Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'serviceman'

English Word: serviceman

Key Russian Translations:

• военнослужащий /vɐjnəslʊˈʒaʂɨj/ - [Formal, used in official or military contexts]
• солдат /sɐlˈdat/ - [Informal, specific to enlisted personnel or soldiers]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in military, historical, or news contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires basic understanding of Russian nouns and military terminology; for 'солдат', it may be A2 for beginners due to simplicity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

военнослужащий: /vɐjnəslʊˈʒaʂɨj/

солдат: /sɐlˈdat/

Note on военнослужащий: The stress falls on the third syllable ('ʒaʂɨj'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' and soft consonants; variations in fast speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A member of the armed forces, typically in a military context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• военнослужащий - Used in formal settings like official documents, news reports, or discussions about military service; implies a professional role.
• солдат - Applied in informal or specific contexts, such as describing rank-and-file soldiers; often used in historical or narrative contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В армии он был опытным военнослужащим, прошедшим несколько миссий.

  In the army, he was an experienced serviceman who had completed several missions.

• Мой дед служил солдатом во Второй мировой войне и всегда гордился своей службой.

  My grandfather served as a serviceman in World War II and always took pride in his service.

• Военнослужащие часто проходят интенсивную подготовку перед развертыванием.

  Servicemen often undergo intensive training before deployment.

• Как солдат, он научился дисциплине и стойкости в полевых условиях.

  As a serviceman, he learned discipline and resilience in field conditions.

• Молодые военнослужащие обычно начинают карьеру с базовой подготовки.

  Young servicemen typically start their careers with basic training.

Meaning 2: A person providing a service, though less common and more metaphorical (e.g., in broader contexts like emergency services).

Translation(s) & Context:

• служащий - Used in non-military contexts, such as a worker or employee; less direct but applicable in extended meanings.

Usage Examples:

• В пожарной службе он работал как преданный служащий, рискуя жизнью ради других.

  In the fire service, he worked as a dedicated serviceman, risking his life for others.

• Служащий в медицинской бригаде часто называют современным военнослужащим в мирное время.

  A worker in a medical brigade is often called a modern serviceman in peacetime.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are masculine nouns. 'Военнослужащий' is a first-declension noun with regular inflections, while 'солдат' follows standard patterns for masculine nouns. Below is a table for their key inflections:

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregular forms for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • воин (more poetic, implies warrior)
  • служивый (informal, historical connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • гражданский (civilian, contrasting military status)
  • невоенный (non-military)

The synonym 'воин' often carries a heroic nuance, while 'служивый' is archaic and used in literary contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Военнослужащий в отставке - A retired serviceman; refers to someone who has left active duty.
• Молодой солдат - A young serviceman; commonly used in recruitment or training contexts.
• Служба военнослужащего - Service of a serviceman; implies duties and obligations in the military.

Usage Notes:

• Choose 'военнослужащий' for formal or official contexts, as it directly mirrors the English 'serviceman' in military settings; it's more precise than 'солдат', which is specific to lower ranks.
• In everyday Russian, these terms are context-dependent: use with adjectives like 'опытный' (experienced) to specify roles.
• Grammar note: Always decline according to case; for example, in genitive constructions like 'дома военнослужащего' (of the serviceman).
• When translating from English, avoid overusing 'солдат' if the context is broader than just infantry.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'солдат' with 'военнослужащий' and using it in formal documents. Incorrect: "Он солдат в армии." (Too informal.) Correct: "Он военнослужащий в армии." Explanation: 'Солдат' implies a specific rank, while 'военнослужащий' is more general and appropriate for official use.
• Error: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., saying "Я видел солдат" in a context requiring genitive. Incorrect: "Я видел солдата друга." (Grammatical error.) Correct: "Я видел друга солдата." Explanation: Proper declension is key in Russian sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'военнослужащий' carry significant historical and patriotic weight due to mandatory military service for men. It often evokes themes from World War II or modern defense, symbolizing duty and national pride, which can influence its usage in media and literature.

Related Concepts:

• армия (army)
• служба (service)
• вооруженные силы (armed forces)