Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'people'

English Word: people

Key Russian Translations:

• люди /ˈlʲudʲi/ - [Informal/Neutral, Plural]
• народ /nɐˈrod/ - [Formal, Often for ethnic or collective groups]

Frequency: High (especially for 'люди' in everyday conversation; 'народ' is Medium in formal or cultural contexts)

Difficulty: B1 for 'люди' (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun declensions); B2 for 'народ' (Upper-Intermediate, due to its contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

люди: /ˈlʲudʲi/

народ: /nɐˈrod/

Note on люди: The initial 'л' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like 'lyoo-dee'. Stress is on the first syllable.

Note on народ: The 'о' in the first syllable is reduced in casual speech to a schwa-like sound, approximately /nɐ/.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: General term for humans or individuals (as a plural noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• люди - Used in everyday contexts to refer to people in general, such as in social or demographic discussions.
• народ - Used in more formal or collective contexts, like referring to a nation or populace, but less common for everyday individuals.

Usage Examples:

• Русские люди всегда гостеприимны. (Russkiye lyudi vsegda gostepriimny.)

  English Translation: Russian people are always hospitable. (This example shows 'люди' in a cultural context, describing national characteristics.)

• Многие люди в городе живут в квартирах. (Mnogie lyudi v gorode zhivut v kvartirakh.)

  English Translation: Many people in the city live in apartments. (Illustrates 'люди' in a neutral, descriptive sentence about urban life.)

• Этот народ имеет богатую историю. (Etot narod imeet bogatuyu istoriyu.)

  English Translation: This people has a rich history. (Here, 'народ' refers to an ethnic or national group, emphasizing collective identity.)

• Люди часто посещают музеи в выходные. (Lyudi chasto poseshchayut muzey v vykhodnye.)

  English Translation: People often visit museums on weekends. (Demonstrates 'люди' in a habitual action context.)

• Народ России гордится своей культурой. (Narod Rossii gorditsya svoey kulturoy.)

  English Translation: The people of Russia are proud of their culture. (Shows 'народ' in a formal, patriotic setting.)

Meaning 2: A collective group or population (e.g., in political or social contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• народ - Primarily used for larger groups, such as citizens or ethnic communities, in formal writing or speeches.
• люди - Can be used interchangeably but is less formal, often in casual discussions about society.

Usage Examples:

• Народ должен участвовать в выборах. (Narod dolzhen uchastvovat v vyborakh.)

  English Translation: The people should participate in elections. (This highlights 'народ' in a political context.)

• Люди из разных стран встречаются на фестивале. (Lyudi iz raznykh stran vstrechayutsya na festivale.)

  English Translation: People from different countries meet at the festival. (Shows 'люди' in an international, informal setting.)

• Этот народ сохранил свои традиции. (Etot narod sokhranil svoi traditsii.)

  English Translation: This people has preserved its traditions. (Emphasizes cultural preservation with 'народ'.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'люди' (a plural noun, masculine in Russian):

This word is the plural form of 'человек' (chelovek, meaning 'person'). It follows standard Russian noun declensions for masculine nouns ending in -и. Note that 'люди' is already plural and does not have a singular form in this context.

For 'народ' (a masculine noun):

It follows regular declensions for masculine nouns. It is invariable in plural forms when used collectively.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • человечество (/tɕɪlɐˈvʲetɕɪstvə/) - More formal, emphasizing humanity as a whole; often used in philosophical contexts.
  • население (/nɐsʲɪˈlʲenʲɪje/) - Refers specifically to population or inhabitants of a place.
• Antonyms:
  • животные (/ʐɨˈvotnɨje/) - Animals, contrasting with humans.
  • машины (/mɐˈʂɨnɨ/) - Machines, in contexts discussing human vs. artificial entities.

Related Phrases:

• Многие люди - Many people; used to quantify groups in everyday speech.
• Народ России - The people of Russia; common in cultural or national contexts.
• Обычные люди - Ordinary people; implies everyday folks, often in social commentary.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'люди' is the most direct translation for 'people' in neutral or informal settings, while 'народ' carries a more formal or collective connotation, similar to 'nation' or 'folk' in English. Choose 'народ' for discussions involving ethnicity, history, or politics to avoid sounding overly casual. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical cases; for example, 'люди' changes to 'людей' in genitive contexts. English speakers often overlook the plural nature of these words, so always ensure agreement with verbs and adjectives.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'люди' as a singular noun, e.g., saying "Этот люди" instead of "Этот человек".
  Correct: "Этот человек" (This person). Explanation: 'Люди' is always plural; use 'человек' for singular.
• Error: Confusing 'народ' with 'люди' in casual speech, e.g., saying "Народ в парке гуляют" for a group of individuals.
  Correct: "Люди в парке гуляют". Explanation: 'Народ' implies a larger, more unified group, which can sound awkward in everyday scenarios.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'народ' often evokes a sense of national identity and historical resilience, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works. It carries emotional weight, symbolizing the collective spirit of the Russian people, which differs from the more neutral English 'people'. This can reflect Russia's emphasis on community and shared heritage.

Related Concepts:

• общество (society)
• культура (culture)
• нация (nation)