Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'legion'

English Word: legion

Key Russian Translations:

• легион [lʲɪˈɡʲon] - [Formal, often used in historical or military contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation but appears in historical, literary, or academic discussions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian noun declensions and vocabulary related to history or large groups.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

легион: [lʲɪˈɡʲon]

Note on легион: The stress falls on the second syllable ("ɡʲon"). Be mindful of the palatalized "lʲ" sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, front-of-the-mouth articulation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A large military unit or army division (historical or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• легион - Used in formal or historical contexts to refer to a Roman legion or a large organized group, often with a military connotation.

Usage Examples:

• В древнем Риме легион состоял из тысяч солдат.

  In ancient Rome, a legion consisted of thousands of soldiers.

• Этот легион воинов защищал границы империи.

  This legion of warriors defended the empire's borders.

• Легион современных технологий изменил нашу повседневную жизнь.

  The legion of modern technologies has changed our everyday life. (Metaphorical use for a large array of items.)

• Историки изучают, как легион Юлия Цезаря завоевал Галлию.

  Historians study how Julius Caesar's legion conquered Gaul.

Meaning 2: A very large number or multitude of people or things (figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• легион - Employed metaphorically in literary or informal contexts to describe a vast quantity, similar to "horde" or "multitude" in English.

Usage Examples:

• В городе собрался легион протестующих, требующих перемен.

  A legion of protesters gathered in the city, demanding change.

• Её коллекция книг превратилась в настоящий легион томов.

  Her collection of books has turned into a real legion of volumes.

• Легион идей涌нул в его голову во время мозгового штурма.

  A legion of ideas flooded his mind during the brainstorming session.

• На фестивале было легион посетителей из разных стран.

  There was a legion of visitors from different countries at the festival.

• Легион проблем возникло из-за плохой погоды.

  A legion of problems arose due to the bad weather.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Легион" is a masculine noun in the second declension. It follows regular patterns for most cases but has some variations based on standard Russian grammar. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word is relatively straightforward and follows regular masculine noun patterns, with no irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • масса (mass) - Often used for a large, amorphous group.
  • толпа (crowd) - Implies a disorganized multitude.
  • армия (army) - Specifically for military contexts, with a connotation of organization.
• Antonyms:
  • единица (unit) - Refers to a single or small entity.
  • малость (smallness) - Indicates scarcity or a small number.

Related Phrases:

• Римский легион (Roman legion) - Refers to the historical military unit in ancient Rome.
• Легион чести (Legion of Honor) - A prestigious award, similar to military honors.
• Легион иностранцев (Foreign Legion) - Alludes to the French Foreign Legion, used in contexts of mercenary forces.

Usage Notes:

"Легион" directly corresponds to the English "legion" in its military and figurative senses, but it's more commonly used in formal, historical, or literary Russian rather than everyday speech. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like this one must agree in case, number, and gender with other words in the sentence. For example, choose this word when emphasizing scale or organization, but opt for simpler synonyms like "масса" in casual contexts. If the context involves modern military terms, "легион" might sound archaic, so consider alternatives based on register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "легион" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "в легион" instead of "в легионе" for "in the legion". Correct: "в легионе" – This happens because English doesn't have cases, so learners forget to adjust for prepositional phrases.

• Error: Overusing "легион" metaphorically where a more precise word fits, e.g., translating "a legion of fans" as "легион фанатов" when "масса фанатов" might be more natural. Correct: Use "легион" only if the sense of military-like organization is intended; otherwise, choose based on context to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "легион" often evokes images of ancient Roman history, as popularized in literature and films like those about Julius Caesar. It can carry a sense of grandeur or imperialism, reflecting Russia's own historical fascination with military epics, such as in Tolstoy's works. This word is rarely used in contemporary slang, making it a marker of educated or formal discourse.

Related Concepts:

• армия (army)
• войско (troops)
• множество (multitude)