Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Butterfly'

English Word: Butterfly

Key Russian Translations:

• бабочка [ˈbabətɕkə] - [Common, Neutral]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бабочка: [ˈbabətɕkə]

Note on бабочка: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft affricate, similar to 'ch' in "church" but softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A flying insect with large, colorful wings

Translation(s) & Context:

• бабочка - Used to refer to the insect in general, in both scientific and everyday contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В саду летает красивая бабочка.

  A beautiful butterfly is flying in the garden.

• Дети ловили бабочек на лугу.

  The children were catching butterflies in the meadow.

• Эта бабочка редкого вида.

  This butterfly is of a rare species.

• Бабочка села на цветок.

  The butterfly landed on a flower.

• У бабочки яркие крылья.

  The butterfly has bright wings.

2. Figurative use (e.g., bow tie or swimming style)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бабочка - Also means "bow tie" in Russian, used in formal attire contexts.
• баттерфляй [ˌbatərˈflaɪ] - Borrowed term for the "butterfly stroke" in swimming, used in sports contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он надел галстук-бабочку на свадьбу.

  He wore a bow tie to the wedding.

• Она плавает стилем баттерфляй.

  She swims using the butterfly stroke.

• Где купить красивую бабочку для костюма?

  Where can I buy a nice bow tie for a suit?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бабочка is a feminine noun (feminine ending -а). It follows the standard declension pattern for feminine nouns in Russian.

баттерфляй is an indeclinable noun borrowed from English, used only in sports contexts. It does not change form regardless of case or number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бабочка (insect):

• мотылёк (more poetic or used for smaller moths/butterflies)

Note: "мотылёк" often refers to smaller or nocturnal butterflies (moths), while "бабочка" is more general.

Antonyms:

• None directly applicable for "butterfly" as an insect.

Related Phrases:

• галстук-бабочка - Bow tie (literally "butterfly tie")
• ловить бабочек - To catch butterflies (often used figuratively for daydreaming or being distracted)
• как бабочка - Like a butterfly (used to describe something light, delicate, or fleeting)

Usage Notes:

• The primary translation "бабочка" is used for the insect and also for "bow tie." Context usually clarifies the meaning, but in ambiguous situations, "галстук-бабочка" explicitly means "bow tie."
• "баттерфляй" is a specialized term used exclusively in swimming contexts and is less common in everyday speech. It is a direct borrowing from English and retains its foreign pronunciation.
• When referring to butterflies metaphorically (e.g., describing someone as fleeting or delicate), "бабочка" can be used, but such figurative usage is less common than in English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мотылёк" interchangeably with "бабочка." While both can mean "butterfly," "мотылёк" often implies a moth or smaller butterfly and has a more poetic tone.
  Incorrect: В саду летает мотылек. (Intended to mean a colorful butterfly, but sounds odd.)
  Correct: В саду летает бабочка.
• Error: Forgetting that "бабочка" also means "bow tie" and misinterpreting the context.
  Incorrect Interpretation: Thinking "Он купил бабочку" means "He bought a butterfly" instead of "He bought a bow tie."
  Tip: Look for context clues like clothing or formal events.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, butterflies (бабочка) are often associated with beauty, transformation, and fragility, much like in many other cultures. However, they are less frequently used as symbols in literature or folklore compared to English-speaking cultures. The dual meaning of "бабочка" as "bow tie" is a unique linguistic quirk and reflects a visual similarity between the insect’s wings and the shape of the tie.

Related Concepts:

• мотылёк (moth/small butterfly)
• крылья (wings)
• насекомое (insect)