Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'patronise'

English Word: patronise

Key Russian Translations:

• покровительствовать [pɐkrɐvʲɪˈtʲɛstvəvətʲ] - [Formal, often implies a sense of superiority or sponsorship]
• поддерживать [pədˈdʲerʐɨvətʲ] - [General, less formal, more neutral support]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing and discussions about arts or business, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and nuanced contexts; for "покровительствовать", it may be C1 due to its formal connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

покровительствовать: [pɐkrɐvʲɪˈtʲɛstvəvətʲ]

Note on покровительствовать: This is a long verb with stress on the fourth syllable ("tʲɛ"); be careful with the palatalized consonants, which can be challenging for non-native speakers. It often softens in rapid speech.

поддерживать: [pədˈdʲerʐɨvətʲ]

Note on поддерживать: Stress on the second syllable ("dʲer"); the "zh" sound ([ʐ]) is similar to the "s" in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To act as a patron or sponsor, providing support (e.g., for artists, businesses, or causes).

Translation(s) & Context:

• покровительствовать - Used in formal contexts, such as historical or cultural sponsorship, often with a connotation of benevolence or superiority.
• поддерживать - Applied in more everyday or neutral situations, like financial or emotional support, without implying condescension.

Usage Examples:

• Меценат всегда покровительствует талантливым художникам, помогая им развиваться.

  The patron always patronizes talented artists, helping them develop.

• В России многие компании покровительствуют местным фестивалям, чтобы повысить свой имидж.

  In Russia, many companies patronize local festivals to boost their image.

• Он предпочитает поддерживать молодых писателей, а не покровительствовать им свысока.

  He prefers to support young writers rather than patronize them condescendingly.

• Правительство покровительствует науке, выделяя гранты для исследований.

  The government patronizes science by allocating grants for research.

• Иногда родители поддерживают детей в их хобби, но не всегда покровительствуют им.

  Sometimes parents support their children in their hobbies, but not always patronize them.

Meaning 2: To treat someone with condescension or superior attitude.

Translation(s) & Context:

• покровительствовать - Especially in interpersonal contexts, implying a patronizing tone.
• поддерживать - Rarely used for this meaning; instead, phrases like "относиться свысока" might be more appropriate, but we're focusing on direct translations.

Usage Examples:

• Не стоит покровительствовать коллегам на работе; это может обидеть их.

  Don't patronize your colleagues at work; it might offend them.

• Она покровительствует друзьям, давая советы, словно они дети.

  She patronizes her friends by giving advice as if they were children.

• В разговоре он часто покровительствует собеседникам, что раздражает окружающих.

  In conversation, he often patronizes his interlocutors, which annoys those around him.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both key translations are verbs. "Покровительствовать" is an imperfective verb, while "поддерживать" is also imperfective. Russian verbs conjugate based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a table for the present tense conjugations as examples; full inflections include past, future, and imperative forms.

Note: These verbs are regular in their conjugations but can have aspectual pairs (e.g., "покровительствовать" pairs with "покровительствовать" for perfective in some contexts). They do not change for gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: поддерживать (more neutral), спонсировать (specifically for financial support), опекать (to look after protectively)
• Antonyms: игнорировать (to ignore), отвергать (to reject) - Note: These are straightforward opposites in supportive contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Быть покровителем - To be a patron (often used in cultural or historical contexts, implying ongoing support).
• Покровительствовать искусству - To patronize the arts (common in discussions of philanthropy).
• Поддерживать проект - To support a project (more general and applicable to modern business scenarios).

Usage Notes:

"Покровительствовать" directly corresponds to the condescending aspect of "patronise" in English, but it can also mean benevolent sponsorship. Use it in formal settings, such as literature or historical discussions, where a sense of hierarchy is implied. "Поддерживать" is safer for neutral support and is more versatile in everyday language. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these verbs can carry cultural nuances of authority, so avoid them in egalitarian conversations. When choosing between translations, opt for "покровительствовать" if condescension is intended, but "поддерживать" for general encouragement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "покровительствовать" when a neutral term is needed, e.g., saying "Я покровительствую друга" instead of "Я поддерживаю друга". Correct: The former implies condescension, which may offend. Explanation: English learners often overlook the hierarchical connotation, leading to miscommunication.

• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "покровительствуйт" instead of "покровительствуешь" for "you (informal) patronize". Correct: Always conjugate based on person and number as shown in the inflections table. Explanation: Russian verb endings are crucial for clarity, and mixing them up can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "покровительствовать" evokes historical patronage systems, such as those under the tsars or in Soviet-era arts, where wealthy individuals or the state supported intellectuals. This can carry a positive connotation of cultural preservation but also a negative one of elitism, reflecting Russia's complex social history.

Related Concepts:

• спонсорство
• меценатство
• опека