Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'marshal'

English Word: marshal

Key Russian Translations:

• маршал [ˈmarʂəl] - [Formal, used in military or official contexts]
• организовать [ɐrɡɐnʲɪˈzavatʲ] - [Formal or Informal, used when meaning 'to organize or arrange']

Frequency: Medium (Common in historical, military, or formal discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and military terminology for 'маршал', while 'организовать' is more straightforward but involves verb conjugations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

маршал: [ˈmarʂəl] (The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to the 'sh' in 'shoe', but with a rolled 'r' sound.)

организовать: [ɐrɡɐnʲɪˈzavatʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, like in 'go', and the final 'ть' is a soft consonant.)

Note on маршал: Pronunciation can vary slightly by region, with a more emphatic 'р' in some dialects; practice the soft 'л' for accuracy.

Note on организовать: The verb ending changes based on conjugation, which may affect pronunciation in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Military or Official Rank (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• маршал - Used in contexts referring to a high-ranking military officer, such as in historical or formal discussions about armies.

Usage Examples:

• В Великую Отечественную войну Жуков был назначен маршалом.

  In the Great Patriotic War, Zhukov was appointed as a marshal.

• Маршал Советского Союза — это высшая военная степень.

  Marshal of the Soviet Union is the highest military rank.

• Он получил звание маршала за героизм в битве.

  He received the rank of marshal for heroism in battle.

• Маршал командовал войсками на фронте.

  The marshal commanded the troops on the front lines.

To Organize or Arrange (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• организовать - Used in everyday or professional contexts when meaning 'to marshal resources' or 'to organize events'.

Usage Examples:

• Нам нужно организовать встречу как можно скорее.

  We need to marshal the meeting as soon as possible.

• Она организовала ресурсы для проекта эффективно.

  She marshaled the resources for the project effectively.

• Команда организовала парад с точностью.

  The team marshaled the parade with precision.

• Чтобы выиграть, нам следует организовать силы правильно.

  To win, we should marshal our forces properly.

• Он организовал документы перед аудитом.

  He marshaled the documents before the audit.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'маршал' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension):

For 'организовать' (a verb, 1st conjugation):

It follows regular verb patterns. Present tense examples: я организую, ты организуешь, он организует. Past tense: организовал (masc.), организовала (fem.). Imperative: организуй. Note: This verb is regular but requires attention to aspect (perfective: организовать; imperfective: организовывать).

If the word is used as an adjective or adverb, it remains uninflected in its base form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • генерал (general) - Similar to 'marshal' in military rank, but less specific.
  • командующий (commander) - Used in contexts of leadership, with a slight emphasis on active command.
• Antonyms:
  • рядовой (private) - For military rank, indicating a low-level soldier.
  • распустить (to disband) - For the verb sense, meaning 'to scatter or disorganized'.

Related Phrases:

• Маршал Победы (Marshal of Victory) - A title for prominent Soviet military leaders, often referring to historical figures like Zhukov; used in commemorative contexts.
• Организовать силы (To marshal forces) - Means to gather and prepare resources or troops for action; common in strategic planning.
• Высший маршал (Supreme Marshal) - Refers to the highest military authority in a hierarchy; implies ultimate leadership.

Usage Notes:

'Маршал' directly corresponds to the English 'marshal' in military contexts, but it's primarily used for high-ranking officials in Russian history, such as in the Soviet era. Avoid using it in casual conversations; it's formal and historical. For the verb 'to marshal', 'организовать' is a versatile translation but choose it based on context—pair it with perfective aspects for completed actions. If the English 'marshal' implies law enforcement (e.g., U.S. marshals), Russian might use 'шериф' or 'полицейский', which are not exact matches. Grammar note: Always decline nouns like 'маршал' according to Russian cases for grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'маршал' without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел маршал" instead of "Я видел маршала" (accusative case). Correct: "Я видел маршала." Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so learners must identify the sentence structure to apply the right form.

• Error: Confusing 'организовать' with its imperfective counterpart, e.g., using "организовать" for ongoing actions when "организовывать" is needed. Correct: For a completed action, use "Я организовал встречу" (I marshaled the meeting). Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects; mixing them can change the meaning or make the sentence unidiomatic.

• Error: Overgeneralizing 'маршал' to non-military contexts, e.g., translating "traffic marshal" as 'маршал' when 'регулировщик' is more appropriate. Correct: Use 'регулировщик' for traffic control. Explanation: Context is key; 'маршал' is specific to military or high-status roles.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'маршал' evokes strong historical connotations, particularly from World War II, where figures like Marshal Zhukov symbolize national heroism and victory. This term is often tied to Soviet-era pride and is frequently referenced in memorials, literature, and films, reflecting Russia's emphasis on military history and collective memory.

Related Concepts:

• генерал
• адмирал
• командование
• стратегия