Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'chicken'

English Word: chicken

Key Russian Translations:

• курица [ˈkurʲɪtsə] - [Informal, General use for the bird or meat]
• куриный [kuˈrʲinɨj] - [Adjective, Refers to something made of or related to chicken]
• цыплёнок [tsɨˈplʲonək] - [Informal, Refers to a young chicken or chick]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday contexts)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "курица" and "цыплёнок"; B1 (Intermediate) for "куриный" due to adjective agreement rules

Pronunciation (Russian):

курица: [ˈkurʲɪtsə]

Note on курица: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "р" is rolled, and "ц" sounds like "ts".

куриный: [kuˈrʲinɨj]

Note on куриный: Stress on the second syllable. The ending changes based on gender and case.

цыплёнок: [tsɨˈplʲonək]

Note on цыплёнок: Stress on the second syllable. The "ё" is always stressed and pronounced as "yo".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Chicken as a bird or meat

Translation(s) & Context:

• курица - Used for both the live bird and the meat in general contexts.
• цыплёнок - Refers specifically to a young chicken or chick, often used affectionately or in culinary contexts (e.g., roast chick).

Usage Examples:

• Я купил курицу на ужин.

  I bought chicken for dinner.

• На ферме много кур.

  There are many chickens on the farm.

• Мы готовим цыплёнка табака.

  We are cooking a young chicken tabaka style.

• Курица перешла дорогу.

  The chicken crossed the road.

• Этот цыплёнок такой милый!

  This chick is so cute!

2. Chicken as an adjective (related to chicken)

Translation(s) & Context:

• куриный - Used to describe something made of chicken or related to it (e.g., chicken soup).

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю куриный суп.

  I love chicken soup.

• У нас есть куриные ножки на обед.

  We have chicken legs for lunch.

• Это куриное яйцо?

  Is this a chicken egg?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

курица (noun, feminine): Declines according to the second declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	курица	курицы
Genitive	курицы	куриц
Dative	курице	курицам
Accusative	курицу	куриц
Instrumental	курицей	курицами
Prepositional	о курице	о курицах

куриный (adjective): Agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. Base forms are куриный (masc.), куриная (fem.), куриное (neut.), куриные (pl.).

цыплёнок (noun, masculine): Follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for курица:

• кура (colloquial, less common)
• птица (general term for bird, broader context)

Note: "кура" is more dialectal or outdated, while "птица" is less specific and can refer to any bird.

Antonyms for курица:

• (No direct antonym, as it is a specific noun)

Related Phrases:

• курица не птица - Literally "a chicken is not a bird," a humorous Russian proverb implying something is not significant.
• куриные мозги - Literally "chicken brains," used to describe someone as not very smart.
• цыплёнок жареный - Literally "fried chick," refers to a popular dish of roasted young chicken.

Usage Notes:

• "курица" is the most versatile and common term for both the animal and the meat. It can refer to a hen specifically in agricultural contexts.
• "цыплёнок" is more specific to young chickens and is often used in culinary or affectionate contexts.
• "куриный" must agree with the noun it modifies, which can be challenging for learners due to Russian adjective declension rules.
• Be mindful of context when using "курица" as it might imply a live bird or meat depending on the sentence.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "курица" when an adjective like "куриный" is needed. Example: *Я хочу курица суп* (incorrect). Correct: Я хочу куриный суп (I want chicken soup).
• Error: Misusing plural forms. Example: *Я купил куриц* (incorrect in some contexts). Correct: Use "курицу" for singular accusative when buying one chicken.
• Error: Pronunciation of "цыплёнок" without stressing "ё". Correct: Always stress "ё" as "yo".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, chickens are often associated with rural life and traditional cuisine. Dishes like "куриный суп" (chicken soup) or "цыплёнок табака" (a Georgian-style flattened chicken dish popular in Russia) are staples in many households. The phrase "курица не птица" is a well-known proverb often used humorously to downplay something's importance.

Related Concepts:

• петух (rooster)
• яйцо (egg)
• ферма (farm)