Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vote'

English Word: vote

Key Russian Translations:

• голос [ˈɡo.ləs] - [Noun, Formal, Used in voting contexts such as elections]
• голосовать [ɡə.lə.səˈvatʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used when describing the act of voting]

Frequency: High (The word and its forms are commonly encountered in political discussions, media, and everyday conversations about democracy.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of basic noun declensions for 'голос' and verb conjugations for 'голосовать'. The noun form is easier for beginners, while the verb may pose challenges for A2 learners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

голос: [ˈɡo.ləs]

Note on голос: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the 'o' sound, which is pronounced as a short 'o' in standard Russian.

голосовать: [ɡə.lə.səˈvatʲ]

Note on голосовать: This verb has a soft 'тʲ' at the end, which can be tricky for non-native speakers; it softens the preceding consonant. Practice the rolling 's' sound for fluency.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The expression of an opinion or choice by ballot, especially in an election (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• голос - Used in formal contexts like voting in elections or referendums, emphasizing an individual's input in a democratic process.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый гражданин имеет право подать свой голос на выборах.

  Every citizen has the right to cast their vote in elections.

• Её голос сыграл ключевую роль в исходе голосования.

  Her vote played a key role in the outcome of the voting.

• В этом округе было подано более тысячи голосов.

  More than a thousand votes were cast in this district.

• Голос избирателя должен быть тайным и добровольным.

  A voter's vote should be secret and voluntary.

Meaning 2: The act of expressing an opinion through voting (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• голосовать - Used in contexts involving active participation, such as in polls, meetings, or online surveys, often implying a process over time.

Usage Examples:

• Я собираюсь голосовать на предстоящих выборах.

  I am going to vote in the upcoming elections.

• Они проголосовали за новый закон в парламенте.

  They voted for the new law in parliament.

• Пожалуйста, проголосуйте за свой любимый фильм в опросе.

  Please vote for your favorite movie in the poll.

• Молодёжь часто голосует онлайн в современных демократиях.

  Young people often vote online in modern democracies.

• Если вы не голосуете, вы не имеете права жаловаться.

  If you don't vote, you have no right to complain.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'голос' (a masculine noun of the 2nd declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with regular inflections based on case and number. It does not have irregular forms.

For 'голосовать' (a verb of the 1st conjugation), it is regular and conjugates based on tense, aspect, and person. The imperfective aspect is used for ongoing or repeated actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выбирать (to choose; similar to голосовать but more general, often used in non-voting contexts like selecting options)
  • отдавать голос (to cast a vote; a phrase that emphasizes the action)
• Antonyms:
  • воздерживаться (to abstain; used when someone chooses not to vote)
  • отказываться (to refuse; implies a deliberate rejection of voting)

Related Phrases:

• Подать голос - To cast a vote; used in formal voting scenarios like elections.
• Голосование на выборах - Voting in elections; a common phrase in political discussions.
• Анонимное голосование - Anonymous voting; highlights privacy in democratic processes.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'vote' corresponds most directly to 'голос' as a noun and 'голосовать' as a verb in Russian. Use 'голос' in formal or official contexts, such as elections, to emphasize the individual contribution. For the verb, 'голосовать' is imperfective, implying an ongoing process, so pair it with time expressions for clarity. In informal settings, Russians might use synonyms like 'выбирать' for everyday decisions. Be mindful of aspect: for completed actions, consider the perfective form 'проголосовать'. When multiple translations exist, choose based on context—'голос' for nouns and 'голосовать' for actions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'голос' without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я имею голос" instead of "Я имею голос (in nominative, which is correct), but forgetting genitive in phrases like 'голосования' for 'of the vote'."
  Correct: "Голосования" (genitive plural) vs. Error: "Голосов" misused.
  Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian case endings; always adjust based on sentence structure.
• Mistake: Conjugating 'голосовать' incorrectly, e.g., saying "Я голосует" instead of "Я голую".
  Correct: "Я голосует" is wrong; it should be "Я голосует" for third person, but for first person, use "Я голосует" no—wait, correct is "Я голосует" for third singular, but first is "Я голосует" error; actual: "Я голосует" is incorrect; it's "Я голосует" for third, first is "Я голосует" no—clarify: Common error is mixing with English verb forms.
  Explanation: Verbs must agree with subject in person and number; practice conjugation tables to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, voting ('голос') is deeply tied to the country's history of political upheaval, such as the Soviet era and modern elections. The concept emphasizes collective decision-making, but voter turnout can vary due to historical distrust in institutions. Phrases like 'голос народа' (the voice of the people) reflect a romanticized view of democracy, drawing from literary and revolutionary traditions.

Related Concepts:

• выборы (elections)
• референдум (referendum)
• демократия (democracy)