Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bleat'

English Word: bleat

Key Russian Translations:

• блеять [ˈblʲejatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for animal sounds]
• блеяние [blʲɪˈjanʲɪjə] - [Noun, Neutral, Refers to the sound itself]

Frequency: Low (Rarely used in everyday conversation unless discussing animals)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "блеять"; A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "блеяние"

Pronunciation (Russian):

блеять: [ˈblʲejatʲ]

Note on блеять: The stress is on the first syllable. The soft "л" sound can be tricky for non-native speakers.

блеяние: [blʲɪˈjanʲɪjə]

Note on блеяние: Stress falls on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft "н" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Sound made by a sheep or goat

Translation(s) & Context:

• блеять - Used as a verb to describe the action of a sheep or goat making a sound.
• блеяние - Used as a noun to refer to the sound itself made by the animal.

Usage Examples:

• Овца начала блеять, когда увидела пастуха.

  The sheep started to bleat when it saw the shepherd.

• Блеяние овец разбудило меня утром.

  The bleating of the sheep woke me up in the morning.

• Козы блеют громче, чем овцы.

  Goats bleat louder than sheep.

• Я услышал блеяние за холмом.

  I heard bleating behind the hill.

• Ребенок подражал блеянию овец, чтобы развеселить нас.

  The child imitated the bleating of sheep to amuse us.

2. Figurative use (to complain or whine)

Translation(s) & Context:

• блеять - Used metaphorically to describe a person whining or complaining in a weak manner (informal, slightly derogatory).

Usage Examples:

• Перестань блеять и сделай что-нибудь!

  Stop bleating and do something!

• Он только и делает, что блеет о своих проблемах.

  All he does is bleat about his problems.

• Не блей, лучше подумай, как решить это.

  Don’t bleat, think about how to solve this instead.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

блеять (Verb, Imperfective): This verb follows regular conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -ять. It is used in the imperfective aspect to describe an ongoing or repeated action.

блеяние (Noun, Neuter): This noun follows standard declension for neuter nouns ending in -ие.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for блеять (Verb):

• мекать (used for goats specifically)

Note: "мекать" is less common and specifically refers to the sound of goats, while "блеять" can apply to both sheep and goats.

Antonyms for блеять:

• молчать (to be silent)

Related Phrases:

• блеять как овца - Literally "to bleat like a sheep," used figuratively to describe someone whining or being overly submissive.
• блеяние стада - "The bleating of the flock," referring to the collective sound of sheep or goats.

Usage Notes:

• "блеять" is primarily used for the sound made by sheep or goats. In a figurative sense, it can mean to whine or complain in a weak, pitiful manner, but this usage is informal and can be seen as derogatory.
• "блеяние" refers strictly to the sound itself and does not carry a figurative meaning.
• When choosing between the verb and noun, consider whether you are describing the action (use "блеять") or the sound as a concept (use "блеяние").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "блеяние" as a verb. Incorrect: *Овца блеяние. Correct: Овца блеет.
• Explanation: "блеяние" is a noun and cannot be used as a verb. Use "блеять" to describe the action of bleating.
• Error: Misusing "блеять" in formal contexts for human complaints. Incorrect: *Он блеял на собрании. Correct: Он жаловался на собрании (He complained at the meeting).
• Explanation: The figurative use of "блеять" for whining is informal and derogatory. Use "жаловаться" for neutral or formal contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, sheep and their sounds are often associated with rural life. The figurative use of "блеять" to describe whining may carry a connotation of weakness or lack of initiative, reflecting cultural values of stoicism and resilience.

Related Concepts:

• овца (sheep)
• коза (goat)
• стадо (flock/herd)