Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'carnivorous'

English Word: carnivorous

Key Russian Translations:

• плотоядный (/plə.tɐˈjad.nɨj/) - [Formal, Adjective, Used in scientific or biological contexts]
• хищный (/ˈxʲiʂ.nɨj/) - [Informal, Adjective, Used when emphasizing predatory behavior, but less precise for strict carnivory]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, educational, and wildlife discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions and vocabulary related to biology)

Pronunciation (Russian):

плотоядный: /plə.tɐˈjad.nɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; note the soft 'я' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers)

хищный: /ˈxʲiʂ.nɨj/ (The 'х' is a guttural sound similar to Scottish 'ch' in "loch"; pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable)

Note on плотоядный: Be cautious with the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables, common in Russian speech.

Note on хищный: This word may vary slightly in fast speech, potentially softening the 'щ' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Relating to or denoting animals that primarily eat meat, as opposed to herbivores or omnivores.

Translation(s) & Context:

• плотоядный - Used in formal scientific or educational contexts, such as describing animal diets in biology.
• хищный - Applied in more general or informal settings, like wildlife documentaries, but implies aggression or hunting.

Usage Examples:

• Кошки являются плотоядными животными, поэтому их рацион должен включать мясо.

  Cats are carnivorous animals, so their diet must include meat. (This example shows the adjective in a declarative sentence about animal biology.)

• В джунглях хищные животные, такие как тигры, охотятся на добычу ночью.

  In the jungles, carnivorous animals like tigers hunt their prey at night. (Here, 'хищный' is used to emphasize predatory behavior in a narrative context.)

• Плотоядные растения, например, венерина мухоловка, привлекают насекомых для питания.

  Carnivorous plants, for example, the Venus flytrap, attract insects for nourishment. (This demonstrates the term in a plural form and botanical context.)

• Хищные рыбы в океане часто имеют острые зубы для поимки жертвы.

  Carnivorous fish in the ocean often have sharp teeth for catching prey. (Illustrates informal usage in marine biology discussions.)

• Многие плотоядные млекопитающие эволюционировали для выживания в суровых условиях.

  Many carnivorous mammals have evolved to survive in harsh environments. (Shows the word in a scientific evolutionary context.)

Secondary Meaning: Figurative use, implying aggressive or predatory behavior in non-literal contexts (e.g., in business or social scenarios).

Translation(s) & Context:

• хищный - More commonly used figuratively, such as in describing competitive markets.

Usage Examples:

• На рынке хищные компании быстро вытесняют конкурентов.

  In the market, carnivorous companies quickly eliminate competitors. (Figurative use in a business context.)

• Его хищный взгляд пугал собеседников во время переговоров.

  His carnivorous gaze intimidated interlocutors during negotiations. (Metaphorical application in social interactions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'плотоядный' and 'хищный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect according to gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern for first-declension adjectives. Below is a table for 'плотоядный' (as an example; 'хищный' follows the same rules).

For 'хищный', the inflections are identical in pattern. These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward once the basic rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мясоедный (mjasoednyj) - More literal, emphasizing meat-eating, but less common.
  • охотничий (okhotnichij) - Used in contexts of hunting animals, with a slight nuance towards active predation.
• Antonyms:
  • травоядный (travoyadnyj) - Directly opposite, meaning herbivorous.
  • всеядный (vsejadnyj) - Meaning omnivorous, for animals that eat both meat and plants.

Related Phrases:

• Плотоядные животные (Plotoyadnye zhivotnye) - Carnivorous animals; used in zoology to categorize species.
• Хищный инстинкт (Khishchnyj instinkt) - Predatory instinct; a phrase for describing aggressive behavior in psychology or literature.
• Мясоедная диета (Mjasoednaya dieta) - Carnivorous diet; common in nutritional discussions.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'плотоядный' for precise, scientific contexts where the focus is on an animal's dietary habits, as it directly mirrors the English 'carnivorous'. 'Хищный' is better for broader or metaphorical uses, implying aggression, but avoid it if the context is strictly biological to prevent confusion. In Russian, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical rule. For English learners, remember that Russian doesn't have articles, so phrasing like "the carnivorous animal" becomes simply "плотоядное животное" in the appropriate case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'плотоядный' interchangeably with 'хищный' without considering context. For example, saying "хищные растения" for carnivorous plants might imply they are aggressive hunters, which is incorrect.

  Correct: Плотоядные растения (Plotoyadnye rasteniya). Explanation: 'Хищный' carries a connotation of active predation, while 'плотоядный' is neutral and factual.

• Error: Failing to decline the adjective properly, e.g., using "плотоядный животные" instead of "плотоядные животные" in plural nominative.

  Correct: Плотоядные животные. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case; this is a common oversight for English speakers used to invariable adjectives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and literature, terms like 'хищный' often appear in folklore or stories about animals, reflecting historical connections to hunting and survival in harsh environments, such as the Russian wilderness. For instance, in works by writers like Tolstoy, predatory themes symbolize human greed, adding a layer of moral depth to the word.

Related Concepts:

• травоядный (herbivorous)
• всеядный (omnivorous)
• хищник (predator)