Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'preside'

English Word: preside

Key Russian Translations:

• председательствовать [prʲɪdʲsʲɪˈdatʲɪlvəvətʲ] - [Formal, Used in official meetings or ceremonies]
• возглавлять [vɐzɡlɐˈvlʲætʲ] - [Formal, General leadership contexts]
• руководить [rʊkɐˈvodʲɪtʲ] - [Semi-formal, Broader management scenarios]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal and professional contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

председательствовать: [prʲɪdʲsʲɪˈdatʲɪlvəvətʲ]

возглавлять: [vɐzɡlɐˈvlʲætʲ]

руководить: [rʊkɐˈvodʲɪtʲ]

Note on председательствовать: This verb has a complex pronunciation with emphasis on the third syllable; be mindful of the soft consonants (e.g., 'дʲ' and 'тʲ') which can be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, or official gathering.

Translation(s) & Context:

• председательствовать - Used in formal settings like board meetings or conferences, emphasizing authoritative oversight.
• возглавлять - Applied in contexts involving leadership of events or groups, often with a sense of direction.

Usage Examples:

• Председательствует на собрании совета директоров.

  He presides over the board of directors' meeting.

• Она всегда председательствует на ежегодных конференциях.

  She always presides over the annual conferences.

• В случае отсутствия лидера, кто-то должен возглавлять обсуждение.

  In the absence of a leader, someone must preside over the discussion.

• Руководить таким мероприятием требует опыта и уверенности.

  Presiding over such an event requires experience and confidence.

Meaning 2: To exercise authority or control in a general leadership role.

Translation(s) & Context:

• руководить - Common in professional or organizational contexts, implying ongoing management rather than a single event.
• возглавлять - Used for initiating or leading processes, often in a more dynamic way.

Usage Examples:

• Он руководит командой во время проекта.

  He presides over the team during the project.

• Возглавлять компанию в кризисные времена – это вызов.

  Presiding over a company during crises is a challenge.

• Председательствовать в комитете означает принимать ключевые решения.

  Presiding over the committee means making key decisions.

• Руководить встречей онлайн требует хорошего интернета.

  Presiding over an online meeting requires a good internet connection.

• Она предпочитает возглавлять дискуссии, чтобы сохранить порядок.

  She prefers to preside over discussions to maintain order.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are primarily verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. For example, "председательствовать" is an imperfective verb, while "возглавлять" can be both imperfective and perfective in certain forms.

For these verbs, inflections follow standard Russian patterns but may have irregularities in stems. Nouns derived from these, like "председатель" (presider), inflect by case and number (e.g., nominative: председатель, genitive: председателя).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • управлять (upravljat' – to manage; more general than formal presiding)
  • вести (vesti – to lead; often used for guiding discussions)
• Antonyms:
  • подчиняться (podchinjatsja – to submit or obey)
  • отказываться (otkazyvatsja – to refuse or relinquish control)

Related Phrases:

• Председательствовать на заседании – Presiding over a session (used in formal committee work).
• Возглавлять группу – Leading a group (implies ongoing direction in team settings).
• Руководить процессом – Overseeing a process (common in project management contexts).

Usage Notes:

"Председательствовать" is the most direct equivalent to "preside" in formal contexts like meetings, but it carries a stronger connotation of authority in Russian culture. Use "возглавлять" for broader leadership roles where initiation is key. Be aware of aspect differences: imperfective forms (like these) emphasize ongoing actions, while perfective counterparts (e.g., возглавить) indicate completion. In informal settings, Russians might opt for simpler verbs like "вести" to avoid overly formal language. When choosing among translations, consider the context's level of formality and the subject's role.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing "председательствовать" with "председатель" (a noun meaning chairperson), leading to incorrect verb usage. Correct: Use "председательствовать" as a verb; e.g., "Он председательствует" instead of "Он председатель". Explanation: The verb form is essential for actions, not just titles.
• Mistake: Overusing "руководить" in meeting contexts where "председательствовать" is more precise. Correct: "Руководить проектом" (preside over a project) vs. "Председательствовать на встрече" (preside over a meeting). Explanation: "Руководить" implies broader management, which can dilute the specific meaning of presiding.
• Mistake: Forgetting conjugation; e.g., saying "он председательствует" incorrectly as "он председательствуй". Correct: Ensure proper ending based on person and tense. Explanation: Russian verbs require accurate inflection to convey tense and subject agreement.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, presiding over meetings or events often reflects hierarchical structures, as seen in Soviet-era traditions where formal roles like "председатель" held significant power. This can imply not just leadership but also responsibility for group harmony, emphasizing collectivism over individualism.

Related Concepts:

• совет (sovet – council)
• заседание (zasedanie – session)
• лидерство (liderstvo – leadership)