Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Beast'

English Word: beast

Key Russian Translations:

• зверь [zvʲerʲ] - [Neutral, Common for wild animals]
• животное [ʐɨˈvotnəjə] - [Neutral, General for any animal]
• чудовище [t͡ɕʊˈdovʲɪɕːə] - [Negative, Often for monstrous or terrifying creatures]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "зверь" and "животное" are easier, while "чудовище" may require more context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

зверь: [zvʲerʲ]

Note on зверь: The soft 'р' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers; ensure a slight roll of the tongue.

животное: [ʐɨˈvotnəjə]

Note on животное: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative.

чудовище: [t͡ɕʊˈdovʲɪɕːə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Wild or Ferocious Animal

Translation(s) & Context:

• зверь - Used for wild animals, often with a sense of ferocity or strength (e.g., a wolf or bear).

Usage Examples:

• В лесу живёт опасный зверь.

  A dangerous beast lives in the forest.

• Этот зверь напал на деревню.

  This beast attacked the village.

• Зверь рычал в темноте.

  The beast growled in the darkness.

2. General Animal (Neutral)

Translation(s) & Context:

• животное - Refers to any animal, without implying ferocity; more scientific or neutral tone.

Usage Examples:

• Это животное живёт в зоопарке.

  This beast (animal) lives in the zoo.

• Животное выглядело дружелюбным.

  The beast (animal) looked friendly.

• Мы изучаем поведение животных.

  We study the behavior of beasts (animals).

3. Monstrous or Terrifying Creature (Figurative or Literal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чудовище - Used for monsters, mythical creatures, or metaphorically for cruel individuals.

Usage Examples:

• В сказке было страшное чудовище.

  There was a terrifying beast (monster) in the fairy tale.

• Он вёл себя как настоящее чудовище.

  He behaved like a real beast (monster).

• Чудовище скрывалось в пещере.

  The beast (monster) was hiding in the cave.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

зверь (Masculine Noun):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	зверь	звери
Genitive	зверя	зверей
Dative	зверю	зверям
Accusative	зверя	зверей
Instrumental	зверем	зверями
Prepositional	о звере	о зверях

животное (Neuter Noun): Regular declension for neuter nouns ending in -ое.

чудовище (Neuter Noun): Regular declension for neuter nouns ending in -е.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for зверь:

• хищник (predator)
• тварь (creature, often derogatory)

Synonyms for чудовище: "монстр" (monster) is often used interchangeably, though "чудовище" can carry a more archaic or fairy-tale tone.

Antonyms:

• человек (human, as opposed to beast)
• друг (friend, in a metaphorical sense against чудовище)

Related Phrases:

• дикий зверь - "wild beast" (refers to untamed, ferocious animals)
• домашнее животное - "domestic animal" (pet or farm animal)
• чудовище из сказки - "monster from a fairy tale" (common in folklore contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "Зверь" is the most direct translation for "beast" when referring to a wild or powerful animal, often with a connotation of danger or strength.
• "Животное" is a safer, neutral choice when the context is unclear or you simply mean "animal" without ferocity.
• "Чудовище" should be used cautiously as it often implies something monstrous, terrifying, or morally repugnant when used metaphorically.
• Pay attention to gender and case agreement when using these nouns in sentences, as Russian grammar requires matching with adjectives and verbs.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "чудовище" to refer to a regular animal. Incorrect: "Это чудовище живёт в лесу" (for a normal wolf). Correct: "Это зверь живёт в лесу."
• Error: Misplacing stress in "животное" (e.g., stressing the first syllable). Correct: Stress is on "vot" [ʐɨˈvotnəjə]. Practice with native audio.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian folklore and literature, "зверь" often appears in tales of the wilderness, symbolizing raw nature or danger (e.g., in stories of wolves or bears). "Чудовище" is frequently used in fairy tales like "Beauty and the Beast" (Красавица и чудовище), carrying a deep cultural resonance with themes of transformation and redemption.

Related Concepts:

• хищник (predator)
• монстр (monster)
• тварь (creature, often negative)