Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cricket'

English Word: cricket

Key Russian Translations:

• крикет [ˈkrʲikʲɪt] - [Sport term, Formal]
• сверчок [svʲɪrˈtɕok] - [Insect, Informal]

Frequency: Medium (for "крикет" in sports contexts); Low (for "сверчок" in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: A2 (for "крикет"); A1 (for "сверчок")

Pronunciation (Russian):

крикет: [ˈkrʲikʲɪt]

Note on крикет: The stress is on the first syllable. Borrowed from English, so pronunciation is adapted to Russian phonetics.

сверчок: [svʲɪrˈtɕok]

Note on сверчок: The stress is on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft 'ч' sound, which is typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Cricket (Sport)

Translation(s) & Context:

• крикет - Refers specifically to the sport of cricket, used in formal and sports-related contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я смотрел матч по крикету вчера.

  I watched a cricket match yesterday.

• Крикет очень популярен в Англии.

  Cricket is very popular in England.

• Ты играешь в крикет?

  Do you play cricket?

2. Cricket (Insect)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сверчок - Refers to the insect that chirps, often used in informal or literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Ночью слышен звук сверчка.

  At night, you can hear the sound of a cricket.

• Сверчок спрятался под камнем.

  The cricket hid under a stone.

• В деревне сверчки поют всю ночь.

  In the village, crickets chirp all night.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

крикет (Sport): As a borrowed word, it does not change form in Russian. It is always used as "крикет" regardless of case or number.

сверчок (Insect): This is a masculine noun with regular declension in Russian. Below is the declension table:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

For крикет (Sport):

• Synonyms: No direct synonyms, as it is a specific term.
• Antonyms: None applicable.

For сверчок (Insect):

• Synonyms: кузнечик (grasshopper, though slightly different)
• Antonyms: None applicable.

Note: "кузнечик" and "сверчок" are often confused by learners but refer to related yet distinct insects.

Related Phrases:

• играть в крикет - "to play cricket" (refers to the sport)
• пение сверчка - "the chirping of a cricket" (common in poetic or rural contexts)

Usage Notes:

• The word "cricket" in English has two distinct meanings, and so do its Russian translations. Use "крикет" strictly for the sport and "сверчок" for the insect.
• "крикет" is a loanword and may not be familiar to all Russian speakers, especially those outside urban or international contexts.
• "сверчок" is commonly associated with rural or natural settings and may appear in literature or folklore.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "крикет" to refer to the insect.
  Incorrect: Я слышал крикет ночью. (I heard a cricket at night.)
  Correct: Я слышал сверчка ночью.
  Explanation: "крикет" only refers to the sport, not the insect.
• Error: Mispronouncing "сверчок" by stressing the first syllable.
  Incorrect Pronunciation: [ˈsvʲɪrtɕok]
  Correct Pronunciation: [svʲɪrˈtɕok]
  Explanation: Stress in Russian is critical and changes meaning or sounds unnatural if misplaced.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "сверчок" (cricket as an insect) is often associated with calmness, rural life, and the sounds of nature at night. It appears in folklore and children’s stories as a symbol of home or peace. On the other hand, "крикет" (the sport) is not widely played or understood in Russia, so it may carry a foreign or exotic connotation.

Related Concepts:

• кузнечик (grasshopper)
• насекомое (insect)
• спорт (sport)