Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cygnet'

English Word: cygnet

Key Russian Translations:

• птенец лебедя [ˈptʲenʲɪts lʲɪˈbʲedʲə] - [Formal, used in zoological or descriptive contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word and its Russian equivalent are rarely used in everyday conversation, typically appearing in literature, nature documentaries, or educational materials.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic animal vocabulary and genitive case structures; learners at this level should be familiar with noun phrases but may need practice with inflections.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

птенец лебедя: [ˈptʲenʲɪts lʲɪˈbʲedʲə]

Note on птенец лебедя: The stress falls on the first syllable of "птенец" ([ˈptʲenʲɪts]), and the word "лебедя" is in the genitive case, which softens the pronunciation of consonants. Palatalization (e.g., [lʲ] in лебедя) is a common challenge for English speakers. Practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The young of a swan

Translation(s) & Context:

• птенец лебедя - Used in formal, educational, or descriptive contexts, such as wildlife discussions or literature; it specifies a young swan in a precise, noun-phrase structure.

Usage Examples:

• В озере плавает птенец лебедя, который только учится плавать.

  In the lake, a cygnet is swimming, which is just learning to swim.

• Мы наблюдали за семьёй лебедей, включая их птенца лебедя, в парке.

  We observed a family of swans, including their cygnet, in the park.

• Птенец лебедя растёт быстро и скоро присоединится к стае.

  The cygnet grows quickly and will soon join the flock.

• В зоопарке дети восторгались птенцом лебедя, плавающим в пруду.

  At the zoo, children were delighted by the cygnet swimming in the pond.

• Лесничий объяснил, что птенец лебедя нуждается в защите от хищников.

  The ranger explained that the cygnet needs protection from predators.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Птенец лебедя" is a noun phrase where "птенец" (chick/young animal) is a masculine noun, and "лебедя" is the genitive singular form of "лебедь" (swan). Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. "Птенец" follows the standard second declension for masculine nouns, while "лебедь" is also masculine and inflects irregularly in some cases due to its stem.

Note: The phrase "птенец лебедя" remains relatively stable but changes based on sentence context (e.g., in plural: "птенцы лебедей"). It does not have irregular inflections beyond standard rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • молодой лебедь (young swan) - More general and interchangeable in informal contexts, emphasizing age rather than youth stage.
  • лебенок (a diminutive or poetic term for young swan) - Used in literary or affectionate descriptions, with a softer connotation.
• Antonyms: Not directly applicable, as this is a specific animal term. However, related opposites might include "взрослый лебедь" (adult swan), implying maturity.

Related Phrases:

• Птенец лебедя в гнезде - (A cygnet in the nest; used in contexts describing animal habitats or wildlife observation.)
• Семья лебедей с птенцом - (A family of swans with a cygnet; common in nature documentaries or stories about animal families.)
• Защитить птенца лебедя - (To protect the cygnet; often in environmental or conservation discussions.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "птенец лебедя" directly corresponds to "cygnet" as a compound phrase, emphasizing the genitive relationship (i.e., the young of a swan). It is typically used in formal or educational settings rather than casual speech. English speakers should note the genitive case requirement, which indicates possession or relation—avoid direct word-for-word translations. When choosing between translations like "птенец лебедя" and "молодой лебедь," opt for the former in precise zoological contexts and the latter for everyday descriptions. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as "птенец" is masculine.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "птенец лебедь" without the genitive ending (e.g., forgetting "я" in "лебедя").
  Correct: птенец лебедя
  Explanation: In Russian, the genitive case is essential to show "of the swan." This error often stems from English's lack of cases, leading to confusion in possession.
• Mistake: Treating it as a single word without inflection, e.g., saying "птенец лебедя" in all cases.
  Correct: Adjust based on case, like "птенца лебедя" in accusative.
  Explanation: Learners might overlook Russian's inflectional system, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences that native speakers would find awkward.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, swans and their young, like cygnets, often symbolize grace, fidelity, and purity, as seen in folklore such as tales from Russian fairy stories (e.g., "The Swan Lake" ballet by Tchaikovsky). The term "птенец лебедя" might evoke images of serene lakes in Russian landscapes, reflecting the country's rich natural heritage and its influence on literature and art.

Related Concepts:

• птенец (chick/young animal)
• лебедь (swan)
• птица (bird)
• дикая природа (wild nature)