
Dative	Интеллекту	Интеллектам
Accusative	Интеллект	Интеллекты
Instrumental	Интеллектом	Интеллектами
Prepositional	Интеллекте	Интеллектах

For "Разведка" (a feminine noun): It follows standard first-declension patterns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Разведка	Разведки
Genitive	Разведки	Разведок

For "Интеллигенция" (feminine noun): It is irregular in plural forms and does not change much in some cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for Интеллект: Ум (Mind) - More general; Интеллигентность (Intellectuality) - Emphasizes refinement.
• Synonyms for Разведка: Шпионаж (Spying) - Informal equivalent.
• Synonyms for Интеллигенция: Элита (Elite) - Used in modern contexts.
• Antonyms: Глупость (Stupidity) for Интеллект; Пассивность (Passivity) for Интеллигенция.

Related Phrases:

• Интеллектуальный уровень (Intellectual level) - Refers to the degree of cognitive ability.
• Служба разведки (Intelligence service) - A formal phrase for government agencies.
• Русская интеллигенция (Russian intelligentsia) - Often used in historical contexts to denote cultural figures.

Usage Notes:

"Интеллект" directly corresponds to the cognitive aspect of "intelligence" and is preferred in formal, academic English-to-Russian translations. Avoid using it in casual speech where "ум" might suffice. For "Разведка", it's specifically tied to espionage, so use it only in contexts involving security to match the English term accurately. "Интеллигенция" carries a cultural connotation and is best for historical or social discussions; be mindful of its plural form in Russian sentences.

• Grammar note: All these nouns require proper case agreement with adjectives and verbs.
• Choice guide: If "intelligence" means IQ, use "Интеллект"; for spying, use "Разведка".

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "Интеллект" with "Интеллигенция", using the latter incorrectly in cognitive contexts. For example, incorrect: "Его интеллигенция очень высока" (His intelligentsia is very high) – Correct: "Его интеллект очень высок" (His intelligence is very high). Explanation: "Интеллигенция" refers to a group, not an individual trait. Another error is mispronouncing the soft consonants, like saying /ɪn.tɛl.ˈlɛkt/ instead of /ɪn.tʲɪlʲ.ˈlʲɛkt/, which alters the word's authenticity.

Cultural Notes:

"Интеллигенция" has deep roots in Russian history, originating from the 19th-century intellectual elite who advocated for social reform and literature. It embodies a sense of moral responsibility and cultural sophistication, often romanticized in Russian literature by authors like Tolstoy, making it more than just a translation of "intelligence" – it's a symbol of societal critique.

Related Concepts:

• Образование (Education)
• Культура (Culture)
• Анализ (Analysis)