Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Ape'

English Word: ape

Key Russian Translations:

• обезьяна [ɐbʲɪˈzʲanə] - [General, Neutral]
• примат [prʲɪˈmat] - [Formal, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "обезьяна"); B2 (Intermediate for "примат")

Pronunciation (Russian):

обезьяна: [ɐbʲɪˈzʲanə]

Note on обезьяна: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "я" is pronounced as a soft "ya" sound.

примат: [prʲɪˈmat]

Note on примат: Stress on the second syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A large primate without a tail (e.g., gorilla, chimpanzee)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обезьяна - Commonly used for any monkey or ape in everyday language.
• примат - Used in scientific or formal contexts to refer specifically to primates.

Usage Examples:

• В зоопарке я видел огромную обезьяну.

  I saw a huge ape at the zoo.

• Обезьяны очень умные животные.

  Apes are very intelligent animals.

• Приматы включают как обезьян, так и людей.

  Primates include both apes and humans.

• Эта обезьяна умеет использовать инструменты.

  This ape knows how to use tools.

• Ученые изучают поведение приматов в дикой природе.

  Scientists study the behavior of primates in the wild.

2. To mimic or imitate (informal, verb usage of "ape")

Translation(s) & Context:

• подражать - Used to describe mimicking or imitating someone’s behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Он любит подражать своим любимым актерам.

  He loves to ape his favorite actors.

• Не подражай ему, будь собой.

  Don’t ape him, be yourself.

• Дети часто подражают взрослым.

  Children often ape adults.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обезьяна (Noun, Feminine):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	обезьяна	обезьяны
Genitive	обезьяны	обезьян
Dative	обезьяне	обезьянам
Accusative	обезьяну	обезьян
Instrumental	обезьяной	обезьянами
Prepositional	об обезьяне	об обезьянах

примат (Noun, Masculine): Follows regular masculine noun declension patterns. Nominative singular: примат, Nominative plural: приматы.

подражать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Example: я подражаю (I ape/imitate), ты подражаешь (you ape/imitate).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for обезьяна:

• мартышка (used for smaller monkeys)
• макака (specific type of monkey)

Note: "мартышка" often implies a smaller or more playful monkey, while "обезьяна" is more general.

Antonyms for обезьяна:

• None directly applicable (conceptually opposite ideas depend on context).

Synonyms for подражать:

• копировать
• имитировать

Related Phrases:

• обезьяний труд - "monkey labor" (used to describe meaningless or repetitive work).
• обезьяньи ужимки - "monkey antics" (used for foolish or playful behavior).
• подражать слепо - "to ape blindly" (to imitate without understanding).

Usage Notes:

• "обезьяна" is the most common and versatile term for "ape" or "monkey" in Russian, suitable for most casual or general contexts.
• "примат" is strictly scientific and should be used only in formal or academic discussions about biology or zoology.
• When using "ape" as a verb ("to imitate"), "подражать" is the closest equivalent, often carrying a neutral or slightly negative connotation depending on context.
• Be mindful of noun cases when using "обезьяна" or "примат," as Russian grammar requires appropriate declension based on sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "примат" in casual conversation. Incorrect: Я видел примат в зоопарке. (I saw a primate at the zoo.)
  Correct: Я видел обезьяну в зоопарке.
  Explanation: "примат" sounds overly formal and unnatural in everyday speech.
• Error: Failing to decline nouns properly. Incorrect: Я дал еду обезьяна.
  Correct: Я дал еду обезьяне.
  Explanation: The dative case ("обезьяне") is required after "дал" (gave).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "обезьяна" may sometimes be used metaphorically to describe someone behaving foolishly or playfully, similar to English. Additionally, the phrase "обезьяний труд" (monkey labor) is a common idiom for pointless or repetitive tasks, reflecting a cultural perception of monkeys as symbols of unproductive mimicry.

Related Concepts:

• животное (animal)
• зоопарк (zoo)
• природа (nature)