Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Burrow'

English Word: Burrow

Key Russian Translations:

• нора [ˈnora] - [Informal, Common for animal burrows]
• укрытие [ʊˈkrɨtʲɪje] - [Formal, Broader term for shelter or hiding place]
• рыть [rɨtʲ] - [Verb, Used for the action of burrowing]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like nature or animals)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "нора" is easier, while "укрытие" may require more context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нора: [ˈnora]

Note on нора: Stress falls on the first syllable, a straightforward pronunciation for English speakers.

укрытие: [ʊˈkrɨtʲɪje]

Note on укрытие: Stress on the second syllable; the soft "т" sound might be challenging for beginners.

рыть: [rɨtʲ]

Note on рыть: Short and sharp; the rolled "r" and soft "т" require practice.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A hole or tunnel dug by an animal

Translation(s) & Context:

• нора - Most common translation for animal burrows, used in everyday speech.

Usage Examples:

• Лиса живёт в норе.

  The fox lives in a burrow.

• Кролик выкопал глубокую нору.

  The rabbit dug a deep burrow.

• Мы нашли нору в лесу.

  We found a burrow in the forest.

2. A hiding place or shelter (figurative or broader use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• укрытие - Used for shelters or hiding places, often in a more formal or abstract sense.

Usage Examples:

• Солдаты нашли укрытие в пещере.

  The soldiers found a burrow (shelter) in the cave.

• Это место стало для него укрытием от мира.

  This place became a burrow (refuge) for him from the world.

3. The act of digging or burrowing (verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• рыть - Refers to the action of digging or burrowing, often used for animals or people.

Usage Examples:

• Собака роет землю, чтобы спрятать кость.

  The dog is burrowing (digging) the ground to hide a bone.

• Кроты роют туннели под землёй.

  Moles burrow tunnels underground.

• Он рыли яму всю ночь.

  They were burrowing (digging) a pit all night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

нора (noun, feminine):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	нора	норы
Genitive	норы	нор
Dative	норе	норам
Accusative	нору	норы
Instrumental	норой	норами
Prepositional	о норе	о норах

укрытие (noun, neuter): Follows similar declension patterns for neuter nouns.

рыть (verb): Irregular verb with specific conjugation patterns.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masculine/Feminine/Neuter)
Я (I)	рою	рыл / рыла / рыло
Ты (You)	роешь	рыл / рыла / рыло
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	роет	рыл / рыла / рыло

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for нора:

• берлога (used for larger animal dens, like bears)
• логово (often for predators’ lairs)

Note: "берлога" implies a larger or messier space compared to "нора".

Antonyms for нора:

• вершина (peak or top, as opposed to underground)

Related Phrases:

• вылезти из норы - "to come out of the burrow" (figurative: to emerge from hiding or isolation)
• рыть землю - "to burrow the ground" (literal digging, often used for animals)
• искать укрытие - "to seek a burrow/shelter" (looking for a safe place)

Usage Notes:

• "нора" is the most direct and common translation for an animal’s burrow and is generally used in informal contexts.
• "укрытие" is broader and can refer to any shelter or hiding place, often used in formal or metaphorical contexts.
• "рыть" is the verb form and should be used when describing the action of burrowing or digging; ensure correct conjugation based on subject and tense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "нора" for a human shelter. Incorrect: "Он живёт в норе." (He lives in a burrow.) Correct: Use "укрытие" or another term like "жилище" for human shelters.
• Error: Misconjugating "рыть". Incorrect: "Я рыть землю." Correct: "Я рою землю." (I am burrowing/digging the ground.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian folklore and literature, "нора" often symbolizes a safe, hidden space for animals, reflecting themes of survival and nature. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone retreating from society, similar to English usage.

Related Concepts:

• берлога (den, larger burrow)
• туннель (tunnel)
• пещера (cave)