soviet

Everyday

1. Soviet means of or about the Soviet Union (USSR), a large communist country that existed for most of the last century, made of Russia, Ukraine and other republics, ruled from Moscow. tree →
2. (history) A soviet was a workers' council in Russia; the word means «council» in Russian. tree →
3. «The Soviets» means the government or people of the Soviet Union. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons «Soviet» comes in the Second World War, the Cold War between the USA and the Soviet Union, the space race (the Soviets sent the first satellite, Sputnik, and the first person, Yuri Gagarin, into space) and the end of the Soviet Union, after which Ukraine, Russia and other republics became separate countries. Pupils also learn about the Holodomor, the man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine.

Examples

• Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space, sent by the Soviet Union. tree →
• Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union before it became independent. tree →
• The Cold War was a long standoff between the USA and the Soviets. tree →
• Soviet soldiers fought in the Second World War. tree →
• The Soviet Union broke up into fifteen countries. tree →
• Under Soviet rule, many people could not speak freely. tree →
• The word «soviet» means «council» in Russian. tree →

Note

Usually a capital S: «Soviet», «the Soviet Union». It is history: the Soviet Union no longer exists. Trap: «Soviet» does not just mean «Russian» — Ukrainians, Georgians, Kazakhs and others lived in the Soviet Union too, and today they are separate countries.