Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'propaganda'

English Word: propaganda

Key Russian Translations:

• пропаганда /prə.pɐˈɡan.də/ - [Formal, Used in media, political, and academic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in news, politics, and discussions, but not everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of political vocabulary and abstract concepts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пропаганда: /prə.pɐˈɡan.də/

Note on пропаганда: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ɡan"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to the soft 'г' sound. In rapid speech, the 'a' in the second syllable may reduce to a schwa.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Information or ideas spread to influence public opinion, often biased.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пропаганда - Used in formal contexts like media, politics, or education to describe systematic promotion of ideas.

Usage Examples:

• Эта кампания является классическим примером пропаганды во время войны.

  This campaign is a classic example of propaganda during wartime.

• Правительственная пропаганда часто искажает факты для достижения своих целей.

  Government propaganda often distorts facts to achieve its goals.

• В современном мире социальные сети используются для распространения пропаганды.

  In the modern world, social media is used to spread propaganda.

• Студенты изучают историю пропаганды в контексте Второй мировой войны.

  Students study the history of propaganda in the context of World War II.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Пропаганда" is a feminine noun in the first declension group. It follows regular patterns for Russian nouns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is invariant in terms of gender and does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • агитация (agitation; more focused on active persuasion, often in political rallies)
  • индоктринация (indoctrination; implies deeper ideological influence)
• Antonyms:
  • правда (truth; straightforward opposition to biased information)
  • объективность (objectivity; emphasizes neutrality in reporting)

Related Phrases:

• государственная пропаганда - State propaganda; refers to information controlled by the government to shape public opinion.
• антипропаганда - Anti-propaganda; efforts to counter or debunk misleading information.
• пропаганда успеха - Propaganda of success; a phrase often used in historical contexts, like Soviet-era promotion of achievements.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "пропаганда" directly corresponds to the English "propaganda" but carries a more neutral connotation in some contexts, especially in media studies, whereas in everyday speech it often implies negativity. It is typically used in formal or written language; avoid it in casual conversations to prevent sounding overly academic. When choosing between synonyms like "агитация," opt for "пропаганда" if the focus is on widespread information dissemination rather than direct persuasion. Grammatically, always ensure it agrees with the case required by the sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пропаганда" interchangeably with "реклама" (advertising). Incorrect: "Эта реклама — это пропаганда." (This implies advertising is inherently propaganda, which is imprecise.) Correct: "Эта кампания — это пропаганда, а не простая реклама." (This campaign is propaganda, not just simple advertising.) Explanation: "Пропаганда" involves ideological bias, while "реклама" is commercial promotion.

• Error: Misplacing stress or pronunciation, e.g., stressing the wrong syllable. Incorrect: Pronouncing as /prəˈpɐ.ɡan.də/. Correct: /prə.pɐˈɡan.də/. Explanation: Incorrect stress can lead to misunderstandings in spoken Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "пропаганда" is heavily associated with Soviet-era practices, where state-controlled media used it to promote communist ideals. This historical context often gives the word a pejorative undertone in modern discussions, especially in post-Soviet states, highlighting themes of manipulation and censorship.

Related Concepts:

• идеология (ideology)
• манипуляция (manipulation)
• дезинформация (disinformation)