Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'colt'

English Word: colt

Key Russian Translations:

• жеребёнок [ʐɨrʲɪˈbʲonək] - [General, Neutral]
• жеребец [ʐɨrʲɪˈbʲet͡s] - [Adult Male Horse, Formal or Technical]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts related to horses)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "жеребёнок"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "жеребец" due to technical usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

жеребёнок: [ʐɨrʲɪˈbʲonək]

Note on жеребёнок: The stress falls on the third syllable. The initial 'ж' is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'.

жеребец: [ʐɨrʲɪˈbʲet͡s]

Note on жеребец: Similar stress and pronunciation rules apply; the final 'ц' is a sharp, unvoiced sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Young Male Horse (Primary Meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жеребёнок - Used for a young horse, typically under 3 years old, regardless of gender in casual speech, though technically male.

Usage Examples:

• На ферме родился новый жеребёнок.

  A new colt was born on the farm.

• Жеребёнок весело бегал по полю.

  The colt was running happily across the field.

• Мы купили жеребёнка для разведения.

  We bought a colt for breeding purposes.

2. Adult Male Horse (Secondary or Technical Meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• жеребец - Refers specifically to an adult male horse, often used in breeding or technical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот жеребец выиграл скачки.

  This stallion won the race.

• Жеребец на нашей ферме очень сильный.

  The stallion on our farm is very strong.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

жеребёнок (Masculine Noun): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern for animate nouns.

жеребец (Masculine Noun): Similar animate masculine declension, with regular endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for жеребёнок:

• конёк (less common, often poetic)

Note: "конёк" may carry a more affectionate or literary tone.

Antonyms for жеребёнок:

• кобыла (mare, female horse)

Related Phrases:

• молодой жеребёнок - "young colt" (emphasizes youth)
• жеребец-производитель - "breeding stallion" (used in technical contexts)
• как жеребёнок на воле - "like a colt in the wild" (idiom for carefree behavior)

Usage Notes:

• "жеребёнок" is the most common and neutral term for a young horse or colt and can sometimes refer to foals of either gender in casual speech, though it technically denotes a male.
• "жеребец" is reserved for adult male horses and is often used in formal, technical, or breeding contexts. It should not be used for young horses.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between the two translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "жеребец" to refer to a young horse. Incorrect: "Это маленький жеребец." Correct: "Это маленький жеребёнок." (Explanation: "жеребец" refers to an adult stallion, not a colt.)
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation. Many learners stress the first syllable of "жеребёнок" as [ˈʐɨrʲɪbʲonək], but the correct stress is on the third syllable [ʐɨrʲɪˈbʲonək].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, horses, including colts and stallions, are often associated with strength, freedom, and rural life. The term "жеребёнок" may evoke imagery of innocence or playfulness in literature and folklore, while "жеребец" can symbolize power or virility. Horses also play a significant role in Russian history, particularly in relation to the Cossacks and traditional farming communities.

Related Concepts:

• лошадь (horse, general term)
• кобыла (mare)
• скакун (steed, racehorse)