Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'librarian'

English Word: librarian

Key Russian Translations:

• библиотекарь [bʲɪblʲɪɐˈtʲokərʲ] - [Formal, used in professional or educational contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in educational, literary, and everyday discussions about institutions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "book" or "school")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic vocabulary related to professions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

библиотекарь: [bʲɪblʲɪɐˈtʲokərʲ]

Note on библиотекарь: The stress falls on the third syllable ("tʲokərʲ"), and the initial "bʲ" sound is a palatalized 'b', which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: A person who works in a library, managing collections, assisting users, and organizing resources.

Translation(s) & Context:

• библиотекарь - Used in formal contexts such as job descriptions, educational settings, or when discussing library staff in Russia.

Usage Examples:

• В нашей библиотеке работает опытный библиотекарь, который всегда помогает с подбором книг.

  In our library, there works an experienced librarian who always helps with selecting books.

• Библиотекарь в музее организует выставки редких изданий для посетителей.

  The librarian at the museum organizes exhibitions of rare editions for visitors.

• Молодой библиотекарь использует современные технологии для каталогизации книг.

  The young librarian uses modern technology for cataloging books.

• В школьной библиотеке библиотекарь проводит уроки по литературе для учеников.

  In the school library, the librarian conducts literature lessons for students.

• Библиотекарь вежливо ответил на вопрос посетителя о редкой книге.

  The librarian politely answered the visitor's question about a rare book.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Библиотекарь is a masculine noun (3rd declension) and follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns. It changes based on case, number, and gender agreement. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular inflections, making it straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: библиотечный работник (more general term for library worker) - Often used interchangeably but implies a broader role; хранитель книг (book keeper) - Archaic and poetic, used in literary contexts.
• Antonyms: Not directly applicable, as this is a profession; however, a contrasting concept might be читатель (reader), referring to a library user.

Related Phrases:

• Главный библиотекарь - Head librarian; refers to the senior staff member in charge of a library.
• Библиотекарь на телефоне - Librarian on the phone; used in contexts like answering inquiries.
• Школьный библиотекарь - School librarian; specifically for educational institutions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "библиотекарь" directly corresponds to the English "librarian" in professional contexts but is more formal. It is commonly used in written documents, job titles, or discussions about cultural institutions. Be mindful of gender agreement: use masculine forms by default, but adjust for feminine counterparts like "библиотекарь" if referring to a female (though it's the same word, context implies gender). When choosing between translations, "библиотекарь" is preferred for precision over more general terms. In everyday speech, it's often paired with locations, e.g., "в библиотеке" (in the library).

Common Errors:

• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., saying "Я видел библиотекарь" instead of "Я видел библиотекаря" (accusative case). Correct: Use the proper declension based on sentence structure. Explanation: Russian requires nouns to change form to indicate their role in the sentence, which English speakers often overlook.

• Error: Confusing with "библиотека" (library), leading to misuse like "библиотека работает" instead of "библиотекарь работает." Correct: "Библиотекарь работает в библиотеке." Explanation: Ensure the word is used in the right context to avoid ambiguity between the person and the place.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, librarians (библиотекари) hold a respected role in preserving national literature and history, especially in institutions like the Russian State Library in Moscow. This profession often evokes images of intellectual pursuit and access to knowledge, influenced by Russia's literary heritage from authors like Pushkin and Tolstoy. Libraries are seen as community hubs, so "библиотекарь" carries a connotation of guardianship over cultural heritage.

Related Concepts:

• библиотека (library)
• книжный фонд (book collection)
• читальный зал (reading room)