Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Amphibian'

English Word: Amphibian

Key Russian Translations:

• амфибия [ɐmˈfʲibʲɪjə] - [Formal, Singular]
• земноводное [zʲɪmnɐˈvodnəjə] - [Formal, Neutral, Often Scientific]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

амфибия: [ɐmˈfʲibʲɪjə]

Note on амфибия: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ф' is pronounced as a soft 'f' sound due to the following 'и'.

земноводное: [zʲɪmnɐˈvodnəjə]

Note on земноводное: Stress on the third syllable. The 'з' is palatalized due to the following 'е'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Biological Term (Animal that lives both on land and in water)

Translation(s) & Context:

• амфибия - Commonly used in general contexts to refer to amphibians as a class of animals.
• земноводное - Preferred in scientific or academic contexts for precision.

Usage Examples:

• Амфибии могут жить как в воде, так и на суше.

  Amphibians can live both in water and on land.

• Земноводные играют важную роль в экосистеме.

  Amphibians play an important role in the ecosystem.

• Лягушка — это типичная амфибия.

  A frog is a typical amphibian.

• Земноводные часто встречаются в болотистых местностях.

  Amphibians are often found in swampy areas.

• Некоторые амфибии ядовиты для человека.

  Some amphibians are poisonous to humans.

2. Figurative or Technical Use (e.g., Vehicle or Machine)

Translation(s) & Context:

• амфибия - Used for vehicles or machines that operate on both land and water.

Usage Examples:

• Этот вездеход — настоящая амфибия.

  This all-terrain vehicle is a true amphibian.

• Военные используют машины-амфибии для переправы через реки.

  The military uses amphibian vehicles to cross rivers.

• Амфибия может передвигаться по суше и воде.

  An amphibian can move on land and in water.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

амфибия (Feminine Noun):

земноводное (Neuter Noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for амфибия/земноводное:

• животное-амфибия (amphibian animal, more descriptive)

Note: Synonyms are rare as these terms are quite specific.

Antonyms:

• млекопитающее (mammal)
• рептилия (reptile)

Related Phrases:

• амфибия-животное - Refers to an amphibian as an animal (biological context).
• машина-амфибия - Refers to an amphibious vehicle (technical context).
• земноводные виды - Amphibian species (scientific context).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between translations: Use "амфибия" for general or technical contexts (including vehicles), and "земноводное" for scientific or academic discussions about the animal class.
• Register: Both terms are formal or neutral; they are not used in casual slang or informal speech.
• Grammar: Pay attention to case endings, especially with "земноводное," as it is neuter, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up translations: English learners often use "амфибия" when referring to scientific contexts, where "земноводное" is more accurate. For example, saying "Амфибия в биологии" instead of "Земноводное в биологии."
• Incorrect case usage: Using the nominative case instead of the required case in a sentence. For instance, "Я вижу амфибия" (wrong) instead of "Я вижу амфибию" (correct, accusative case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, amphibians like frogs often appear in folklore and fairy tales (e.g., "Царевна-лягушка" or "The Frog Princess"). The term "амфибия" might evoke these cultural associations for some speakers, though it is not as emotionally charged as in some Western contexts.

Related Concepts:

• лягушка (frog)
• жаба (toad)
• тритон (newt)
• саламандра (salamander)