Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dove'

English Word: dove

Key Russian Translations:

• голубь /ɡɐˈlubʲ/ - [Formal, Singular, Refers to a male dove or generally]
• голубка /ɡɐˈlubkə/ - [Informal, Singular, Refers specifically to a female dove]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday language, literature, and cultural references)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a basic vocabulary word with straightforward usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

голубь: /ɡɐˈlubʲ/ (The stress is on the second syllable; the 'бь' sound is a soft consonant, similar to 'by' in "baby")

голубка: /ɡɐˈlubkə/ (Similar to 'голубь', but with an additional feminine ending; note the soft 'к' sound)

Note on голубь: Pronunciation can vary slightly in regional dialects, such as in Southern Russia where the soft 'бь' might be less pronounced. Pay attention to the palatalization for accurate speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A bird of the pigeon family, often symbolizing peace or gentleness.

Translation(s) & Context:

• голубь - Used in general, formal contexts, such as wildlife discussions or symbolic references (e.g., in literature or peace movements).
• голубка - Used in informal or affectionate contexts, particularly when specifying a female dove or in poetic language.

Usage Examples:

• В саду сидел голубь и клевал крошки хлеба.

  In the garden, a dove was pecking at bread crumbs.

• Голубка вернулась в гнездо после долгого полёта.

  The dove returned to the nest after a long flight.

• В русской поэзии голубь часто символизирует мир и свободу.

  In Russian poetry, the dove often symbolizes peace and freedom.

• Дети наблюдали, как голубь летает над рекой.

  The children watched as the dove flew over the river.

• На площади выпустили голубку как символ надежды.

  They released a dove on the square as a symbol of hope.

Meaning 2: Past tense of the verb 'to dive' (to plunge into water).

Translation(s) & Context:

• нырять - Used in informal, everyday contexts for diving actions, often in sports or recreational activities.
• погрузиться - Used in more formal or technical contexts, implying a deeper or intentional submersion.

Usage Examples:

• Пловец нырнул в воду, чтобы достать утонувший предмет.

  The swimmer dove into the water to retrieve the sunken object.

• Подводный ныряльщик погрузился на большую глубину.

  The diver dove to a great depth underwater.

• Дети нырнули в озеро, чтобы поймать рыбу.

  The children dove into the lake to catch fish.

• Акула внезапно погрузилась в океанские волны.

  The shark dove into the ocean waves suddenly.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'голубь' (a masculine noun), it follows the standard third declension pattern for Russian nouns. It is inflected based on case and number. Below is a declension table:

For 'голубка' (feminine noun), it follows a similar pattern but with feminine endings:

For verbs like 'нырять' (imperfective), it conjugates regularly: e.g., ныряю (I dive), ныряешь (you dive). 'Погрузиться' is perfective and has its own conjugations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • птица (ptitsa) - General term for bird, less specific.
  • голубок (golubok) - Diminutive form, used affectionately.
• Antonyms:
  • хищник (khishchnik) - Predator, implying opposition in animal contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Голубь мира (Golub' mira) - Dove of peace; a common phrase symbolizing harmony and non-violence.
• Нырять с аквалангом (Nyriat' s akvalangom) - To dive with scuba gear; refers to recreational diving activities.
• Погрузиться в работу (Pogruzit'sya v rabotu) - To dive into work; a metaphorical phrase for immersing oneself in tasks.

Usage Notes:

'Голубь' directly corresponds to the English 'dove' as a bird and is commonly used in both literal and symbolic contexts, such as in Russian folklore where it represents peace. For the verb sense, 'нырять' is more casual and imperfective (ongoing action), while 'погрузиться' is perfective (completed action). Choose based on context: use 'голубь' in formal writing or speeches, and be mindful of gender agreements in sentences. In everyday speech, 'голубка' adds an affectionate tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'голубь' with 'голубой' (goluboy, meaning blue). Incorrect: "Голубь цвет" (meaning "blue color" mistakenly). Correct: "Голубь - это птица" (Dove is a bird). Explanation: 'Голубь' refers to the bird, not the color; learners often mix due to similar roots.

• Error: Using 'нырять' in formal contexts where 'погрузиться' is better. Incorrect: "Я нырял в конференцию" (for "I dove into the conference"). Correct: "Я погрузился в конференцию". Explanation: 'Нырять' implies physical diving, so it's inappropriate for metaphors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the 'голубь' (dove) holds significant symbolism, often linked to peace and the Holy Spirit in Orthodox Christianity, as seen in icons and literature like Tolstoy's works. It also appears in folk tales as a messenger of good fortune, reflecting broader Slavic traditions of associating birds with freedom and spirituality.

Related Concepts:

• воробей (vorobey) - Sparrow
• орёл (oryol) - Eagle
• символ мира (simvol mira) - Symbol of peace