Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Carnivore'

English Word: carnivore

Key Russian Translations:

• хищник [ˈxɪʂnʲɪk] - [Neutral, Singular]
• плотоядное животное [plətɐˈjadnəjə ˈʐɨvətnəjə] - [Formal, Scientific, Singular]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "хищник"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "плотоядное животное"

Pronunciation (Russian):

хищник: [ˈxɪʂnʲɪk]

Note on хищник: Pay attention to the "щ" sound, which is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian.

плотоядное животное: [plətɐˈjadnəjə ˈʐɨvətnəjə]

Note on плотоядное животное: Stress falls on the second syllable of "плотоядное" and the first syllable of "животное".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. An animal that eats meat

Translation(s) & Context:

• хищник - Commonly used to describe predatory animals in general contexts.
• плотоядное животное - Used in scientific or formal contexts to describe meat-eating animals.

Usage Examples:

• Лев - это типичный хищник африканской саванны.

  The lion is a typical carnivore of the African savanna.

• Медведи - хищники, но они также едят ягоды и рыбу.

  Bears are carnivores, but they also eat berries and fish.

• Плотоядные животные играют важную роль в экосистеме.

  Carnivorous animals play an important role in the ecosystem.

• Многие плотоядные животные охотятся ночью.

  Many carnivorous animals hunt at night.

• Хищники, такие как волки, часто живут стаями.

  Carnivores, such as wolves, often live in packs.

2. Figurative use (a person with predatory behavior)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хищник - Used metaphorically to describe a person who exploits or preys on others.

Usage Examples:

• Он настоящий хищник в мире бизнеса.

  He is a real carnivore in the world of business.

• Некоторые называют его хищником из-за его агрессивного стиля переговоров.

  Some call him a carnivore due to his aggressive negotiation style.

• В этом районе орудует финансовый хищник, обманывающий людей.

  A financial carnivore operates in this area, deceiving people.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

хищник (Masculine Noun):

плотоядное животное (Neuter Noun Phrase): "плотоядное" is an adjective agreeing with "животное" (neuter noun). Both decline according to their respective rules. "животное" follows the standard neuter noun declension, while "плотоядное" declines as a neuter adjective.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for хищник:

• предатор
• зверь (in specific contexts)

Note: "предатор" is less common and often used in scientific or borrowed contexts, while "зверь" can imply a wild or fierce animal but not always a carnivore.

Antonyms for хищник:

• травоядное (herbivore)

Related Phrases:

• хищник ночи - "carnivore of the night" (used for nocturnal predators).
• хищная натура - "carnivorous nature" (figurative, describing a predatory personality).
• плотоядные млекопитающие - "carnivorous mammals" (scientific classification).

Usage Notes:

• "хищник" is the most common and versatile term for "carnivore" in Russian, suitable for both literal (animal) and figurative (person) contexts.
• "плотоядное животное" is more formal and typically used in academic or scientific discussions. It is less likely to be used in everyday speech.
• When using "хищник" in a figurative sense, ensure the context clearly indicates a metaphorical meaning to avoid confusion with its literal sense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "плотоядное животное" in casual conversation.
  Incorrect: Я видел плотоядное животное в лесу.
  Correct: Я видел хищника в лесу.
  Explanation: "плотоядное животное" sounds overly formal and unnatural in everyday speech. Use "хищник" instead.
• Error: Misusing grammatical cases with "хищник".
  Incorrect: Я боюсь хищник (Nominative instead of Genitive).
  Correct: Я боюсь хищника.
  Explanation: Verbs like "бояться" (to fear) require the Genitive case in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "хищник" often carries a strong connotation when used figuratively, implying ruthlessness or exploitation. It is frequently used in literature and media to describe antagonists or morally ambiguous characters, reflecting a cultural emphasis on the predatory nature as something negative in human behavior.

Related Concepts:

• травоядное (herbivore)
• всеядное (omnivore)
• охота (hunting)