Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cat'

English Word: Cat

Key Russian Translations:

• Кот [kot] - [Masculine, Informal, Refers to a male cat]
• Кошка [ˈkoʂkə] - [Feminine, General term for a cat, most common]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday speech)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

Кот: [kot]

Note on Кот: The 'o' is pronounced as a short, open vowel; stress on the single syllable.

Кошка: [ˈkoʂkə]

Note on Кошка: Stress on the first syllable; 'ш' sounds like 'sh' in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Domestic Animal (Pet)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Кошка - Commonly used to refer to any cat, especially a pet or female cat.
• Кот - Often used specifically for a male cat, or in informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• У меня дома живёт красивая кошка.

  I have a beautiful cat living at home.

• Этот кот очень ленивый.

  This male cat is very lazy.

• Кошка спит на диване весь день.

  The cat sleeps on the couch all day.

• Кот мяукает у двери каждое утро.

  The male cat meows at the door every morning.

• Мы нашли маленькую кошку на улице.

  We found a little cat on the street.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Кошка (Feminine Noun): Declines according to the second declension pattern in Russian.

Кот (Masculine Noun): Declines according to the second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for Кошка/Кот:

• Котик (Affectionate, diminutive form)
• Киса (Informal, affectionate)

Note: "Котик" and "Киса" are often used in a tender or playful context, especially when addressing a pet.

Antonyms:

• Собака (Dog)

Related Phrases:

• Кошка на крыше - "A cat on the roof" (used metaphorically to describe someone elusive or hard to reach).
• Как кошка с собакой - "Like a cat and a dog" (used to describe constant fighting or disagreement).
• Кот в мешке - "A cat in a bag" (equivalent to "a pig in a poke," meaning buying something unseen or unknown).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between Кошка and Кот: Use "Кошка" as the default term for any cat or when the gender is unknown or irrelevant. Use "Кот" specifically for a male cat or in more informal, colloquial settings.
• Gender Agreement: Since Russian nouns have grammatical gender, ensure that adjectives and verbs agree with "Кошка" (feminine) or "Кот" (masculine) in sentences.
• Cultural Nuances: Cats are often associated with independence and mystery in Russian culture, reflected in idioms and expressions.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Gender Agreement: English speakers often forget grammatical gender. For example, saying "Кошка красивый" instead of "Кошка красивая" (the adjective must be feminine to match "Кошка").
• Misusing Кот for all cats: Using "Кот" to refer to a female cat can sound odd or overly informal. Use "Кошка" as the general term.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian folklore and culture, cats often symbolize cunning, independence, and mystery. They appear in fairy tales and proverbs, sometimes as helpers or tricksters. Additionally, cats are popular pets in Russian households, and affectionate terms like "Котик" are commonly used when addressing them.

Related Concepts:

• Животное (Animal)
• Домашнее животное (Pet)
• Мяу (Meow)