Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Claw'

English Word: claw

Key Russian Translations:

• коготь [ˈkoɡətʲ] - [Singular, Neutral, Often for animals]
• клешня [klʲɪˈʃnʲa] - [Singular, Specific to crustaceans like crabs or lobsters]
• лапа [ˈlapə] - [Singular, Informal, Often refers to paw with claws]

Frequency: Medium (common in specific contexts like biology or informal speech)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

коготь: [ˈkoɡətʲ]

Note on коготь: Stress is on the first syllable. The 'г' is pronounced as a hard 'g'.

клешня: [klʲɪˈʃnʲa]

Note on клешня: Stress on the second syllable. The 'ш' sounds like 'sh' in 'shoe'.

лапа: [ˈlapə]

Note on лапа: Stress on the first syllable. Simple pronunciation for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Claw as a sharp, curved nail on an animal's foot

Translation(s) & Context:

• коготь - Used for birds, cats, or other animals with sharp nails.
• лапа - Often implies the whole paw including claws, used informally.

Usage Examples:

• У орла острые когти.

  The eagle has sharp claws.

• Кот поцарапал меня когтем.

  The cat scratched me with its claw.

• У собаки грязные лапы.

  The dog has dirty paws (implying claws).

2. Claw as the pincer of a crustacean

Translation(s) & Context:

• клешня - Specific to crabs, lobsters, etc.

Usage Examples:

• У краба большая клешня.

  The crab has a large claw.

• Омар защемил клешнёй палец.

  The lobster pinched my finger with its claw.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

коготь (Masculine Noun):

клешня (Feminine Noun): Follows standard feminine declension with stress on the second syllable.

лапа (Feminine Noun): Follows standard feminine declension with stress on the first syllable.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for коготь:

• ноготь (more often used for human nails)

Note: 'ноготь' is typically for human fingernails, while 'коготь' is for animals.

Antonyms: None directly applicable.

Related Phrases:

• точить когти - "to sharpen claws" (literal or figurative, meaning to prepare for a fight)
• попасть в когти - "to fall into the claws" (figurative, meaning to be caught by someone dangerous)
• клешня краба - "crab's claw" (common phrase in cooking or biology)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between 'коготь' and 'лапа' depends on whether you refer to the claw itself or the paw as a whole. Use 'коготь' for precision when discussing the sharp part.
• 'клешня' is highly specific to crustaceans and should not be used for other animals.
• In metaphorical or idiomatic expressions, 'коготь' is more common (e.g., "попасть в когти врага" - "to fall into the enemy's claws").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'ноготь' for animal claws. Incorrect: "У кошки острые ногти." Correct: "У кошки острые когти." (Explanation: 'ноготь' is for human nails.)
• Error: Using 'клешня' for a cat's claw. Incorrect: "У кошки есть клешня." Correct: "У кошки есть коготь." (Explanation: 'клешня' is for crustaceans only.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian folklore and literature, claws ('когти') often symbolize danger or predatory nature, as seen in descriptions of mythical creatures or villains. For example, Baba Yaga, a famous witch, is sometimes described as having claw-like hands.

Related Concepts:

• ноготь (human nail)
• клюв (beak, often paired with claws in bird descriptions)
• хищник (predator, associated with claws)