Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sergeant'

English Word: sergeant

Key Russian Translations:

• сержант [sʲɪrˈʐant] - [Formal, Military Context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in military, historical, or formal discussions, but not everyday casual language)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic knowledge of Russian noun declensions and military terminology)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сержант: [sʲɪrˈʐant] (The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English)

Note on сержант: Be cautious with the soft sign 'ь' after 'с', which softens the preceding consonant; common pitfalls for English speakers include overemphasizing the 'r'. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Military Rank: A non-commissioned officer rank in the armed forces.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сержант - Used in formal military contexts, such as in the Russian Army, equivalent to a sergeant in English-speaking militaries. Common in official documents or discussions about hierarchy.

Usage Examples:

• В армии он быстро дослужился до сержанта и возглавил взвод.

  In the army, he quickly advanced to sergeant and led the platoon.

• Сержант строго проверил экипировку солдат перед учениями.

  The sergeant strictly inspected the soldiers' equipment before the exercises.

• Во время парада сержант командовал отрядом с уверенностью.

  During the parade, the sergeant commanded the squad with confidence.

• Она стала первым женским сержантом в своем полку, что было значительным достижением.

  She became the first female sergeant in her regiment, which was a significant achievement.

• Сержант обучал новобранцев основам тактики в полевых условиях.

  The sergeant trained the recruits in basic tactics under field conditions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Сержант" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the second declension. It follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant, with changes based on case and number. There are no irregularities, but it is invariable in the plural form for most contexts.

Note: In military slang, forms may be abbreviated or altered, but standard written Russian adheres to these inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: старшина (starshina - a higher non-commissioned officer, often similar in seniority but with different responsibilities); ефрейтор (efreitor - a junior rank, sometimes overlapping in informal contexts)
• Antonyms: генерал (general - a high-ranking officer); рядовой (ryadovoy - private, a lower rank)

Related Phrases:

• Сержант запаса (Seryant zapasa) - Reserve sergeant; a phrase used for former sergeants in reserve forces, indicating ongoing military affiliation.
• Младший сержант (Mladshey seryant) - Junior sergeant; refers to a lower level within the sergeant ranks, common in hierarchical discussions.
• Сержантский состав (Seryantskiy sostav) - Sergeant corps; a term for the group of non-commissioned officers in a unit, emphasizing team structure.

Usage Notes:

• The Russian equivalent "сержант" directly corresponds to the English "sergeant" in military contexts, but it's primarily used in formal or official settings. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless discussing military topics.
• In Russian, military ranks like "сержант" often require proper declension based on sentence structure, so pay attention to cases (e.g., "сержанту" in dative for indirect objects).
• When choosing between translations, "сержант" is the most precise for standard military use; alternatives like "старшина" might imply more experience, so select based on context.
• This term is gender-neutral in practice but traditionally masculine; in modern usage, it's adapted for women in the military.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сержант" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел сержант" instead of "Я видел сержанта" (accusative case).
  Correct: "Я видел сержанта." (I saw the sergeant.) Explanation: Russian nouns change endings based on case; ignoring this can make sentences grammatically incorrect.
• Error: Confusing "сержант" with "офицер" (officer), assuming they are interchangeable.
  Correct: Use "сержант" for non-commissioned ranks only. Explanation: "Офицер" refers to commissioned officers, which is a higher category, leading to rank hierarchy misunderstandings.
• Error: Pronouncing it as [ser-ZHAN-t] without the soft 's' sound.
  Correct: [sʲɪrˈʐant], with a softened 's'. Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian's palatalization, which alters the sound and can affect comprehensibility.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "сержант" carries historical significance from the Soviet era, where sergeants played key roles in maintaining discipline and training in the Red Army. Today, it symbolizes loyalty and leadership in the military, often glorified in literature and films like those about World War II, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective defense and hierarchy.

Related Concepts:

• лейтенант (lieutenant)
• капитан (captain)
• солдат (soldier)