Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Comet'

English Word: comet

Key Russian Translations:

• комета [kɐˈmʲetə] - [Neutral, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

комета: [kɐˈmʲetə]

Note on комета: The stress falls on the second syllable, "me". The "o" is pronounced as a reduced "a" sound due to Russian vowel reduction rules.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Astronomical Object (A celestial body with a tail)

Translation(s) & Context:

• комета - Used in both scientific and general contexts to refer to a comet as a celestial phenomenon.

Usage Examples:

• Комета Галлея появляется каждые 76 лет.

  Halley's Comet appears every 76 years.

• Астрономы обнаружили новую комету в прошлом месяце.

  Astronomers discovered a new comet last month.

• Комета оставила яркий след на ночном небе.

  The comet left a bright trail in the night sky.

• В древности кометы считались предвестниками бедствий.

  In ancient times, comets were considered harbingers of disasters.

• Мы наблюдали за кометой через телескоп.

  We observed the comet through a telescope.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The Russian word комета is a feminine noun (1st declension). It follows regular noun declension patterns in Russian grammar.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• хвостатая звезда (lit. "tailed star" - archaic, poetic usage)

Note: "хвостатая звезда" is rarely used in modern Russian and appears mostly in historical or literary contexts.

Antonyms:

• None directly applicable (as "comet" is a specific astronomical term)

Related Phrases:

• хвост кометы - "comet's tail" (refers to the visible tail of a comet)
• орбита кометы - "comet's orbit" (used in scientific discussions about a comet's trajectory)
• появление кометы - "appearance of a comet" (used to describe the event of a comet becoming visible)

Usage Notes:

• The Russian word комета directly corresponds to the English "comet" and is used in both scientific and everyday contexts without significant variation in meaning.
• It is a feminine noun, so adjectives and verbs agreeing with it must reflect feminine gender (e.g., "яркая комета" - "bright comet").
• There are no significant regional or stylistic variations for this term in Russian.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Gender Agreement: English speakers often forget that комета is feminine and may use masculine or neuter forms for adjectives or past-tense verbs. For example, saying "красивый комета" (masculine adjective) instead of the correct "красивая комета" (feminine adjective).
• Mispronunciation of Stress: The stress is on the second syllable ([kɐˈmʲetə]), but learners often stress the first syllable, leading to miscommunication. Incorrect: [ˈkomʲetə]; Correct: [kɐˈmʲetə].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, as in many others, comets historically carried symbolic meaning, often seen as omens of significant events, either positive or negative. In folklore and literature, comets might be referenced as "хвостатая звезда" (tailed star), though this term is now outdated. Modern usage of комета is purely scientific or descriptive, with no strong cultural connotations.

Related Concepts:

• астероид (asteroid)
• метеор (meteor)
• звезда (star)
• космос (space)