Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mob'

English Word: mob

Key Russian Translations:

• толпа [ˈtol.pə] - [Informal, often used for a disorderly crowd]
• банда [ˈban.də] - [Informal, with connotations of criminal or organized groups]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language, especially in news or literature about crowds or social unrest)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner; straightforward for English speakers due to simple vocabulary, but context-dependent)

Pronunciation (Russian):

толпа: [ˈtol.pə]

банда: [ˈban.də]

Note on толпа: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the "л" sound, which is a soft lateral approximant in Russian.

Note on банда: The "д" is pronounced as a voiced dental plosive; common in fast speech, it may soften in casual contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A large crowd of people, often disorderly or intent on violent action.

Translation(s) & Context:

• толпа - Used in informal or neutral contexts for a chaotic group, such as protests or public gatherings.
• банда - Applied in contexts involving criminal elements, like organized crime, which may imply a more negative or formal tone.

Usage Examples:

• Русская толпа заполнила улицы во время демонстрации.

  The mob filled the streets during the demonstration.

• Полиция разогнала банду хулиганов на площади.

  The police dispersed the mob of hooligans in the square.

• В исторических фильмах часто показывают, как толпа штурмует дворец.

  In historical films, they often show the mob storming the palace.

• Местная банда молодых людей устроила беспорядки в парке.

  The local mob of young people caused disturbances in the park.

• Толпа разъярённых протестующих скандировала лозунги всю ночь.

  The enraged mob chanted slogans all night.

A group associated with organized crime (secondary meaning).

Translation(s) & Context:

• банда - Used in formal or crime-related contexts, such as legal discussions or media reports.

Usage Examples:

• Местная банда контролирует контрабанду в регионе.

  The local mob controls the smuggling in the region.

• Расследование раскрыло связи банды с международной мафией.

  The investigation uncovered the mob's ties to international crime syndicates.

• Банда преступников была арестована после длительной слежки.

  The mob of criminals was arrested after a long surveillance operation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "толпа" (feminine noun) and "банда" (feminine noun) follow standard Russian declension patterns for third-declension nouns. They are regular but exhibit changes based on case, number, and gender.

Note: These nouns do not change in the plural genitive form in some contexts, but the above is standard. They are invariant in gender across forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • масса (massa) - More neutral, for a large mass of people.
  • народ (narod) - Implies a collective group, often with cultural connotations; differs from толпа by being less chaotic.
  • группа (gruppa) - General term for a group, but less intense.
• Antonyms:
  • одиночка (odinochka) - Refers to an individual or loner.
  • элита (elita) - Implies an elite or exclusive group, opposite of a disorderly mob.

Related Phrases:

• беспорядочная толпа - A disorderly mob; used in contexts of riots or unrest.
• уличная банда - Street mob; common in urban crime discussions.
• возбуждённая толпа - Excited or agitated mob; implies emotional intensity in public settings.

Usage Notes:

"Толпа" directly corresponds to the English "mob" in the sense of a crowd, but it's more neutral and can be used in both positive and negative contexts, whereas "банда" aligns with criminal connotations. Choose "толпа" for everyday or informal scenarios and "банда" for organized crime. Be mindful of Russian's case system when using these words in sentences, as they must agree with verbs and prepositions. For example, in formal writing, avoid overusing "толпа" in positive contexts to prevent negative undertones.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "толпа" with "моб" (as in mobile phone slang). Error: Saying "моб толпа" to mean a phone-related crowd. Correct: Use "толпа" only for crowds and avoid mixing with English loanwords. Explanation: "Моб" is not standard for crowds; it might refer to "mob" as in mobile, leading to misunderstandings in communication.

• Neglecting case agreement. Error: Saying "в толпа" instead of "в толпе". Correct: "в толпе" (prepositional case). Explanation: Russian nouns change based on their role in the sentence, so always check the case for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "толпа" often carries historical connotations from events like the Russian Revolution, where crowds played a pivotal role in social upheaval. It can symbolize the power of the masses but also chaos, reflecting themes in literature by authors like Tolstoy. "Банда" is frequently associated with post-Soviet crime waves, highlighting societal issues like organized crime in media and films.

Related Concepts:

• демонстрация (demonstratsiya)
• протест (protest)
• массовое собрание (massovoe sobranije)