Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'calve'

English Word: calve

Key Russian Translations:

• отелиться [ɐˈtʲe.lʲɪ.t͡sə] - [Formal, Verb, Used in agricultural or zoological contexts]
• отколоться [ɐt.kɐˈlot͡ɕ.sə] - [Formal, Verb, Used in geological or environmental contexts]

Frequency: Low (This verb is specialized and not commonly used in everyday conversation, appearing more in technical or scientific texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and context-specific vocabulary, though the core meaning is straightforward for learners at this level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отелиться: [ɐˈtʲe.lʲɪ.t͡sə]

Note on отелиться: The stress falls on the second syllable; the 'тʲ' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 't' sound, similar to 'ty' in "situation."

отколоться: [ɐt.kɐˈlot͡ɕ.sə]

Note on отколоться: The 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative, like 'ch' in "loch" (Scottish pronunciation); ensure the final syllable is not overly emphasized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: (Of a cow or other animal) to give birth to a calf.

Translation(s) & Context:

• отелиться - Used in formal or agricultural settings to describe the birthing process of cattle.

Usage Examples:

• Коровы обычно отелились весной, чтобы телята росли в теплую погоду.

  Cows usually calve in the spring so that the calves can grow in warm weather.

• В фермерском хозяйстве фермеры тщательно отслеживают, когда коровы отелятся.

  On the farm, farmers carefully monitor when the cows will calve.

• Если корова не отелилась вовремя, это может указывать на проблемы со здоровьем.

  If a cow doesn't calve on time, it may indicate health issues.

• Молодые коровы часто отелились впервые в возрасте двух лет.

  Young cows often calve for the first time at the age of two.

Meaning 2: (Of a glacier or iceberg) to split and shed a smaller piece.

Translation(s) & Context:

• отколоться - Used in scientific, environmental, or geographical contexts to describe the breaking off of ice masses.

Usage Examples:

• Ледник Антарктиды откололся, образуя огромный айсберг.

  The Antarctic glacier calved, forming a massive iceberg.

• В результате глобального потепления ледники откалываются чаще, чем раньше.

  Due to global warming, glaciers are calving more frequently than before.

• Ученые наблюдают, как айсберг откололся от основного ледника.

  Scientists are observing as the iceberg calves from the main glacier.

• Когда ледник откололся, это создало волны, которые достигли берега.

  When the glacier calved, it created waves that reached the shore.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations, "отелиться" and "отколоться," are reflexive verbs in Russian, which means they end in "-ся" and follow standard verb conjugation patterns. They are imperfective verbs and can be conjugated based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Below is a conjugation table for "отелиться" in the present tense as an example; "отколоться" follows similar patterns.

For "отколоться," the present tense conjugations are irregular in some aspects but follow the standard pattern: откалываюсь, откалываешься, etc. These verbs do not change in gender or case but must agree in number and person. Note that as reflexive verbs, they always include the particle "-ся," which does not inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Для "отелиться": родить (rodit' - to give birth, more general)
  • Для "отколоться": отломиться (otlomit'sya - to break off, similar in geological contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • Для "отелиться": не родить (not to give birth, though not a direct antonym)
  • Для "отколоться": слиться (slit'sya - to merge or join together)

Related Phrases:

• Отелиться вовремя - To calve on time (Refers to animals giving birth as expected, often in farming contexts.)
• Ледник откололся от материкового льда - The glacier calved from the continental ice (Used in discussions of climate change.)
• Принудительное отеление - Forced calving (A phrase in veterinary science for induced birthing.)

Usage Notes:

"Calve" translates to specific Russian verbs depending on context: "отелиться" for animal birthing and "отколоться" for glacial events. English speakers should note that Russian verbs are highly inflected, so always conjugate based on the subject. For example, use "отелится" for third-person singular. In formal writing, prefer these precise terms over general synonyms like "родить." Be cautious with reflexive particles like "-ся," which indicate the action is self-directed.

• In agricultural contexts, "отелиться" is standard but regional dialects may vary.
• For environmental topics, "отколоться" is preferred in scientific Russian to maintain accuracy.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake "отелиться" for "родить" without considering the specific animal context, leading to imprecise usage. For example:

• Error: Using "родить" for cows specifically. Correct: "Корова родила" is acceptable but less precise than "Корова отелилась," which directly implies calving.
• Error: Omitting the reflexive "-ся" in "отколоться," saying "отколоть" instead, which changes the meaning to a transitive action. Correct: Always include "-ся" for reflexive verbs to avoid altering the sense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "отелиться" is tied to rural and agricultural traditions, reflecting the historical importance of livestock in Russian farming communities. Terms like this evoke images of vast Siberian farms or traditional practices, highlighting Russia's agrarian heritage. For "отколоться," it often appears in discussions of climate change, underscoring contemporary environmental concerns in Russia, such as melting permafrost in the Arctic regions.

Related Concepts:

• телёнок (calf - the offspring of a cow)
• ледник (glacier)
• отлом (break-off or fragment)