Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'police'

English Word: police

Key Russian Translations:

• полиция [pɐˈlʲit͡sʲɪjə] - [Formal, Used for law enforcement organizations]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday conversations, news, and official contexts in Russian-speaking regions)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; Basic vocabulary for beginners, but requires understanding of Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

полиция: [pɐˈlʲit͡sʲɪjə]

Note on полиция: The stress is on the third syllable. The 'лʲ' represents a palatalized 'l' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 'l' in "million".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Law enforcement organization or force

Translation(s) & Context:

• полиция - Used in formal contexts to refer to the police as an institution, such as in reports or official documents.

Usage Examples:

• Я позвонил в полицию, когда увидел подозрительного человека. (Ya pozvonil v politsiyu, kogda uvidel podozritel'nogo cheloveka.)

  I called the police when I saw a suspicious person.

• Полиция быстро отреагировала на сигнал о краже. (Politsiya bystro otreagirovala na signal o kratye.)

  The police responded quickly to the theft report.

• В городе есть отдел полиции для борьбы с преступностью. (V gorode yest' otdel politsii dlya bor'by s prestupnost'yu.)

  In the city, there is a police department for fighting crime.

• Моя сестра работает в полиции и часто работает допоздна. (Moya sestra rabotaet v politsii i chasto rabotaet dopozdna.)

  My sister works in the police and often works late.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

полиция is a feminine noun in Russian, belonging to the first declension. It undergoes regular noun inflections based on case and number. Below is a table of its declensions in the singular form (plural is less common but follows standard patterns).

Note: The plural form is "полиции" in most cases, but it's rarely used as "police" is often treated as a collective noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • милиция [mʲɪˈlʲit͡sʲɪjə] - Historically used, especially in the Soviet era; now less common but understood in informal or nostalgic contexts.
  • органы правопорядка [ˈorɡənɨ prəvəˈpɔrkə] - More formal, emphasizing law enforcement bodies.
• Antonyms:
  • преступники [prʲɪstʊpˈnʲikʲi] - Criminals; implies opposition in law enforcement contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Полицейский патруль (Police patrol) - Refers to mobile units monitoring public areas for security.
• Вызов полиции (Calling the police) - Used in emergencies to summon law enforcement.
• Отдел полиции (Police department) - A specific branch or station of the police force.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "полиция" directly corresponds to the English "police" as a noun for the law enforcement agency. It is always used in formal contexts and is gender-neutral as an institution, though individual officers might be specified (e.g., "полицейский" for a male officer). Be mindful of case endings when using it in sentences; for example, in genitive case, it becomes "полиции" to indicate possession or relation. When choosing between translations like "полиция" and "милиция", opt for "полиция" in modern contexts, as "милиция" has historical connotations from the Soviet period.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я видел полиция" instead of "Я видел полицию" (in accusative case).

  Correct: Я видел полицию. (I saw the police.)

  Explanation: Russian nouns change based on case; "полицию" is the accusative form for direct objects.

• Error: Confusing with "полицейский" (a police officer), leading to misuse like "Полиция пришел" instead of "Полицейский пришел".

  Correct: Полицейский пришел. (The police officer came.)

  Explanation: "Полиция" refers to the organization, not an individual; use "полицейский" for people.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, the police (полиция) have a complex history tied to the Soviet-era "милиция", which was reformed in 2011. Public perception can vary; while they are essential for maintaining order, there are cultural stereotypes about corruption or inefficiency, often depicted in literature and films like those by Soviet directors. Understanding this context helps in grasping nuances when using the term in conversations about law and society.

Related Concepts:

• законы (laws)
• преступление (crime)
• следствие (investigation)