Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'loyalist'

English Word: loyalist

Key Russian Translations:

• лоялист [lɐˈjɑlʲɪst] - [Formal, Historical context, often used in political or revolutionary discussions]
• верный сторонник [ˈvʲernɨj stɐˈronnʲɪk] - [General use, Informal or neutral, applicable in everyday or broader loyalty contexts]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; it appears primarily in historical, political, or academic texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of historical and political vocabulary. For 'лоялист', it's B2 due to specific cultural connotations; for 'верный сторонник', it might be A2 for basic forms but B1 in complex sentences.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лоялист: [lɐˈjɑlʲɪst]

верный сторонник: [ˈvʲernɨj stɐˈronnʲɪk]

Note on лоялист: The stress falls on the second syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian palatalized 'л' sound; pronounce it with a soft, almost 'ly' quality. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person who remains loyal to a particular cause, party, government, or ruler, especially during times of conflict or opposition.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лоялист - Used in historical or political contexts, such as referring to supporters of a monarchy or established power, e.g., in discussions of the American Revolution.
• верный сторонник - Applied in general loyalty scenarios, like in modern politics or personal allegiances, but less specific to historical events.

Usage Examples:

• В американской революции лоялисты отказывались от независимости и поддерживали британскую корону.

  In the American Revolution, loyalists rejected independence and supported the British crown.

• Многие лоялисты эмигрировали в Канаду после поражения в войне за независимость.

  Many loyalists emigrated to Canada after the defeat in the war for independence.

• Он был верным сторонником партии, несмотря на все скандалы и кризисы.

  He was a loyal supporter of the party, despite all the scandals and crises.

• В исторических текстах лоялист часто противопоставляется революционерам и патриотам.

  In historical texts, a loyalist is often contrasted with revolutionaries and patriots.

• Как верный сторонник, она всегда защищала интересы своей компании в трудные времена.

  As a loyal supporter, she always defended her company's interests in difficult times.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Лоялист' is a masculine noun borrowed from English, following standard Russian second-declension patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. It has regular inflections. 'Верный сторонник' is a phrase where 'верный' is an adjective and 'сторонник' is a masculine noun with regular inflections.

Note: These are regular patterns; no irregularities. Adjectives like 'верный' agree in case, number, and gender with the noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • верный (exact match for 'loyal', but as an adjective)
  • преданный (implies deep devotion, often with emotional connotation)
  • сторонник (general supporter, but less specific to loyalty)
• Antonyms:
  • предатель (traitor, directly opposes loyalty)
  • изменник (defector or betrayer, used in formal or historical contexts)

Note: 'Верный' and 'преданный' can have subtle differences; 'преданный' often carries a stronger emotional tie, while 'верный' is more neutral.

Related Phrases:

• лоялистская партия - A loyalist party (refers to a political group remaining faithful to a cause or leader).
• верный приверженец идеи - A loyal adherent to an idea (used in ideological or philosophical contexts).
• сторонник короны - Supporter of the crown (historical phrase, similar to 'loyalist' in monarchical settings).

Usage Notes:

'Лоялист' directly corresponds to the English 'loyalist' in historical contexts, such as the American Revolution, and is best used in formal writing or discussions. In contrast, 'верный сторонник' is more versatile for everyday loyalty but may not capture the political nuance. English speakers should note that Russian requires agreement in gender, number, and case, so always inflect based on sentence structure. For example, choose 'лоялист' for specific historical references and 'верный сторонник' for broader applications. Be cautious with context: in modern Russian, these terms can imply positive loyalty but might carry negative connotations in revolutionary narratives.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'лоялист' in non-historical contexts, e.g., saying "Он лоялист своей семьи" (He is a loyalist to his family), which sounds awkward because it's too formal. Correct: "Он верный сторонник своей семьи." Explanation: 'Лоялист' is context-specific; opt for 'верный' for personal matters to avoid anachronistic usage.

• Mistake: Forgetting to inflect the noun, e.g., saying "Я поддерживаю лоялист" instead of "Я поддерживаю лоялиста" in accusative case. Correct: Always check the case, as in "Я увидел лоялиста" (I saw the loyalist). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree with prepositions and verbs, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like 'лоялист' evoke the era of revolutions and imperialism, such as the Russian Civil War or references to foreign events like the American Revolution. It often carries a connotation of conservatism or resistance to change, reflecting Russia's own complex history with loyalty to the tsars or the Soviet state. Understanding this helps English users grasp the emotional weight in Russian discourse.

Related Concepts:

• патриот
• революционер
• сторонник режима