Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Chick'

English Word: Chick

Key Russian Translations:

• цыплёнок [tsɨˈplʲonək] - [Informal, Neutral, Used for young bird]
• птенец [ptʲɪˈnʲets] - [Neutral, General term for baby bird]
• девочка [ˈdʲevətɕkə] - [Informal, Slang for young girl]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "цыплёнок" and "птенец" are more common in literal contexts, while "девочка" as slang is less frequent)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "цыплёнок" and "птенец"); B1 (Intermediate for "девочка" in slang usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

цыплёнок: [tsɨˈplʲonək]

Note on цыплёнок: Pay attention to the soft "л" sound, which is typical in Russian.

птенец: [ptʲɪˈnʲets]

Note on птенец: The initial "пт" cluster can be tricky for non-native speakers; practice the quick transition.

девочка: [ˈdʲevətɕkə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Meaning (Young Bird)

Translation(s) & Context:

• цыплёнок - Used specifically for a baby chicken, often in everyday or informal contexts.
• птенец - A general term for any baby bird, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• На ферме родился маленький цыплёнок.

  A small chick was born on the farm.

• Птенец выпал из гнезда.

  The chick fell out of the nest.

• Мы купили цыплёнка на рынке.

  We bought a chick at the market.

2. Slang Meaning (Young Girl)

Translation(s) & Context:

• девочка - Used colloquially to refer to a young girl or woman, often in a casual or slightly derogatory tone.

Usage Examples:

• Эй, девочка, ты где?

  Hey, chick, where are you?

• Эта девочка всегда опаздывает.

  This chick is always late.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

цыплёнок (Masculine Noun):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	цыплёнок	цыплята
Genitive	цыплёнка	цыплят
Dative	цыплёнку	цыплятам
Accusative	цыплёнка	цыплят
Instrumental	цыплёнком	цыплятами
Prepositional	о цыплёнке	о цыплятах

птенец (Masculine Noun): Follows similar declension patterns to "цыплёнок." Plural form is "птенцы."

девочка (Feminine Noun): Regular feminine noun declension. Plural form is "девочки."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for цыплёнок/птенец (Literal):

• курёнок
• пташка (more poetic)

Note: "курёнок" is less common and often regional.

Synonyms for девочка (Slang):

• девчонка
• девушка (more polite)

Antonyms: None directly applicable in most contexts.

Related Phrases:

• цыплёнок по зёрнышку клюёт - Literally "a chick pecks grain by grain," meaning "little by little" (proverb).
• мокрая курица - Literally "wet chicken," used to describe someone who looks pitiful or weak, indirectly related to "цыплёнок."

Usage Notes:

• "цыплёнок" is specifically used for baby chickens, while "птенец" is more general for any bird hatchling. Choose based on context.
• "девочка" as a slang term for "chick" (girl) should be used cautiously as it can sound condescending or inappropriate depending on the tone and situation.
• In Russian, literal and slang meanings of "chick" are not interchangeable as they are in English; ensure the context is clear.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "девочка" in formal contexts to mean "girl" when intending a neutral tone. Correct Usage: Use "девушка" for a polite reference to a young woman. Example of error: *Здравствуйте, девочка!* (sounds rude); Correct: *Здравствуйте, девушка!*
• Error: Confusing "цыплёнок" with "курица" (adult chicken). Correct Usage: "цыплёнок" refers only to a baby chicken.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, referring to someone as "девочка" in a slang sense can carry a patronizing tone, especially if used by an older person or in a professional setting. It’s often associated with casual or street language. Additionally, proverbs involving "цыплёнок" (like "цыплёнок по зёрнышку клюёт") are commonly used to teach patience and persistence.

Related Concepts:

• курица (adult chicken)
• гнездо (nest)
• девушка (young woman, polite)