Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'socialize'

English Word: socialize

Key Russian Translations:

• общаться [ɐbˈʂat͡sə] - [Informal, Everyday]
• социализировать [sətsɪəlʲɪzʲɪrəvatʲ] - [Formal, Technical]
• вступать в общение [fstʊˈpatʲ v ɐbˈʂenʲje] - [Neutral, Slightly Literary]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in casual conversations, social media, and educational contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugation and context-specific usage. For 'социализировать', it may reach B2 due to its formal nature.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

общаться: [ɐbˈʂat͡sə]

социализировать: [sətsɪəlʲɪzʲɪrəvatʲ]

вступать в общение: [fstʊˈpatʲ v ɐbˈʂenʲje]

Note on общаться: The stress falls on the second syllable, and the 'щ' sound (like 'shch' in "fresh cheese") can be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To interact with others in a social setting, building relationships.

Translation(s) & Context:

• общаться - Used in informal daily interactions, such as chatting with friends or at social events.
• социализировать - Applied in formal or professional contexts, like in psychology or education.

Usage Examples:

• Мы часто общаемся с соседями по вечерам, чтобы обсудить новости. (We often socialize with our neighbors in the evenings to discuss the news.)

  English Translation: We often socialize with our neighbors in the evenings to discuss the news.

• Дети должны социализироваться в школе, чтобы развить навыки общения. (Children need to socialize at school to develop communication skills.)

  English Translation: Children need to socialize at school to develop communication skills.

• После работы я люблю вступать в общение с коллегами в кафе. (After work, I like to socialize with colleagues at a cafe.)

  English Translation: After work, I like to socialize with colleagues at a cafe.

• В онлайн-играх люди общаются, чтобы создать виртуальные сообщества. (In online games, people socialize to create virtual communities.)

  English Translation: In online games, people socialize to create virtual communities.

Meaning 2: To adapt to social norms or integrate into a group.

Translation(s) & Context:

• социализировать - Common in educational or sociological discussions, emphasizing adaptation.
• общаться - In a broader sense, for casual integration into social circles.

Usage Examples:

• В новом городе ему пришлось социализироваться, чтобы найти друзей. (In the new city, he had to socialize to find friends.)

  English Translation: In the new city, he had to socialize to find friends.

• Общаться с разными людьми помогает социализироваться в обществе. (Socializing with different people helps one adapt to society.)

  English Translation: Socializing with different people helps one adapt to society.

• Молодежь часто социализируется через социальные сети. (Young people often socialize through social networks.)

  English Translation: Young people often socialize through social networks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translations are verbs, which undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Общаться' is an imperfective verb, while 'социализировать' is often used in perfective forms. 'Вступать в общение' is a phrase with its own inflections.

Note: 'Общаться' is irregular in some aspects due to its stem changes, but it follows standard first conjugation patterns. It does not change in the infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • коммуницировать (more formal, emphasizes communication)
  • взаимодействовать (focuses on interaction, often in professional settings)
  • светский (as an adjective for social events, e.g., светский разговор - small talk)
• Antonyms:
  • изолироваться (to isolate oneself)
  • отгораживаться (to shut oneself off, with a sense of barriers)

Related Phrases:

• Общаться с друзьями - To chat or socialize with friends; used in casual, everyday contexts for building relationships.
• Социализироваться в обществе - To integrate into society; often in educational or psychological discussions.
• Вступать в общение по телефону - To engage in conversation over the phone; common in formal or initial interactions.

Usage Notes:

'Общаться' is the most direct and idiomatic translation for everyday 'socialize', closely mirroring its informal English use, but it implies ongoing interaction. 'Социализировать' is better for contexts involving adaptation or formal processes, similar to 'to socialize' in sociology. Be mindful of aspect in Russian verbs: use imperfective for ongoing actions. In formal writing, prefer 'социализировать' over 'общаться'. English speakers often mistake it for purely recreational, but in Russian, it can include professional networking.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'общаться' in formal contexts where 'социализировать' is more appropriate, e.g., saying "Я общаюсь в компании" instead of "Я социализируюсь в компании" for professional integration. Correct: The latter emphasizes adaptation. Explanation: 'Общаться' focuses on the act of talking, not the broader process.
• Mistake: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "я общаю" instead of "я общаюсь". Correct: "я общаюсь". Explanation: Russian verbs like this require the full ending for proper agreement.
• Mistake: Overusing 'социализировать' in casual speech, which sounds unnatural. Correct: Stick to 'общаться' for informal settings. Explanation: It can make the speaker sound overly academic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, socializing ('общаться') often involves deep, meaningful conversations rather than small talk, reflecting a value on personal connections. For instance, social gatherings like 'chai pitie' (tea drinking) serve as opportunities for 'общаться', emphasizing hospitality and emotional depth, which contrasts with more superficial Western social norms.

Related Concepts:

• коммуникация
• социум
• взаимодействие