Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'domestication'

English Word: domestication

Key Russian Translations:

• одомашнивание /ɐdɐˈmaʂnʲɪvənʲe/ - [Formal, used in scientific or historical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in academic, historical, or biological discussions, but not in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate, as it involves understanding compound words and specific terminology in Russian; learners should be familiar with noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

одомашнивание: /ɐdɐˈmaʂnʲɪvənʲe/

Note on одомашнивание: The stress falls on the fourth syllable ('maʂnʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian 'ш' sound (like 'sh' in 'shoe') and the palatalized 'нʲ'. Practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The process of taming wild animals or plants for human use, often in a historical or biological context.

Translation(s) & Context:

• одомашнивание - Used in formal discussions of evolution, agriculture, or anthropology, such as describing how humans domesticated wolves into dogs.

Usage Examples:

• Процесс одомашнивания животных играл ключевую роль в развитии человеческой цивилизации.

  The process of domestication of animals played a key role in the development of human civilization.

• Ученые изучают одомашнивание растений, чтобы понять, как изменилась сельскохозяйственная практика.

  Scientists study the domestication of plants to understand how agricultural practices have changed.

• Одомашнивание диких животных, таких как кошки, произошло тысячи лет назад в Древнем Египте.

  The domestication of wild animals, such as cats, occurred thousands of years ago in Ancient Egypt.

• В современном мире одомашнивание включает не только животных, но и адаптацию технологий для домашнего использования.

  In the modern world, domestication includes not only animals but also the adaptation of technologies for home use.

• Одомашнивание волков в собак произошло благодаря selective breeding в доисторические времена.

  The domestication of wolves into dogs occurred through selective breeding in prehistoric times.

2. Figurative use: Making something familiar or adapting it to a domestic setting (e.g., in cultural or social contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• одомашнивание - Applied metaphorically, such as in discussions of adapting foreign ideas to local culture, though less common than in literal senses.

Usage Examples:

• Одомашнивание иностранных традиций помогает интегрировать их в повседневную жизнь общества.

  Domestication of foreign traditions helps integrate them into the everyday life of society.

• В литературе одомашнивание часто символизирует адаптацию к новым условиям.

  In literature, domestication often symbolizes adaptation to new conditions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Одомашнивание" is a neuter noun in the third declension group in Russian. It follows standard patterns for nouns ending in -ение, which are typically indeclinable in the plural but fully decline in the singular. Below is a table outlining its singular declensions (it does not change in the plural form).

Note: This word is relatively regular, but always check context for proper case usage, as Russian nouns must agree with other elements in the sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • приручение (priručenie) - More general term for taming, often used interchangeably but implies a quicker process.
  • адаптация (adaptatsiya) - Focuses on adaptation, suitable for figurative contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • одичание (odičanie) - Refers to the process of becoming wild or feral.
  • дикость (dikost') - Implies wildness or untamed state.

Related Phrases:

• Процесс одомашнивания (Process of domestication) - Refers to the step-by-step historical or biological process.
• Одомашнивание животных (Domestication of animals) - Common in discussions of agriculture and evolution.
• Культурное одомашнивание (Cultural domestication) - Used for adapting foreign cultural elements, with a connotation of localization.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "одомашнивание" directly corresponds to the English "domestication" in scientific and historical contexts, but it's more formal and less common in casual speech. English speakers should note that Russian requires the noun to decline based on case, so always pair it with appropriate prepositions (e.g., "в одомашнивании" for "in domestication"). When choosing between translations, use "приручение" for simpler taming scenarios. Be mindful of context: in everyday Russian, more general terms like "адаптация" might be preferred for figurative uses.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "одомашнивание" with "приручение," using them interchangeably without considering nuance. Error: Saying "приручение волков" when "одомашнивание" is needed for long-term domestication. Correct: Use "одомашнивание" for processes involving selective breeding over generations. Explanation: "Приручение" implies temporary taming, while "одомашнивание" suggests permanent adaptation.

• Forgetting declension: Error: Using "одомашнивание" in the wrong case, e.g., "Я изучаю одомашнивание" instead of "Я изучаю одомашнивание" (correct as is, but in genitive: "процесс одомашнивания"). Correct: Always check the sentence structure for proper case agreement to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and language, "одомашнивание" often ties into historical narratives of Russian agriculture and exploration, such as the domestication of animals in Siberia. It carries connotations of human mastery over nature, reflecting themes in Russian literature and folklore, like in stories of Cossacks taming the wild steppes. Understanding this can help English users appreciate the word's deeper implications in discussions of national identity and environmental adaptation.

Related Concepts:

• эволюция (evolution)
• сельское хозяйство (agriculture)
• адаптация (adaptation)
• природа (nature)