Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nation'

English Word: nation

Key Russian Translations:

• нация /ˈnat͡sijə/ - [Formal, used in political or sociological contexts]
• народ /nɐˈrod/ - [Informal, Plural, often implies ethnic or cultural group]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal discussions, news, and academic texts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

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

Pronunciation (Russian):

нация: /ˈnat͡sijə/ (The stress is on the first syllable; the 'ц' is a voiceless alveolar affricate, similar to 'ts' in 'bits')

народ: /nɐˈrod/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'о' in the second syllable is reduced in casual speech)

Note on нация: Be cautious with the palatalized 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it softens slightly before 'и'.

Note on народ: In fast speech, the 'о' may sound like a schwa [ə], common in unstressed positions.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A large group of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language (e.g., an ethnic or cultural entity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• народ - Used in informal or cultural contexts, such as discussing heritage or folklore.
• нация - Applied in more formal settings, like international relations or demographics.

Usage Examples:

• Русский народ имеет богатую историю и традиции. (The Russian people have a rich history and traditions.)

  English: The Russian nation has a rich history and traditions.

• Каждый народ имеет свои уникальные обычаи. (Every nation has its unique customs.)

  English: Every nation has its unique customs. (Here, 'народ' emphasizes cultural aspects.)

• Нация должна уважать права меньшинств. (A nation must respect the rights of minorities.)

  English: A nation must respect the rights of minorities. (Formal usage in political discourse.)

• В России живут представители многих народов. (In Russia, representatives of many nations live.)

  English: In Russia, representatives of many nations live. (Plural context, highlighting diversity.)

• Нация формируется через общие ценности и язык. (A nation is formed through shared values and language.)

  English: A nation is formed through shared values and language. (Abstract, sociological usage.)

Meaning 2: A political unit or sovereign state (e.g., a country as an organized entity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• нация - Primarily used for political or state-related contexts, such as in diplomacy.
• государство /ɡəsʲˈdarstvə/ - Sometimes interchangeable, but more focused on the governmental structure.

Usage Examples:

• Каждая нация имеет свои законы и границы. (Each nation has its own laws and borders.)

  English: Each nation has its own laws and borders.

• Нация Россия гордится своей историей. (The nation of Russia is proud of its history.)

  English: The nation of Russia is proud of its history. (Emphasizes national identity in a formal sense.)

• Международные отношения зависят от сотрудничества наций. (International relations depend on the cooperation of nations.)

  English: International relations depend on the cooperation of nations. (Global context.)

• Нация может эволюционировать через реформы. (A nation can evolve through reforms.)

  English: A nation can evolve through reforms. (Dynamic usage in discussions of change.)

• Государство как нация защищает своих граждан. (The state as a nation protects its citizens.)

  English: The state as a nation protects its citizens. (Blending with 'государство' for nuance.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "нация" (feminine noun) and "народ" (masculine noun) follow standard Russian inflection patterns. "Нация" is a first-declension noun, while "народ" is third-declension and can be irregular in plural forms.

Note: "Народ" has no gender changes but varies by number and case as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • народ (similar to 'nation' but with a cultural emphasis; often used interchangeably in informal speech)
  • страна (focuses more on the geographical or state aspect, with subtle differences in connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • регион (region; implies a smaller, non-sovereign area)
  • провинция (province; suggests a subdivision within a larger entity)

Related Phrases:

• Многонациональное государство (Multinational state; refers to a country with diverse ethnic groups, e.g., in the context of federal systems.)
• Национальная идентичность (National identity; used in discussions of cultural or political self-perception.)
• Народы мира (Peoples of the world; a phrase for global ethnic diversity.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "нация" aligns closely with the English "nation" in formal contexts, such as politics or academia, while "народ" is better for ethnic or cultural groups. Choose based on context: use "нация" for state-level discussions and "народ" for community-focused ones. Be mindful of grammar; both nouns decline, so they change form based on case (e.g., in prepositional phrases). In everyday speech, Russians might prefer "народ" for emotional or historical topics, whereas "нация" is more neutral and official.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "нация" with "народ" and using them interchangeably without context. For example, saying "Я люблю мою нацию" when "народ" might be more appropriate for cultural pride.

  Correct: "Я люблю мой народ" (I love my people). Explanation: "Нация" implies a political entity, so it might sound overly formal or incorrect in personal contexts.

• Error: Forgetting declensions, e.g., using "нация" in the wrong case, like "Я из нация" instead of "Я из нации".

  Correct: "Я из нации России" (I am from the nation of Russia). Explanation: Russian requires genitive case after prepositions like "из", so always check the noun's form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, the concept of "нация" or "народ" often ties to the country's vast ethnic diversity, with over 190 ethnic groups. Terms like these carry historical weight from events such as the Soviet era, where "народы" emphasized unity in diversity, promoting a sense of shared identity while acknowledging differences.

Related Concepts:

• государство (state)
• этнос (ethnos)
• культура (culture)