Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bristle'

English Word: bristle

Key Russian Translations:

• щетина [ˈʂːetʲɪnə] - [Noun, Usually Singular or Collective]
• ощетиниться [ɐˈʂːetʲɪnʲɪtʲsə] - [Verb, Reflexive, Often Figurative]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like describing hair, brushes, or figurative anger)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "щетина"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "ощетиниться" due to reflexive verb usage and figurative meaning

Pronunciation (Russian):

щетина: [ˈʂːetʲɪnə]

Note on щетина: The initial "щ" sound is a distinct Russian fricative, similar to 'shch'. Stress is on the first syllable.

ощетиниться: [ɐˈʂːetʲɪnʲɪtʲsə]

Note on ощетиниться: Stress falls on the second syllable. The reflexive ending "-ся" is pronounced softly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Bristle (as a noun - stiff hair or fiber, e.g., on a brush or animal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• щетина - Used for stiff hairs on animals (e.g., boar bristles) or brush fibers. Often collective, not typically pluralized.

Usage Examples:

• Щетина кабана используется для изготовления кистей.

  The bristles of a boar are used to make brushes.

• У этой щетки жесткая щетина.

  This brush has stiff bristles.

• Щетина на его подбородке выглядела неопрятно.

  The stubble (bristles) on his chin looked untidy.

2. Bristle (as a verb - to react with anger or irritation, or to stand stiffly)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ощетиниться - Reflexive verb, often used figuratively to describe someone becoming defensive or angry, or literally for hair/fur standing on end.

Usage Examples:

• Он ощетинился, услышав критику.

  He bristled upon hearing the criticism.

• Собака ощетинилась, увидев незнакомца.

  The dog bristled when it saw a stranger.

• Она ощетинилась от его резких слов.

  She bristled at his harsh words.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

щетина (Noun, Feminine): Typically used as a collective noun. It follows the standard feminine declension pattern for nouns ending in "-а".

Case	Singular
Nominative	щетина
Genitive	щетины
Dative	щетине
Accusative	щетину
Instrumental	щетиной
Prepositional	щетине

Note: Rarely used in plural as it denotes a mass or collective concept.

ощетиниться (Verb, Reflexive, Perfective): This verb is perfective and reflexive, often paired with the imperfective "ощетиниваться" for ongoing actions. Below is the conjugation for the past tense (most common in narratives).

Form	Past Tense
Masculine	ощетинился
Feminine	ощетинилась
Neuter	ощетинилось
Plural	ощетинились

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for щетина:

• ворс (used more for brush or fabric fibers)
• щетка (more general, can mean "brush")

Note: "ворс" is more technical and context-specific compared to "щетина".

Synonyms for ощетиниться:

• насторожиться (to become alert or wary, less intense)
• взъерошиться (to become ruffled, often literal for hair/feathers)

Antonyms for ощетиниться:

• успокоиться (to calm down)
• расслабиться (to relax)

Related Phrases:

• щетина как у кабана - "bristles like a boar" (used to describe rough, stiff hair or stubble)
• ощетиниться от злости - "to bristle with anger" (figurative, common expression for irritation)

Usage Notes:

• "щетина" primarily refers to animal bristles or stubble on a human face. It is not typically used for synthetic materials unless specified.
• "ощетиниться" is often figurative in Russian, implying a defensive or angry reaction. It is stronger than simply "to be annoyed" and suggests visible tension or hostility.
• Choose "щетина" for physical bristles and "ощетиниться" for the verb form describing a reaction or physical standing of hair/fur.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "щетина" to describe human hair in a general sense. Incorrect: У него длинная щетина на голове (He has long bristles on his head). Correct: У него длинные волосы на голове (He has long hair on his head). Explanation: "щетина" is reserved for stubble or animal bristles, not general hair.
• Error: Forgetting the reflexive "-ся" in "ощетиниться". Incorrect: Он ощетинил от критики. Correct: Он ощетинился от критики. Explanation: This verb is always reflexive in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "щетина" is often associated with masculinity when referring to facial stubble. Describing a man's "щетина" can imply ruggedness or a lack of grooming, depending on the tone. The verb "ощетиниться" is frequently used in literature to depict animals or people in a state of heightened emotion, reflecting a vivid, expressive style typical of Russian descriptive language.

Related Concepts:

• борода (beard)
• ус (mustache)
• злость (anger)
• напряжение (tension)