guberniya

[ goo-ber-nee-uh; Russian goo-byer-nyi-yuh ]

noun

1. (in the Soviet Union) an administrative division of the volosts, smaller than a district.
2. (in Russia before 1917) an administrative division equivalent to the province.

guberniya

/ ɡuˈbjɛrnɪjə /

noun

1. a territorial division of imperial Russia
2. a territorial and administrative subdivision in the former Soviet Union

Word History and Origins

Origin of guberniya¹

From Russian gubérniya, probably derivative of gubernátor “governor” (from Polish, from Latin ), by analogy with imperátor “emperor,” impériya; “empire”; governor, emperor, empire

Word History and Origins

Origin of guberniya¹

from Russian: government, ultimately from Latin gubernāre to govern