Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bark'

English Word: bark

Key Russian Translations:

• Лай [laɪ] - [Informal, Noun, Typically used for animal sounds]
• Кора [ˈkorə] - [Formal, Noun, Refers to plant material]
• Лаять [lɐˈjætʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday contexts for animal actions]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'лай' and 'лаять' are common in casual conversations about animals, while 'кора' has high frequency in botanical or everyday contexts).

Difficulty: A1 for 'кора' (Beginner, as it's a basic noun); B1 for 'лай' and 'лаять' (Intermediate, due to simple verb conjugation and sound-related vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

Лай: [laɪ]

Note on Лай: The vowel sound in 'лаи' can vary slightly in fast speech, often softening to [laj] in informal settings.

Кора: [ˈkorə]

Note on Кора: Stress on the first syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Лаять: [lɐˈjætʲ]

Note on Лаять: The palatalized 'тʲ' at the end adds a soft sound; practice with native audio for accurate inflection.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The sound a dog makes (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Лай - Used in informal, everyday situations when describing animal noises, such as in stories or observations.

Usage Examples:

• Собака громко лает по ночам. (The dog barks loudly at night.)

  English Translation: The dog barks loudly at night. (This example shows the verb form in a simple declarative sentence.)

• Его лай разбудил всю семью. (His bark woke up the whole family.)

  English Translation: His bark woke up the whole family. (Illustrates the noun form in a narrative context.)

• В парке дети боятся лая собак. (In the park, children are afraid of dogs' barking.)

  English Translation: In the park, children are afraid of dogs' barking. (Demonstrates plural and possessive usage.)

• Лай этой породы собак очень резкий. (The bark of this dog breed is very sharp.)

  English Translation: The bark of this dog breed is very sharp. (Shows descriptive adjective modification.)

• Когда он услышал лай, он замер. (When he heard the bark, he froze.)

  English Translation: When he heard the bark, he froze. (Contextualizes in a suspenseful scenario.)

The outer layer of a tree (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Кора - Used in formal, scientific, or everyday contexts related to nature, botany, or materials.

Usage Examples:

• Дерево имеет толстую кору для защиты. (The tree has thick bark for protection.)

  English Translation: The tree has thick bark for protection. (Basic descriptive use in a natural context.)

• Из коры берёзы делают лекарства. (Bark from birch trees is used to make medicine.)

  English Translation: Bark from birch trees is used to make medicine. (Shows application in cultural or practical settings.)

• Кора этого дерева очень гладкая. (The bark of this tree is very smooth.)

  English Translation: The bark of this tree is very smooth. (Adjective usage for texture description.)

• В лесу мы собирали кору для искусства. (In the forest, we collected bark for art.)

  English Translation: In the forest, we collected bark for art. (Illustrates collection and creative use.)

• Повреждённая кора может убить дерево. (Damaged bark can kill the tree.)

  English Translation: Damaged bark can kill the tree. (Emphasizes functional importance.)

To make a sharp, explosive noise (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Лаять - Informal verb, often in contexts involving animals or metaphorical expressions.

Usage Examples:

• Собака лает на незнакомцев. (The dog barks at strangers.)

  English Translation: The dog barks at strangers. (Simple present tense usage.)

• Он лает, но не кусает. (He barks but doesn't bite.)

  English Translation: He barks but doesn't bite. (Idiomatic expression for threats.)

• Лаять в темноте бесполезно. (Barking in the dark is useless.)

  English Translation: Barking in the dark is useless. (Metaphorical for futile actions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Лай' (Noun, masculine): It follows standard first-declension patterns with no irregularities.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Лай	Лайы
Genitive	Лая	Лайов
Dative	Лаю	Лайам

For 'Кора' (Noun, feminine): It is invariable in some forms but follows second-declension patterns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Кора	Коры
Genitive	Коры	Кор

For 'Лаять' (Verb, imperfective): It conjugates irregularly in some tenses. Example in present tense:

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	Лаю	Лаем
2nd	Лаешь	Лаетe
3rd	Лает	Лают

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Гавкот (for 'лай' - similar to barking, but more onomatopoeic)
  • Оболочка (for 'кора' - literal shell or covering)
  • Рычать (for 'лаять' - growling, with a nuance of aggression)
• Antonyms:
  • Молчать (for 'лаять' - to be silent)
  • Гладкая поверхность (for 'кора' - smooth surface, opposite texture)

Related Phrases:

• Собачья лай - (Dog's bark; a common phrase for animal sounds in casual talk.)
• Деревенская кора - (Village bark; refers to rustic or natural tree bark in folklore.)
• Лаять на луну - (To bark at the moon; an idiom meaning to do something futile, with a connotation of wasted effort.)

Usage Notes:

'Лай' directly corresponds to the noun form of 'bark' for animal sounds, but it's more informal in Russian and often used in spoken language. For 'кора', it's a precise match for tree bark and is neutral in register. When choosing between translations for 'bark' as a verb, opt for 'лаять' in animal contexts, but be aware of its imperfective aspect, which implies ongoing action. In formal writing, pair it with appropriate prepositions like 'на' (at) for targets.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'лай' with 'рычать' (growl), using it for deeper sounds. Correct: Use 'лай' only for sharp, high-pitched barks. Example of error: *Собака рычит тихо* (incorrect for a bark); Correct: Собака лает тихо.
• Mixing cases with 'кора'; e.g., using nominative in genitive contexts. Error: *Из кора* (wrong); Correct: Из коры (from the bark), as it requires genitive case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'лаять на луну' (barking at the moon) is a proverb symbolizing futile efforts, often drawn from folklore where dogs bark at the unreachable moon, reflecting themes of human ambition and limitations in Russian literature.

Related Concepts:

• Вой (Howl)
• Дерево (Tree)
• Животные звуки (Animal sounds)