Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'reactionary'

English Word: reactionary

Key Russian Translations:

• реакционный [rʲɪˈaktsɨjnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• реакционер [rʲɪˈaktsɨjner] - [Formal, Noun]

Frequency: Medium (Common in political discourse, historical texts, and academic discussions, but less frequent in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of political terminology and Russian adjective/noun inflections. For 'реакционный' as an adjective, it's B2; for 'реакционер' as a noun, it's also B2 due to its formal usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

реакционный: [rʲɪˈaktsɨjnɨj]

Note on реакционный: The stress falls on the third syllable; the 'ы' sound can be challenging for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in "bit" but more centralized.

реакционер: [rʲɪˈaktsɨjner]

Note on реакционер: Pronounce the final 'ер' as a soft 'r' sound; this word maintains a consistent stress pattern in inflected forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Adjective meaning: Opposed to political or social progress or reform.

Translation(s) & Context:

• реакционный - Used in formal contexts like political essays, historical analyses, or debates to describe ideologies or policies resisting change.

Usage Examples:

• В 19 веке реакционные силы сопротивлялись реформам.

  In the 19th century, reactionary forces resisted reforms.

• Его реакционные идеи не пользуются популярностью в современном обществе.

  His reactionary ideas are not popular in modern society.

• Партия придерживается реакционной политики в области образования.

  The party adheres to a reactionary policy in the field of education.

• Реакционные взгляды часто критикуются за консерватизм.

  Reactionary views are often criticized for their conservatism.

Noun meaning: A person who holds reactionary views or opposes progress.

Translation(s) & Context:

• реакционер - Applied to individuals in historical or political contexts, such as describing opponents of revolutions.

Usage Examples:

• В истории России реакционеры часто боролись с либеральными реформами.

  In Russian history, reactionaries often fought against liberal reforms.

• Он известен как реакционер, отрицающий социальные изменения.

  He is known as a reactionary who denies social changes.

• Многие реакционеры в то время эмигрировали после революции.

  Many reactionaries emigrated after the revolution at that time.

• Реакционер в парламенте выступил против новых законов.

  The reactionary in parliament spoke out against the new laws.

• Её статьи разоблачают роль реакционеров в политических интригах.

  Her articles expose the role of reactionaries in political intrigues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'реакционный' (adjective), it follows the standard pattern for Russian adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective derived from a noun.

For 'реакционер' (noun, masculine), it is a first-declension noun and inflects regularly for case and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • консервативный (more general, implying caution rather than outright opposition; used in everyday contexts)
  • традиционалистский (emphasizes adherence to traditions, with subtle differences in historical connotations)
• Antonyms:
  • прогрессивный (progressive, advocating for change)
  • революционный (revolutionary, implying radical transformation)

Related Phrases:

• реакционный режим - A governmental system opposing reforms; often used in historical contexts to describe authoritarian rule.
• реакционные силы - Forces or groups that resist social progress; commonly appears in discussions of political history.
• борьба с реакционерами - Struggle against reactionaries; a phrase from revolutionary rhetoric, implying active opposition.

Usage Notes:

'Reactionary' translates most accurately to 'реакционный' as an adjective or 'реакционер' as a noun in Russian. Choose 'реакционный' for describing ideas, policies, or movements, and 'реакционер' for individuals. These terms are primarily formal and appear in academic, political, or historical writing; avoid them in casual conversation to prevent sounding overly pedantic. Note the inflection patterns for proper grammatical agreement, and be aware that in Russian, political terms like these often carry historical baggage from events like the Russian Revolution.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'реакционный' with 'реактивный' (which means 'reactive' as in chemistry or quick response). Error example: Using 'реактивный политик' to mean a reactionary politician, which actually implies a responsive one. Correct: 'реакционный политик'. Explanation: These words share roots but differ in meaning; always check the context.

• Forgetting inflections, e.g., using 'реакционный' in the wrong case. Error example: 'Я против реакционный идеи' (incorrect genitive). Correct: 'Я против реакционной идеи'. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so adjust endings based on sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like 'реакционный' and 'реакционер' are heavily associated with the pre-revolutionary era, particularly the opposition to the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution of 1917. They often evoke imagery of the tsarist regime and conservative elites, carrying a negative connotation in modern discourse as symbols of resistance to progress and social equality.

Related Concepts:

• революционный
• консерватизм
• прогрессивизм