sovkhoz: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowHistorical/Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “sovkhoz” mean?
A state-owned farm in the former Soviet Union, operated by government employees.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A state-owned farm in the former Soviet Union, operated by government employees.
A historical term for a large-scale, mechanized agricultural enterprise in the USSR, directly managed and funded by the state, as opposed to the collective farm (kolkhoz).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage between UK and US English, as it is a historical loanword.
Connotations
Connotes Soviet history, state control, and collectivisation. It may carry ideological weight in certain contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, found almost exclusively in historical, political, or economic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “sovkhoz” in a Sentence
The sovkhoz [verb: was, became, operated] in [location][Direct object: manage, visit, work on] a sovkhozVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sovkhoz” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sovkhoz system collapsed with the USSR.
American English
- He studied sovkhoz management models.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or economic studies of the Soviet Union.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise term in historical agriculture or Soviet studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sovkhoz”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sovkhoz”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sovkhoz”
- Using 'sovkhoz' to refer to any farm in a post-Soviet state.
- Confusing it with 'kolkhoz' (collective farm).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A sovkhoz was a state farm where workers were state employees paid wages. A kolkhoz was a collective farm where members shared the profits from the produce they sold to the state.
It is used only historically or academically. The institutions ceased to exist with the dissolution of the USSR, though their assets and land were often repurposed.
In British English, it is commonly /ˈsɒfkɒz/. In American English, it is often /ˈsɑːvkoʊz/. The 'v' is pronounced in American English.
No. It is a term specific to the Soviet era (1917-1991). Using it for a modern farm would be historically incorrect.
A state-owned farm in the former Soviet Union, operated by government employees.
Sovkhoz is usually historical/technical/academic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SOViet + farmHOZ. It was the Soviet state's farm.
Conceptual Metaphor
A sovkhoz is a factory for food (emphasising industrial-scale, state-run production).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary characteristic of a sovkhoz?