Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sovereignty'

English Word: sovereignty

Key Russian Translations:

• суверенитет [sʊ.vʲɪ.rʲɪˈnʲe.tʲɪt] - [Formal, Political]

Frequency: Medium (Common in political, legal, and international contexts, but not in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: C1 (Advanced) - Requires understanding of abstract political concepts and Russian nominal morphology

Pronunciation (Russian):

суверенитет: [sʊ.vʲɪ.rʲɪˈnʲe.tʲɪt]

Note on суверенитет: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ("nʲe"), which can be tricky for learners due to the soft consonants and vowel reductions in spoken Russian.

Audio: Audio placeholder for суверенитет pronunciation (Insert actual audio link here)

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself

Translation(s) & Context:

• суверенитет - Used in formal contexts like international law, diplomacy, or political discussions to denote a nation's independence and self-governance.

Usage Examples:

• Россия отстаивает свой суверенитет в вопросах внешней политики.

  Russia defends its sovereignty in matters of foreign policy.

• Суверенитет страны не должен подвергаться внешнему вмешательству.

  The sovereignty of the country should not be subject to external interference.

• Потеря суверенитета может привести к потере национальной идентичности.

  The loss of sovereignty can lead to the loss of national identity.

• Международные договоры уважают суверенитет подписавших государств.

  International treaties respect the sovereignty of the signing states.

Secondary Meaning: Ultimate control or authority in a non-political context (e.g., personal or organizational)

Translation(s) & Context:

• суверенитет - Occasionally used metaphorically in philosophical or business contexts to describe autonomous control, though less common.

Usage Examples:

• В компании CEO имеет полный суверенитет в принятии решений.

  In the company, the CEO has full sovereignty in decision-making.

• Личное суверенитет важно для психологического благополучия.

  Personal sovereignty is important for psychological well-being.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Суверенитет is a masculine noun (мужской род) in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows the standard pattern for nouns ending in -ет, which are often loanwords and have irregular or simplified inflections. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: The plural form is not commonly used, as 'sovereignty' is often discussed in singular contexts. The word is invariant in gender and does not change in most adjectival agreements.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • независимость (independence) - Often used interchangeably in political contexts, but implies freedom from control rather than supreme authority.
  • самостоятельность (autonomy) - Emphasizes self-governance, especially in regional or organizational settings.
• Antonyms:
  • зависимость (dependence)
  • подчинение (subordination)

Related Phrases:

• Нарушение суверенитета - Violation of sovereignty; Used in discussions of international law or conflicts.
• Защита национального суверенитета - Defense of national sovereignty; Common in patriotic or geopolitical rhetoric.
• Суверенитет государства - State sovereignty; A standard phrase in legal documents.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'суверенитет' directly corresponds to the English 'sovereignty' in formal and legal contexts, but it's primarily used in written or official speech rather than casual conversation. When translating, ensure the context is political or abstract; for everyday autonomy, 'самостоятельность' might be more appropriate. Be mindful of grammatical agreement: as a masculine noun, it requires adjectives and verbs to agree accordingly (e.g., 'суверенитет является важным' - sovereignty is important). If multiple translations are possible, choose based on nuance—'суверенитет' is the most precise for state-level authority.

Common Errors:

• Confusing with 'суверенный' (sovereign as an adjective): Learners might incorrectly use 'суверенный' as a noun, e.g., saying 'Я имею суверенный' instead of 'Я имею суверенитет'. Correct usage: 'Суверенный' means 'sovereign' in the adjectival sense, like 'суверенная держава' (sovereign state).

• Misinflecting the noun: A common mistake is omitting case endings, e.g., saying 'о суверенитет' instead of 'о суверенитете' in prepositional case. Always check the required case based on the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, 'суверенитет' holds significant connotations due to events like the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Russia's post-Soviet assertions of sovereignty. It often appears in discussions of national pride and resistance to foreign influence, reflecting Russia's emphasis on state independence in global affairs.

Related Concepts:

• независимость
• автономия
• федерализм