полицейский — meaning in English: policeman

politseyskiy · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for policeman

Царство

Tsarstvo

лоток

lotok

летие

letiye

Комплект

Komplekt

полицейский

politseyskiy

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neutral common

Usage

Native speakers commonly use the word полицейский in everyday conversations when discussing law enforcement or safety matters. For instance, someone might mention a полицейский they encountered while reporting a lost item or while discussing neighborhood safety during a community meeting.

Synonyms & nuances

Another common term is страж порядка (strazh poryadka), which means 'order guard.' While полицейский is more specific to police officers, страж порядка can refer to any person or body that maintains public order, making полицейский the go-to term when referencing the official police force.

Culture

The term полицейский has its roots in the word 'police,' which traces back to the ancient Greek 'polis,' meaning city. In Russian culture, полицейский has evolved from the Tsarist era's 'жандарм' (gendarme) to modern times, reflecting the shift from a repressive force to a community-oriented service, symbolizing a more approachable face of law enforcement in contemporary society.

FAQ

Q.What is the difference between полицейский and сотрудник полиции?

Both terms refer to law enforcement, but полицейский specifically means 'policeman,' while сотрудник полиции translates to 'police officer' and can refer to both male and female officers. Use полицейский when you are specifically discussing male officers.

Q.How do you use полицейский in a sentence?

You can say, 'Я видел полицейского на улице,' which means 'I saw a policeman on the street.' It's often used in the context of mentioning police presence or actions.

Q.Is полицейский a formal or informal word?

Полицейский is considered a neutral term, making it suitable for both casual conversations and formal discussions about law enforcement without any negative connotations.

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