Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vendor'

English Word: vendor

Key Russian Translations:

• поставщик (/pɐˈstavʂɨk/) - [Formal, Singular, Used in business contexts]
• продавец (/prɐˈdavʲɛts/) - [Informal, Plural possible, Used in retail or everyday commerce]

Frequency: Medium (Common in business and commercial discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic business vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

поставщик: /pɐˈstavʂɨk/

Note on поставщик: The 'щ' sound is a soft, retroflex fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice with native audio for accuracy.

продавец: /prɐˈdavʲɛts/

Note on продавец: The 'в' is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative; it has a soft ending in certain forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person or company that supplies goods or services for sale.

Translation(s) & Context:

• поставщик - Used in formal business, supply chain, or wholesale contexts.
• продавец - Used in retail, everyday sales, or informal commercial settings.

Usage Examples:

• Мой поставщик всегда доставляет товары вовремя.

  My vendor always delivers goods on time.

• В магазине работает опытный продавец, который знает все о продуктах.

  In the store, there is an experienced vendor who knows all about the products.

• Мы сотрудничаем с несколькими поставщиками из-за рубежа.

  We collaborate with several vendors from abroad.

• Продавец на рынке предложил мне хорошую скидку.

  The vendor at the market offered me a good discount.

• Если поставщик опоздает, это повлияет на весь проект.

  If the vendor is late, it will affect the entire project.

Meaning 2: In computing, a company that produces hardware or software.

Translation(s) & Context:

• поставщик - Used in technical or IT contexts, emphasizing supply of technology.

Usage Examples:

• Этот поставщик программного обеспечения известен своими инновациями.

  This software vendor is known for its innovations.

• Мы выбираем надежного поставщика для оборудования.

  We are choosing a reliable vendor for the equipment.

• Поставщик обновил свою линейку продуктов.

  The vendor updated its product line.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "поставщик" and "продавец" are masculine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard second-declension patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. They inflect based on case, number, and gender agreement.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • поставщик: поставляющий (supplier, as a verb form), дистрибьютор (distributor)
  • продавец: торговец (trader, more archaic or formal), реализатор (salesperson in a specific context)
• Antonyms:
  • покупатель (buyer)
  • потребитель (consumer)

Related Phrases:

• Поставщик услуг - Provider of services (Refers to a company offering various services).
• Локальный продавец - Local vendor (Used for small-scale, community-based sellers).
• Надежный поставщик - Reliable vendor (Emphasizes trustworthiness in business dealings).

Usage Notes:

"Поставщик" is the more precise translation for "vendor" in formal or business contexts, as it implies a supplier role, whereas "продавец" is better for retail or direct sales. English speakers should note that Russian nouns decline, so always adjust for case (e.g., use genitive after prepositions like "от" - from the vendor: от поставщика). Choose based on context: use "поставщик" for B2B and "продавец" for B2C interactions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "продавец" in a formal business email instead of "поставщик". Correct: "поставщик" for professional contexts. Explanation: "Продавец" sounds too casual and retail-oriented, potentially undermining formality.

• Error: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., saying "с поставщик" instead of "с поставщиком". Correct: Always decline based on case (here, instrumental). Explanation: Russian grammar requires agreement, and improper declension can make sentences grammatically incorrect.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a "vendor" often ties into the historical tradition of markets (rynki), where "продавец" plays a central role in daily life. This reflects a communal approach to commerce, differing from Western corporate models, and can influence how business relationships are built on trust and personal interaction.

Related Concepts:

• клиент (client)
• рынок (market)
• торговля (trade)