Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'chihuahua'

English Word: chihuahua

Key Russian Translations:

• чихуахуа [tɕɪxʊˈaχwa] - [Informal; Used in everyday contexts related to pets and animals]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation unless discussing specific dog breeds or pets; it appears more in specialized contexts like veterinary or animal-related media.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 level on the CEFR scale; Learners may find it straightforward as a borrowed word, but mastering its pronunciation and correct usage in sentences requires familiarity with Russian noun inflections.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

чихуахуа: [tɕɪxʊˈaχwa]

Note on чихуахуа: The pronunciation features a soft 'ч' sound (like 'ch' in 'church'), which can be challenging for English speakers. The stress is on the third syllable, and the 'х' is a guttural sound similar to the Scottish 'loch'. Variations may occur in regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A small breed of dog originating from Mexico.

Translation(s) & Context:

• чихуахуа - Used in informal and formal contexts when referring to the dog breed, especially in discussions about pets, animal shows, or veterinary topics. It is a direct borrowing and retains its English-like form.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Моя чихуахуа очень игривая и любит играть с игрушками.

  English Translation: My Chihuahua is very playful and loves playing with toys.

• Русский: В зоопарке мы увидели несколько чихуахуа разных цветов.

  English Translation: At the zoo, we saw several Chihuahuas of different colors.

• Русский: Чихуахуа – это порода собак, которая требует особого ухода из-за своего маленького размера.

  English Translation: The Chihuahua is a dog breed that requires special care due to its small size.

• Русский: Я купил щенка чихуахуа в питомнике на окраине города.

  English Translation: I bought a Chihuahua puppy at a kennel on the outskirts of the city.

• Русский: Несмотря на крошечный рост, чихуахуа может быть очень смелой собакой.

  English Translation: Despite its tiny size, a Chihuahua can be a very brave dog.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Чихуахуа" is a masculine noun in Russian (as a borrowed word) and follows basic Russian inflection patterns, though it is often treated as indeclinable in informal use due to its foreign origin. Here is a table outlining its common forms:

Note: This word is often indeclinable in practice, meaning it doesn't change form in most cases, which is common for modern loanwords in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: той-терьер (toy terrier) - A similar small dog breed, often used interchangeably in casual pet discussions; пекинес (Pekinese) - Another tiny breed, but with a different appearance.
• Antonyms: мастиф (mastiff) - Refers to large dog breeds, highlighting the size contrast.

Related Phrases:

• Порода чихуахуа - (Breed of Chihuahua) - Refers to the specific dog variety in breeding contexts.
• Щенок чихуахуа - (Chihuahua puppy) - Used when talking about young dogs of this breed.
• Чихуахуа с короткой шерстью - (Short-haired Chihuahua) - Describes a variant based on coat type.

Usage Notes:

This translation corresponds directly to the English "Chihuahua" as a proper noun for the dog breed. It is typically used in informal settings like pet ownership or formal contexts like veterinary science. Be mindful of its indeclinable nature in Russian, which means it doesn't change endings in most cases, unlike native Russian nouns. When choosing this word, ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion with the place name in Mexico (also "Чихуахуа"). For plural references, simply repeat the word without modification.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as "хиуахуа" without the soft 'ч' sound. Correct: Use [tɕɪxʊˈaχwa] to emphasize the palatalized 'ч'. Explanation: English speakers often omit the softness, making it sound like a hard 'h', which alters the word's authenticity in Russian.

• Error: Treating it as a fully declinable noun, e.g., saying "чихуахуаа" in genitive form. Correct: Keep it as "чихуахуа" in all cases. Explanation: As a loanword, it doesn't follow standard Russian declension, so forcing changes can lead to non-standard usage.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "чихуахуа" is primarily associated with its Mexican origins, symbolizing small, energetic companion dogs. It reflects global pet trends and is popular in urban Russia among dog enthusiasts, but it doesn't carry deep historical or cultural connotations within Russian society itself.

Related Concepts:

• собака (dog)
• порода (breed)
• питомник (kennel)