Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nepotism'

English Word: nepotism

Key Russian Translations:

• непотизм /nʲɪˈpotʲɪzm/ - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal discussions of politics, business, and ethics, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and formal vocabulary, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

непотизм: /nʲɪˈpotʲɪzm/

Note on непотизм: The stress falls on the third syllable ("по"), which is a common feature in borrowed words. Palatalized consonants like 'нʲ' may be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The practice of giving jobs or favors to relatives or friends, especially in positions of power, rather than based on merit.

Translation(s) & Context:

• непотизм - Used in formal contexts such as political discussions, business ethics, or legal critiques, to denote favoritism based on family ties.

Usage Examples:

• В этой компании непотизм стал нормой, и многие руководящие посты занимают родственники владельца.

  In this company, nepotism has become the norm, and many leadership positions are held by the owner's relatives.

• Политические скандалы часто связаны с непотизмом, когда должности распределяются по родственным связям.

  Political scandals are often linked to nepotism, where positions are distributed based on family connections.

• Чтобы бороться с непотизмом, правительство ввело строгие правила о конфликте интересов.

  To combat nepotism, the government introduced strict rules on conflicts of interest.

• Непотизм в академических кругах может подорвать доверие к системе образования.

  Nepotism in academic circles can undermine trust in the education system.

• В малом бизнесе непотизм иногда оправдывается как способ поддерживать семейные традиции.

  In small businesses, nepotism is sometimes justified as a way to maintain family traditions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Непотизм" is a masculine noun (from the third declension in Russian, as it's a borrowed word). It follows standard noun inflections but is relatively stable. Below is a table of its key forms:

Note: As a borrowed term, it doesn't have irregular inflections, but plural forms are uncommon since nepotism is often discussed in general terms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • протекционизм (more general favoritism, often in a broader context)
  • фаворитизм (favoritism based on personal preference, with subtle differences in implying bias beyond family)
• Antonyms:
  • меритократия (meritocracy; emphasizes selection based on ability rather than connections)

Related Phrases:

• Семейный непотизм - Family nepotism; Refers to favoritism within family-run businesses or organizations.
• Политический непотизм - Political nepotism; Used in contexts of government or elections to describe appointing relatives to office.
• Борьба с непотизмом - Fight against nepotism; A common phrase in discussions of anti-corruption efforts.

Usage Notes:

"Непотизм" directly corresponds to the English "nepotism" and is typically used in formal, written contexts like articles, reports, or debates. It carries a negative connotation, implying unfairness, so avoid it in positive descriptions. When choosing between synonyms like "протекционизм," use "непотизм" specifically for family-based favoritism. Grammatically, it functions as a masculine noun and can be modified with adjectives (e.g., "распространённый непотизм" for "widespread nepotism"). In spoken Russian, it might be less common among beginners due to its abstract nature.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "непотизм" with "протекционизм": Learners might use "протекционизм" interchangeably, but the latter is broader. Incorrect: "Это протекционизм в семье" (This is favoritism in the family). Correct: "Это непотизм в семье" (This is nepotism in the family). Explanation: "Непотизм" specifically involves family ties, while "протекционизм" can include non-family favoritism.

• Improper inflection: Forgetting to change the case, e.g., saying "Я против непотизм" instead of "Я против непотизма" in the genitive case. Correct usage: "Я против непотизма в политике" (I am against nepotism in politics). Explanation: Always adjust for case based on sentence structure to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and society, "непотизм" is often discussed in the context of post-Soviet reforms, where family connections in business and politics have historically influenced opportunities. This reflects broader issues of corruption and trust in institutions, making the term a staple in media critiques of governance.

Related Concepts:

• коррупция (corruption)
• фаворитизм (favoritism)
• меритократия (meritocracy)