Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Creature'

English Word: Creature

Key Russian Translations:

• существо [sʊˈʂːestvə] - [Neutral, General Use]
• тварь [tvarʲ] - [Derogatory, Informal]
• создание [səzˈdanʲɪjə] - [Poetic, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in various contexts depending on the translation)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; varies by translation: "существо" - A2, "тварь" - B1, "создание" - B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

существо: [sʊˈʂːestvə]

Note on существо: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, prolonged "sh" unique to Russian.

тварь: [tvarʲ]

Note on тварь: The "р" is rolled slightly, and the word has a sharp, harsh tone due to its derogatory nature.

создание: [səzˈdanʲɪjə]

Note on создание: Stress on the second syllable. The "н" before "ие" is palatalized, creating a softer sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A living being (general, neutral sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• существо - Used for any living being, human or animal, in a neutral or scientific context.

Usage Examples:

• На Земле существуют миллионы живых существ.

  There are millions of living creatures on Earth.

• Это существо выглядит странно.

  This creature looks strange.

• Человек - разумное существо.

  A human is a rational creature.

2. A despicable or unpleasant being (derogatory sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тварь - Used to insult or express contempt for a person or animal.

Usage Examples:

• Какая ты тварь, как ты мог так поступить?

  What a creature you are, how could you do that?

• Эта тварь украла мой кошелёк!

  That creature stole my wallet!

3. A created being or creation (poetic or formal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• создание - Often used in literature or religious contexts to refer to a being as a creation of God or nature.

Usage Examples:

• Все создания Божьи достойны любви.

  All of God's creatures deserve love.

• Это создание природы поражает своей красотой.

  This creature of nature amazes with its beauty.

• Она - нежное создание, полное грации.

  She is a gentle creature, full of grace.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

существо (neuter noun): Regular declension in all cases. Notable for singular and plural forms.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	существо	существа
Genitive	существа	существ
Dative	существу	существам
Accusative	существо	существ
Instrumental	существом	существами
Prepositional	о существе	о существах

тварь (feminine noun): Regular declension, often used in singular for emphasis. Plural is rare but possible.

создание (neuter noun): Regular declension, similar to "существо".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "существо":

• животное (animal, more specific)
• особь (individual, scientific)

Synonyms for "тварь": (Note: derogatory tone varies)

• гадина (reptile, insult)
• подлец (scoundrel)

Synonyms for "создание":

• творение (creation, often artistic or divine)

Antonyms: None directly applicable as the concept depends on context.

Related Phrases:

• живое существо - "living creature" (general term for any living being)
• тварь дрожащая - "trembling creature" (literary, derogatory or pitiful tone, from Dostoevsky)
• Божье создание - "God's creature" (religious or poetic reference to a being)

Usage Notes:

• The choice of Russian translation for "creature" heavily depends on context and tone. "Существо" is the safest, neutral choice for general use.
• "Тварь" should be avoided unless intending to insult or express strong contempt, as it is highly derogatory.
• "Создание" is more formal or poetic and often carries a sense of being "created" by a higher power or nature.
• Be mindful of grammatical gender when using adjectives or pronouns with these nouns: "существо" and "создание" are neuter, while "тварь" is feminine.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "тварь" in a neutral context. Example: *Это тварь в лесу.* (Incorrect, sounds insulting). Correct: Это существо в лесу. (This creature in the forest.)
• Error: Misplacing stress in "существо" as [ˈsʊʂːestvə]. Correct: Stress on the second syllable [sʊˈʂːestvə].
• Error: Using "создание" in casual speech for a person. Example: *Она создание.* (Sounds overly poetic or odd). Correct: Use in formal or religious contexts only.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, particularly in works by Dostoevsky, "тварь дрожащая" (trembling creature) is a famous phrase symbolizing existential despair or insignificance. Understanding such cultural references can deepen comprehension of the derogatory use of "тварь". Additionally, "создание" often appears in religious texts or poetry, reflecting a view of life as a divine creation.

Related Concepts:

• животное (animal)
• человек (human)
• творение (creation)