Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cat'

English Word: Cat

Key Russian Translations:

• кошка [ˈkoʂkə] - [Informal, Female or General]
• кот [ˈkot] - [Informal, Male]
• кошки [ˈkoʂkʲɪ] - [Plural]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday speech)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for all translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

кошка: [ˈkoʂkə]

Note on кошка: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English 'sh'.

кот: [ˈkot]

Note on кот: A short, crisp word with stress on the single syllable.

кошки: [ˈkoʂkʲɪ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Domestic Animal (Pet)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кошка - Commonly used for a female cat or as a general term for 'cat' in casual speech.
• кот - Refers specifically to a male cat, often used affectionately.

Usage Examples:

• У меня дома живёт кошка.

  I have a cat living at home.

• Этот кот очень ласковый.

  This (male) cat is very affectionate.

• Кошки любят спать на диване.

  Cats love to sleep on the couch.

• Я видел кота во дворе.

  I saw a (male) cat in the yard.

• Моя кошка мяукает по утрам.

  My cat meows in the mornings.

2. Figurative Use (Clever or Sneaky Person)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кот - Sometimes used metaphorically to describe a cunning or sly person, often in a playful tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он хитрый, как кот!

  He is as cunning as a cat!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кошка (Feminine Noun): Declines according to the second declension pattern in Russian.

кот (Masculine Noun): Follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for кошка/кот:

• котик (affectionate, informal)
• мяу (childish or playful term)

Note: 'котик' is often used as a term of endearment for a cat or even a person.

Antonyms:

• собака (dog)

Related Phrases:

• кошка на крыше - "cat on the roof" (used to describe someone who is hard to reach or elusive)
• кот в мешке - "cat in a bag" (equivalent to "pig in a poke," meaning a risky purchase or unknown entity)
• жить как кошка с собакой - "to live like a cat and dog" (to fight constantly)

Usage Notes:

• In Russian, the choice between 'кошка' and 'кот' often depends on the cat's gender, though 'кошка' is more commonly used as a general term.
• Both terms are informal and suitable for everyday conversation. In formal or scientific contexts, you might encounter 'кошачьи' (feline) for the species.
• Be mindful of declension when using these nouns in sentences, as Russian grammar requires correct case endings based on the sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Gender Usage: English speakers often forget that 'кошка' (female) and 'кот' (male) are gender-specific. Using 'кот' for a female cat is incorrect. Correct: У меня кошка (I have a female cat); Incorrect: У меня кот (if the cat is female).
• Wrong Case Endings: Beginners often use the nominative case incorrectly in sentences requiring other cases. Correct: Я вижу кошку (Accusative); Incorrect: Я вижу кошка.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, cats are often seen as symbols of coziness and home. They appear frequently in folklore and literature, such as in Pushkin’s tales or the famous "Cat of Behemoth" in Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita. Calling someone 'котик' can be a term of endearment, similar to 'sweetie' in English.

Related Concepts:

• мяукать (to meow)
• мурлыкать (to purr)
• котёнок (kitten)