Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'psychologist'

English Word: psychologist

Key Russian Translations:

• психолог - /pʲsʲɪˈxoləɡ/ - [Formal, Professional, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (Common in professional, medical, and educational contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of professional terminology and basic Russian noun declensions, per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

психолог: /pʲsʲɪˈxoləɡ/

Note on психолог: The initial 'п' is pronounced with a soft 's' sound due to the following 'с', which can be tricky for English speakers. Stress falls on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A professional who studies or practices psychology, often providing therapy or counseling.

Translation(s) & Context:

• психолог - Used in formal, professional settings such as healthcare, education, or personal counseling; neutral and widely accepted in modern Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Я записался на приём к психологу, чтобы обсудить проблемы со стрессом.

  I scheduled an appointment with a psychologist to discuss stress-related issues.

• В школе есть школьный психолог, который помогает детям с эмоциональными трудностями.

  There's a school psychologist who helps children with emotional difficulties.

• Мой друг работает психологом в клинике и проводит индивидуальные сессии.

  My friend works as a psychologist in a clinic and conducts individual sessions.

• Психолог посоветовал мне техники релаксации для улучшения сна.

  The psychologist recommended relaxation techniques to improve my sleep.

• Во время пандемии спрос на услуги психологов значительно вырос.

  During the pandemic, the demand for psychologists' services increased significantly.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Психолог is a masculine noun in Russian and follows the standard second-declension pattern for nouns ending in a consonant. It is inflected based on case and number. Below is a table of its declensions for singular forms (plural is less common but follows regular patterns).

Note: For plural, it becomes "психологи" in nominative, with regular declensions (e.g., Genitive: психологов). The word does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • психотерапевт (psychotherapist; more specific to therapy sessions, often implying hands-on treatment)
  • психиатр (psychiatrist; differs as it involves medical diagnosis, but sometimes used interchangeably in casual contexts, though not accurate)
• Antonyms:
  • невролог (neurologist; focuses on neurological disorders rather than psychological ones)

Related Phrases:

• Консультация психолога - A consultation with a psychologist; used for seeking professional advice on mental health.
• Сеанс у психолога - A session with a psychologist; refers to therapy or counseling meetings.
• Психологическая помощь - Psychological help; a broader term for support services.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "психолог" directly corresponds to "psychologist" in English, referring to a non-medical professional who deals with mental health through counseling and therapy. It is typically used in formal contexts like healthcare or education. Be cautious with word choice: "психолог" is neutral and non-medical, unlike "психиатр" (psychiatrist), which implies medical intervention. In everyday speech, Russians might use it in plural forms for groups, and it's common in modern contexts like online therapy. When selecting among translations, choose "психолог" for general psychological practice and "психотерапевт" for therapeutic sessions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "психолог" with "психиатр" and using it to mean a medical doctor. Incorrect example: "Я пойду к психологу за лекарствами" (I will go to the psychologist for medication).

  Correct usage: "Я пойду к психологу за консультацией" (I will go to the psychologist for consultation). Explanation: "Психолог" does not prescribe medication; reserve that for "психиатр".

• Error: Forgetting declensions, e.g., using "психолог" in the wrong case. Incorrect: "Я думаю о психолог" (I am thinking about psychologist, missing genitive).

  Correct: "Я думаю о психологе". Explanation: Always adjust for case to maintain grammatical accuracy in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, psychologists play a significant role in addressing mental health, especially post-Soviet era reforms that emphasized psychological support in education and workplaces. However, due to historical stigma around mental health in Russia, terms like "психолог" are often associated with everyday counseling rather than severe disorders, which might be handled by "психиатр". This reflects a cultural preference for non-medical approaches in personal development.

Related Concepts:

• психология (psychology)
• психотерапия (psychotherapy)
• эмоциональное здоровье (emotional health)