Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'populace'

English Word: populace

Key Russian Translations:

• население /nəsʲɪˈlʲenʲjɪje/ - [Formal, Singular/Plural]
• народ /nɐˈrod/ - [Formal/Informal, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions of demographics, society, and politics in Russian media and literature).

Difficulty: B1 for 'население' (intermediate, as it involves basic noun declensions); B2 for 'народ' (upper intermediate, due to its cultural and historical connotations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

население: /nəsʲɪˈlʲenʲjɪje/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'л' which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on население: This word has a soft 'л' sound, similar to the 'l' in 'million', and the ending '-ение' is pronounced with a soft 'e' sound. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

народ: /nɐˈrod/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a short 'o' like in 'hot'.)

Note on народ: The initial 'н' is unaspirated, and this word often carries emotional weight in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The inhabitants of a particular place or country (general population).

Translation(s) & Context:

• население - Used in formal contexts like demographics, statistics, or official reports (e.g., in news articles about urban growth).
• народ - Used in broader, sometimes emotional or historical contexts, such as referring to a nation's people or ethnic group.

Usage Examples:

• В большом городе население часто сталкивается с проблемами транспорта.

  In a big city, the populace often faces transportation issues.

• Население этой страны превышает 100 миллионов человек.

  The populace of this country exceeds 100 million people.

• Народ восстал против несправедливости правительства.

  The populace rose up against the government's injustice.

• Молодое население мигрирует в города в поисках работы.

  The younger populace is migrating to cities in search of work.

Meaning 2: The common people, as opposed to the elite or ruling class.

Translation(s) & Context:

• народ - Often used in literary, historical, or social contexts to emphasize the masses or everyday citizens.
• население - Less common in this sense, but can be used neutrally in sociological discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Народ всегда был опорой революций в истории России.

  The populace has always been the backbone of revolutions in Russian history.

• Правительство игнорирует нужды простого населения.

  The government ignores the needs of the common populace.

• Народ выражает свое недовольство через протесты.

  The populace expresses its discontent through protests.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'население' (neuter noun), it follows the standard third declension pattern for Russian nouns. It is invariable in the nominative plural but changes in other cases.

For 'народ' (masculine noun), it has regular declensions but is often used in singular form for collective meanings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • люди (lyudi) - More general, refers to people in everyday contexts; less formal than народ.
  • жители (zhiteli) - Specifically for residents or inhabitants, often interchangeable with население in urban settings.
• Antonyms:
  • элита (elita) - Refers to the elite or ruling class.
  • власть (vlast') - Means authority or government, contrasting with the common people.

Related Phrases:

• Население растёт (Naseleniye rastyot) - The populace is growing; used in demographic discussions.
• Народ встает (Narod vstayet) - The populace rises up; often in historical or revolutionary contexts.
• Простой народ (Prostoy narod) - The common populace; implies everyday people versus the elite.

Usage Notes:

'Население' is the most direct equivalent to 'populace' in neutral, factual contexts, such as statistics or geography, and is preferred in formal writing. 'Народ' carries a more emotional or nationalistic connotation, often used in literature or speeches to evoke unity or historical significance. English speakers should note that Russian nouns decline based on case, so always consider the sentence structure. When choosing between translations, opt for 'население' for demographic data and 'народ' for cultural or social movements.

Common Errors:

• Using 'население' in plural without proper context: Error - "Я видел населений" (incorrect declension); Correct - "Я видел население" or properly declined form. Explanation: 'Население' must follow Russian case rules; beginners often forget to adjust for genitive or accusative.
• Confusing 'народ' with 'люди': Error - Treating 'народ' as always plural like 'people'; Correct - 'Народ' is singular collective. Explanation: This can lead to agreement errors in verbs, e.g., use singular verbs with 'народ'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'народ' often evokes a sense of collective identity tied to history, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where it represents the resilient spirit of the Russian people. This term has roots in Slavic folklore and was prominent during revolutionary periods, adding a layer of patriotism that 'население' lacks.

Related Concepts:

• демография (demografiya)
• общество (obshchestvo)
• граждане (grazhdane)