Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bongo'

English Word: bongo

Key Russian Translations:

• бонго /ˈbɐnɡə/ - [Neutral, Used for the African antelope]
• бонго-барабан /ˈbɐnɡə bərəˈban/ - [Informal, Used for the percussion instrument]

Frequency: Low (Not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; more specialized in contexts like wildlife or music)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with loanwords and basic vocabulary for specific topics)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бонго: /ˈbɐnɡə/

Note on бонго: The stress is on the first syllable. This is a loanword from English, so pronunciation closely mirrors the original.

Audio: []

бонго-барабан: /ˈbɐnɡə bərəˈban/

Note on бонго-барабан: The word is a compound; stress falls on the first syllable of each part. Pay attention to the soft 'г' sound in барабан.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Referring to the African antelope

Translation(s) & Context:

• бонго - Used in zoological or wildlife discussions, often in formal or educational contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В зоопарке мы увидели бонго, это редкий вид антилопы.

  In the zoo, we saw a bongo, it's a rare species of antelope.

• Бонго обитает в африканских лесах и известен своими полосатыми рогами.

  The bongo lives in African forests and is known for its striped horns.

• Исследователи изучают популяцию бонго в национальных парках.

  Researchers are studying the bongo population in national parks.

• Бонго — это травоядное животное, которое предпочитает густую растительность.

  The bongo is a herbivorous animal that prefers dense vegetation.

• В музее есть чучело бонго из экспедиции в Кению.

  In the museum, there's a stuffed bongo from an expedition in Kenya.

2. Referring to the percussion instrument

Translation(s) & Context:

• бонго-барабан - Used in musical contexts, such as describing instruments in bands or cultural performances.

Usage Examples:

• На концерте музыкант играл на бонго-барабане, создавая ритмичный бит.

  At the concert, the musician played the bongo drum, creating a rhythmic beat.

• Бонго-барабан — это пара барабанов, которые используются в латиноамериканской музыке.

  The bongo drum is a pair of drums used in Latin American music.

• В уроке перкуссии мы научились бить по бонго-барабану.

  In the percussion lesson, we learned how to strike the bongo drum.

• Группа исполнила танец с аккомпанементом бонго-барабана.

  The group performed a dance with bongo drum accompaniment.

• Бонго-барабан добавляет африканские ритмы в современную музыку.

  The bongo drum adds African rhythms to modern music.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "бонго" and "бонго-барабан" are nouns that are loanwords from English and do not undergo significant inflection in Russian. They are typically used in their base forms.

For "бонго" (neuter noun):

Note: As a foreign word, it often remains unchanged across cases. For "бонго-барабан", it functions similarly and is treated as a compound noun with no regular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бонго-антилопа (for the animal; emphasizes the species)
  • барабан бонго (for the instrument; alternative phrasing)

  Note: "бонго-антилопа" is a more descriptive synonym, often used in scientific contexts to differentiate from the instrument.

• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as these are specific nouns without clear opposites.

Related Phrases:

• Африканское бонго — This refers to the African bongo antelope; meaning: A phrase used in wildlife documentaries to specify the animal's origin.
• Играть на бонго-барабане — Meaning: To play the bongo drum; commonly used in musical instructions or descriptions.
• Бонго в джунглях — Meaning: Bongo in the jungles; a phrase for discussing animal habitats in nature shows.

Usage Notes:

"Bongo" in English corresponds closely to "бонго" in Russian, but context is key: use "бонго" for the animal and "бонго-барабан" for the instrument. These words are loanwords, so they are neutral in tone but more common in specialized fields like biology or music. Avoid using them in everyday casual conversation; instead, opt for more native Russian equivalents if discussing similar concepts. For learners, note that Russian often requires the definite article or context to clarify meaning, as Russian lacks articles like "the" or "a".

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing "бонго" as /ˈbɔːŋɡoʊ/ (like the English version) instead of the Russian /ˈbɐnɡə/.
  Correct: Use the softer Russian vowels; for example, say /ˈbɐnɡə/ instead.
  Explanation: Russian phonetics alter loanwords, so adapting to local sounds prevents misunderstandings in conversations.

• Error: Using "бонго" interchangeably for both meanings without context.
  Correct: Specify with phrases like "африканское бонго" for the animal.
  Explanation: This can lead to confusion; always provide context to distinguish between the antelope and the drum.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "бонго" as an antelope might appear in educational media or wildlife discussions, reflecting Russia's interest in global fauna through documentaries. For the instrument, it's linked to international music influences, such as Latin American rhythms in modern Russian pop or folk fusions, highlighting Russia's openness to global cultural exchanges.

Related Concepts:

• антилопа (antelope)
• барабан (drum)
• перкуссия (percussion)