Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'branchia'

English Word: branchia

Key Russian Translations:

• жабры [IPA: ʐabrɨ] - [Formal, Plural, Used in scientific or biological contexts]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in specialized fields like biology and marine science; not common in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with scientific terminology and basic Russian grammar, as it involves noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жабры: ʐabrɨ

Note on жабры: The initial sound 'ʐ' is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 'zh' in 'measure' in English, but more guttural. In fast speech, the final 'ɨ' may soften. Variations can occur based on regional accents, such as in Moscow vs. St. Petersburg dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Biological term for gills in fish or amphibians

Translation(s) & Context:

• жабры - Used in formal scientific descriptions of aquatic respiratory organs, often in educational or research contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Рыбы дышат с помощью жабр, которые извлекают кислород из воды.

  Fish breathe using gills, which extract oxygen from water.

• У лягушек в личиночной стадии развиваются жабры для подводного дыхания.

  Frogs develop gills in their larval stage for underwater breathing.

• В океанографии изучают, как жабры адаптируются к разным уровням солености.

  In oceanography, they study how gills adapt to different levels of salinity.

• Жабры у некоторых рыб имеют сложную структуру, позволяющую эффективно фильтровать воду.

  Gills in some fish have a complex structure that allows for efficient water filtration.

• Эволюционно, жабры эволюционировали из простых тканей у древних водных организмов.

  Evolutionarily, gills evolved from simple tissues in ancient aquatic organisms.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Жабры" is a plural feminine noun in Russian (from the word "жабра" in singular, though "жабры" is more commonly used). It belongs to the first declension group and follows standard patterns for feminine nouns ending in -ы. Below is a table outlining its basic inflections:

Note: The singular form "жабра" is less common and may be used in specific contexts, but "жабры" is invariant in its plural usage across most cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: жаберные органы (more descriptive, emphasizing the organ structure; used in detailed anatomical discussions) | branchial apparatus (though this is a direct borrowing)
• Antonyms: лёгкие (lungs; as they represent a different respiratory system in terrestrial animals)

Related Phrases:

• жабры рыб - Gills of fish (refers to the specific adaptation in fish species)
• развитие жабр - Development of gills (used in contexts of embryology or evolution)
• жабры и дыхание - Gills and breathing (a phrase for discussing respiratory processes)

Usage Notes:

"Жабры" directly corresponds to the English "branchia" in biological contexts, but it's important to note that Russian scientific writing often uses more precise phrasing. This term is typically formal and restricted to academic or professional settings; avoid it in casual conversation. When translating, choose "жабры" for plural references, as "branchia" is inherently plural. Grammatically, ensure correct declension based on sentence structure—e.g., use genitive "жабр" after prepositions like "у" (at). If multiple translations exist, prefer "жабры" for general use over less common synonyms.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the singular "жабра" incorrectly when referring to multiple gills. Correct: In Russian, "branchia" is almost always plural, so say "жабры" instead of "жабра" for accuracy.

  Example of error: *Рыба имеет жабра (incorrect). Correct: Рыба имеет жабры.

  Explanation: Russian nouns like this require proper number agreement, and "жабра" might confuse learners from languages without declensions.

• Error: Mispronouncing the initial "ж" sound as a simple "z". Correct: Emphasize the retroflex "ʐ" to sound natural.

  Example of error: Pronouncing it as "zabrɨ". Correct: ʐabrɨ.

  Explanation: This can make the word harder to understand for native speakers, especially in oral presentations.

Cultural Notes:

While "жабры" is a scientific term without strong cultural connotations, it reflects Russia's emphasis on biological and environmental sciences, influenced by historical figures like Ivan Sechenov. In Russian literature or education, such terms often appear in discussions of nature and evolution, highlighting the country's vast aquatic resources like those in Siberia and the Arctic.

Related Concepts:

• лёгкие (lungs)
• дыхательная система (respiratory system)
• аквакультура (aquaculture)