Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'segregate'

English Word: segregate

Key Russian Translations:

• Разделять (/rəzˈdʲelʲɪtʲ/) - [Formal, used in general contexts]
• Сегрегировать (/sʲɪɡrʲeˈɡʲirəvətʲ/) - [Formal, specific to social, racial, or institutional separation]

Frequency: Medium - The word is not extremely common in everyday conversation but appears frequently in academic, social, or political discussions.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of nuanced contexts; for "разделять," it may be easier at B1, while "сегрегировать" often demands B2 due to its specialized connotations.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Разделять: /rəzˈdʲelʲɪtʲ/

Сегрегировать: /sʲɪɡrʲeˈɡʲirəvətʲ/

Note on Разделять: The stress falls on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the consonants.

Note on Сегрегировать: This is a loanword from English, so pronunciation is relatively straightforward, but the initial 'с' is soft (/sʲ/), which might be confused with a hard 's' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To separate or divide into groups, often based on characteristics (general use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Разделять - Used in everyday or formal contexts for physical or conceptual separation, such as in education or organization.

Usage Examples:

• Мы разделяем мусор на органический и неорганический для переработки.

  We segregate the garbage into organic and non-organic for recycling.

• В школе учителя разделяют учеников по уровням знаний.

  In school, teachers segregate students by knowledge levels.

• Эта система разделяет данные по категориям для лучшей организации.

  This system segregates data by categories for better organization.

• Родители часто разделяют детей по возрасту на семейных мероприятиях.

  Parents often segregate children by age at family events.

Meaning 2: To isolate or separate based on race, class, or other social factors (implying discrimination)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Сегрегировать - Primarily used in formal, legal, or sociological contexts to denote enforced separation, often with negative implications.

Usage Examples:

• В некоторых странах исторически сегрегировали население по расовому признаку.

  In some countries, populations were historically segregated based on race.

• Закон запрещает сегрегировать людей в общественных местах.

  The law prohibits segregating people in public spaces.

• Эта политика сегрегирует сообщества, что приводит к социальным конфликтам.

  This policy segregates communities, leading to social conflicts.

• В прошлом веке школы сегрегировали учеников по этническому происхождению.

  In the last century, schools segregated students by ethnic background.

• Городские планировщики иногда сегрегируют районы для экономического разделения.

  Urban planners sometimes segregate districts for economic separation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Разделять" is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns, while "Сегрегировать" is less common and follows patterns for borrowed verbs.

Note: These verbs do not have irregular inflections but must agree with subject gender, number, and tense as per standard Russian grammar.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Разделять: Отделять (otdeliat' - to separate) - More neutral, used for physical division.
  • Сегрегировать: Изолировать (izolirovat' - to isolate) - Implies complete separation, often in scientific contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Объединять (ob''edinyat' - to unite)
  • Интегрировать (integrirovat' - to integrate)

Related Phrases:

• Разделять обязанности - To divide responsibilities; used in professional or family contexts to mean sharing tasks equitably.
• Сегрегировать по признакам - To segregate by characteristics; refers to discriminatory practices based on race, gender, etc.
• Социальная сегрегация - Social segregation; a common phrase in discussions of inequality, implying systemic division.

Usage Notes:

"Разделять" is a more versatile translation for "segregate" in neutral contexts, such as organizing items, and aligns closely with everyday English usage. However, "сегрегировать" should be used when implying discrimination or enforced separation, as it carries a stronger connotation similar to English's social justice contexts. Be mindful of formal register; both words are typically formal, so avoid in casual speech. When choosing between translations, consider the intent: if it's about physical division, opt for "разделять"; for social issues, use "сегрегировать." Grammatically, these verbs require agreement with the direct object in case and number.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "разделять" with "отделять": Learners might use "отделять" when "разделять" is needed for grouping, e.g., incorrectly saying "Мы отделяем класс" instead of "Мы разделяем класс" (We segregate the class). Correct usage: "Разделять" implies division into parts, while "отделять" means complete isolation.
• Overusing "сегрегировать" in non-discriminatory contexts: English speakers might translate "segregate waste" directly as "сегрегировать мусор," which sounds awkward. Instead, use "разделять мусор." Error example: "Сегрегировать отходы" (imprecise); Correct: "Разделять отходы."
• Forgetting verb conjugation: Beginners often omit gender agreement, e.g., saying "Она сегрегировала" incorrectly as "Он сегрегировала." Always match the past tense to the subject's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, terms like "сегрегировать" evoke memories of Soviet-era policies or post-Soviet social divisions, such as ethnic segregation in certain regions. It's often discussed in the context of addressing inequality, similar to the U.S. civil rights movement, highlighting ongoing efforts for integration in multicultural societies.

Related Concepts:

• Интеграция (integration)
• Дискриминация (discrimination)
• Социальное равенство (social equality)