Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'labourer'

English Word: labourer

Key Russian Translations:

• рабочий (/rɐˈbotɕɪj/) - [Formal, commonly used in professional or historical contexts]
• труженик (/truˈʐɛnʲɪk/) - [Informal, often with a positive connotation, used in literary or emotional contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered in everyday discussions about work, history, and society, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp the concept with some practice, as it involves basic noun inflections and contextual usage in Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рабочий: /rɐˈbotɕɪj/

труженик: /truˈʐɛnʲɪk/

Note on рабочий: The stress is on the second syllable (/bo/), and the 'ч' sound is a palatalized 'ch' as in 'church'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person who performs manual or physical labor, often in unskilled or semi-skilled jobs.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рабочий - Used in formal or professional contexts, such as describing factory workers or laborers in historical texts.
• труженик - Applied in more poetic or appreciative contexts, emphasizing hard work and dedication.

Usage Examples:

• В фабрике работает много квалифицированных рабочих.

  In the factory, many skilled labourers work.

• Этот труженик всю жизнь посвятил тяжелому физическому труду.

  This labourer dedicated his entire life to hard physical work.

• Рабочие на стройке зарабатывают хорошие деньги за свой труд.

  Labourers on the construction site earn good money for their work.

• В советское время труженики были героями индустриализации.

  In Soviet times, labourers were heroes of industrialization.

• Молодой рабочий быстро учится новым навыкам на заводе.

  The young labourer quickly learns new skills at the factory.

Secondary Meaning: A worker in a broader sense, including those in agriculture or manual trades.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рабочий - In agricultural or rural contexts, referring to farmhands or field workers.

Usage Examples:

• Сельские рабочие собирают урожай вручную.

  Rural labourers harvest the crops by hand.

• Труженики полей часто работают с рассвета до заката.

  Field labourers often work from dawn till dusk.

• В деревне каждый рабочий ценится за свой опыт.

  In the village, every labourer is valued for their experience.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Рабочий" is a masculine noun (from the adjective form) that follows the standard first-declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in -ий. It has regular inflections based on case, number, and gender. "Труженик" is also a masculine noun with similar inflection patterns.

For "труженик": It follows a similar pattern but is less commonly inflected in modern usage due to its more abstract or literary nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • работник - More general term for any worker, often interchangeable in professional contexts.
  • трудящийся - Emphasizes the act of labor, with a slightly formal tone.
• Antonyms:
  • начальник - Refers to a boss or supervisor, highlighting the opposite role in a hierarchy.
  • интеллигент - Implies an intellectual or white-collar professional, contrasting with manual labor.

Related Phrases:

• Сезонный рабочий - Seasonal labourer; refers to workers hired for temporary jobs, like in agriculture.
• Квалифицированный труженик - Skilled labourer; used for workers with specialized training.
• Рабочий класс - The working class; a broader social concept in historical and sociological contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "рабочий" directly corresponds to "labourer" in British English or "laborer" in American English, but it's often more neutral and can encompass both skilled and unskilled workers. Choose "труженик" for contexts emphasizing dedication or heroism, as in literature or motivational speech. Be mindful of grammatical gender: both are masculine nouns, so they agree with masculine adjectives and verbs. In formal writing, use the genitive case for possession, e.g., "работа рабочего" (the work of the labourer).

Common Errors:

• Confusing case endings: English speakers might incorrectly use the nominative form in all contexts, e.g., saying "дом рабочий" instead of "дом рабочего" (the labourer's house). Correct usage: Always inflect based on the sentence role.
• Misapplying synonyms: Using "труженик" in a casual job description, which sounds overly dramatic; opt for "рабочий" for straightforward references.
• Overgeneralization: Assuming "рабочий" always means unskilled labor; provide context to distinguish from "квалифицированный рабочий" (skilled labourer).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "труженик" carry echoes of Soviet-era propaganda, where labourers were glorified as builders of the nation. This reflects a historical emphasis on collective labor and industrialization, which can add a layer of respect or nostalgia when used today.

Related Concepts:

• профессия
• труд
• индустриализация