Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'power'

English Word: power

Key Russian Translations:

• сила [ˈsʲilə] - [Common for physical or metaphorical strength, Informal/Neutral]
• власть [ˈvlastʲ] - [Used for authority or political power, Formal]
• мощность [ˈmoʂnəsʲtʲ] - [Technical term for energy output or capacity, Neutral]

Frequency: High (e.g., 'сила' and 'власть' are commonly used in everyday language, media, and literature; 'мощность' is frequent in technical contexts).

Difficulty: Intermediate (A2-B1 for 'сила' as it's basic; B2 for 'власть' due to nuanced political connotations; B1 for 'мощность' in technical settings).

Pronunciation (Russian):

сила: [ˈsʲilə]

Note on сила: The initial 'с' is soft and palatalized; stress on the first syllable. Common variation in casual speech may soften the 'л' sound.

власть: [ˈvlastʲ]

Note on власть: The 'тʲ' is palatalized, which can be tricky for beginners; stress on the first syllable, and it's often pronounced with emphasis in formal contexts.

мощность: [ˈmoʂnəsʲtʲ]

Note on мощность: The 'щ' is a unique fricative sound; ensure correct stress on the first syllable for natural pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physical or inner strength

Translation(s) & Context:

• сила - Used in contexts of physical capability, emotional resilience, or natural forces (e.g., in sports, personal development, or physics).

Usage Examples:

• Он развил огромную силу в тренажерном зале. (He developed tremendous power in the gym.)

  Translation: He developed tremendous strength in the gym.

• Сила воли помогла ей преодолеть трудности. (The power of will helped her overcome difficulties.)

  Translation: Strength of will helped her overcome difficulties.

• Природа обладает невероятной силой. (Nature possesses incredible power.)

  Translation: Nature possesses incredible strength.

• Сила ветра снесла крышу дома. (The power of the wind blew off the house's roof.)

  Translation: The strength of the wind blew off the house's roof.

2. Authority or control

Translation(s) & Context:

• власть - Applied to political, social, or institutional power, often in formal or official contexts (e.g., government, leadership).

Usage Examples:

• Президент обладает большой властью в стране. (The president holds great power in the country.)

  Translation: The president holds great authority in the country.

• Власть коррупции разрушает общество. (The power of corruption is destroying society.)

  Translation: The authority of corruption is destroying society.

• Она стремится к власти в компании. (She aspires to power in the company.)

  Translation: She aspires to authority in the company.

• Власть народа является основой демократии. (The power of the people is the foundation of democracy.)

  Translation: The authority of the people is the foundation of democracy.

3. Energy or capacity

Translation(s) & Context:

• мощность - Common in technical, scientific, or engineering contexts, such as electricity or machinery.

Usage Examples:

• Эта машина имеет мощность 150 лошадиных сил. (This machine has a power of 150 horsepower.)

  Translation: This machine has a capacity of 150 horsepower.

• Мощность двигателя позволяет развивать высокую скорость. (The power of the engine allows for high speed.)

  Translation: The capacity of the engine allows for high speed.

• Солнечные панели генерируют электрическую мощность. (Solar panels generate electrical power.)

  Translation: Solar panels generate electrical capacity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'сила' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	сила	силы
Genitive	силы	сил
Dative	силе	силам
Accusative	силу	силы
Instrumental	силой	силами
Prepositional	силе	силах

For 'власть' (feminine noun, irregular in plural):

It is indeclinable in plural forms and follows standard feminine patterns in singular. Plural: власти (as a collective noun, e.g., governing bodies).

For 'мощность' (feminine noun, 1st declension): Follows similar patterns to 'сила', with regular inflections across cases and numbers.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for сила: энергия [energy], крепость [fortitude] - 'энергия' emphasizes vitality, while 'крепость' focuses on durability.
• Synonyms for власть: авторитет [authority], влияние [influence] - 'авторитет' implies respect-based power.
• Synonyms for мощность: сила [strength, in technical sense], потенциал [potential].
• Antonyms: слабость [weakness], бессилие [impotence] - Applies broadly to all translations.

Related Phrases:

• Сила воли - (Strength of will; refers to determination in overcoming challenges.)
• Власть закона - (Rule of law; emphasizes legal authority and governance.)
• Мощность двигателя - (Engine power; common in automotive contexts.)

Usage Notes:

The English word 'power' translates variably in Russian based on context: 'сила' for physical or abstract strength, 'власть' for hierarchical or political control, and 'мощность' for mechanical/electrical capacity. Choose the appropriate translation by considering the domain—e.g., use 'власть' in formal political discussions to convey authority, but 'сила' in everyday conversations about personal capabilities. Note that Russian often requires agreement in gender, number, and case, so 'сила' as a feminine noun must inflect accordingly in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'сила' interchangeably with 'власть' in political contexts. Correct: 'власть' is more precise for authority; e.g., Incorrect: "Президент имеет силу." Correct: "Президент имеет власть." Explanation: 'Сила' implies physical strength, not governance.

• Error: Neglecting case inflections, such as using nominative 'сила' in genitive contexts. Correct: In "благодаря силе" (thanks to the power), it's already correct, but learners might say "благодаря сила" incorrectly. Explanation: Always adjust for case to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'власть' often carries historical connotations from the Soviet era, symbolizing centralized control and authoritarianism. This can evoke mixed emotions, as seen in literature like Dostoevsky's works, where power dynamics reflect societal struggles. 'Сила' is celebrated in Russian folklore, such as in tales of heroes like Ilya Muromets, emphasizing physical and moral strength as national virtues.

Related Concepts:

• энергия
• влияние
• потенциал