Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clone'

English Word: clone

Key Russian Translations:

• клон [klon] - [Neutral, Scientific/Technical Context]
• копия [ˈkopʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Often Figurative or General Use]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific and tech contexts for "клон"; "копия" is more widely used in everyday language)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "клон" may require specific context understanding, while "копия" is more accessible)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клон: [klon]

Note on клон: Stress is on the single syllable. Borrowed directly from English, so pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers.

копия: [ˈkopʲɪjə]

Note on копия: Stress on the first syllable. The "п" is slightly palatalized, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Clone as a biological or genetic duplicate

Translation(s) & Context:

• клон - Used in scientific contexts to refer to a genetically identical organism or cell.

Usage Examples:

• Ученые создали клон овцы Долли.

  Scientists created a clone of the sheep Dolly.

• Этот клон растения был выведен в лаборатории.

  This clone of the plant was developed in a laboratory.

• Клон человека пока остается научной фантастикой.

  A human clone remains science fiction for now.

2. Clone as a copy or imitation (figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• копия - Used in general contexts to mean a duplicate or imitation, often not biological.
• клон - Occasionally used in tech or pop culture to refer to a near-identical copy (e.g., software or products).

Usage Examples:

• Этот телефон — просто копия известного бренда.

  This phone is just a clone of a famous brand.

• Игра оказалась клоном популярной аркады.

  The game turned out to be a clone of a popular arcade game.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

клон (Masculine Noun):

копия (Feminine Noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for клон:

• дубликат (duplicate, more general)
• реплика (replica, often in scientific or artistic contexts)

Synonyms for копия:

• дубликат (duplicate)
• подделка (forgery, with a negative connotation)

Antonyms:

• оригинал (original)

Related Phrases:

• создать клон - "to create a clone" (often used in scientific contexts)
• точная копия - "an exact copy" (used for both literal and figurative copies)
• копия документа - "a copy of a document" (common in formal or legal contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "клон" is primarily used in technical or scientific contexts and directly corresponds to the English "clone" in biology or tech (e.g., cloning software). It is a borrowed term and retains a narrow usage.
• "копия" is more versatile and can refer to any kind of copy, including figurative or everyday contexts (e.g., a knock-off product). It is the safer choice for non-scientific usage.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as "клон" may sound overly technical or out of place in casual conversation about non-biological copies.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "клон" to refer to a general copy, e.g., saying "Это клон моего рисунка" (This is a clone of my drawing). Correction: Use "копия" instead: "Это копия моего рисунка." Explanation: "клон" is tied to biological or tech cloning, not general duplication.
• Error: Incorrect case usage due to unfamiliarity with Russian declensions, e.g., using nominative "копия" after a preposition like "с" (with). Correction: Use the instrumental case: "с копией." Explanation: Russian nouns change form based on their grammatical role in the sentence.

Cultural Notes:

The concept of cloning, especially in a biological sense, has been a topic of ethical debate in Russian-speaking countries, much like in the West. The word "клон" often appears in science fiction or discussions about bioethics in Russian media. Meanwhile, "копия" is frequently used in everyday life, especially in contexts like art, documents, or counterfeit goods, reflecting a cultural emphasis on authenticity and originality.

Related Concepts:

• генетика (genetics)
• репродукция (reproduction)
• имитация (imitation)