Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ethology'

English Word: ethology

Key Russian Translations:

• этология [ɛtɐlʊɟɪjə] - [Formal, Technical]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in academic, scientific, and professional contexts; not common in everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate to Advanced; requires familiarity with scientific terminology and Russian noun declensions, as it is a borrowed word from English/Greek.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

этология: [ɛtɐlʊɟɪjə]

Note on этология: The stress falls on the third syllable (лʊ), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The scientific study of animal behavior in natural environments.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Этология - Used in formal academic discussions, research papers, or lectures on biology and animal sciences.

Usage Examples:

• В университете я изучаю этологию, чтобы понять поведение животных в их естественной среде.

  In university, I study ethology to understand animal behavior in their natural environment.

• Этология помогает объяснить, почему птицы мигрируют на большие расстояния.

  Ethology helps explain why birds migrate over long distances.

• Современная этология сочетает наблюдения и эксперименты для анализа инстинктов у млекопитающих.

  Modern ethology combines observations and experiments to analyze instincts in mammals.

• В курсе этологии мы обсуждали эволюционные аспекты поведения у приматов.

  In the ethology course, we discussed the evolutionary aspects of behavior in primates.

• Этология как наука развивалась благодаря работам этологов, таких как Лоренц и Тинберген.

  Ethology as a science developed through the works of ethologists such as Lorenz and Tinbergen.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Этология is a feminine noun (feminine gender, as indicated by its ending and context) borrowed from Greek via English. It follows the standard first declension pattern for Russian nouns, but as a scientific term, it is often used in its base form without much variation in everyday contexts. However, it can inflect based on case and number.

Note: Irregularities are minimal, as this is a modern loanword, but always check context for proper usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: поведенческая биология (more descriptive, focuses on behavioral biology), зоопсихология (emphasizes animal psychology)
• Antonyms: антропология (anthropology, as it deals with human behavior rather than animal)

Related Phrases:

• Изучение этологии (Study of ethology) - Refers to the academic pursuit of understanding animal behavior.
• Этология поведения (Ethology of behavior) - A phrase used in scientific contexts to specify the study of specific behavioral patterns.
• Прикладная этология (Applied ethology) - Involves practical applications, such as in animal training or conservation.

Usage Notes:

Этология directly corresponds to the English term "ethology" and is used almost exclusively in formal, scientific, or educational settings. English speakers should note that Russian scientific vocabulary often retains loanwords like this one, but they must be inflected according to Russian grammar rules (e.g., change endings for cases). When choosing between synonyms like "поведенческая биология," opt for этология in precise scientific discussions to maintain accuracy. Be aware of context: it's not used in casual conversation, so avoid it in informal writing or speech.

• Grammar tip: Always decline the noun based on its role in the sentence, e.g., in genitive case after prepositions like "о" (about).
• Regional variation: Usage is consistent across Russian-speaking regions, but it may be less common in non-academic contexts in everyday Russian.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse этология with зоопсихология (zoopsychology), thinking they are interchangeable. For example:

• Incorrect: Я изучаю зоопсихологию животных. (This implies a focus on animal psychology rather than broad ethological study.)
• Correct: Я изучаю этологию животных. (This accurately refers to the study of animal behavior in natural settings.)
• Explanation: The error stems from overlapping concepts, but этология is more comprehensive. Always check the specific field before using synonyms.

Another common mistake is failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., using the nominative form in all cases.

Cultural Notes:

Этология has roots in Western scientific traditions, influenced by figures like Konrad Lorenz, an Austrian ethologist whose work was translated into Russian during the Soviet era. In Russian culture, it reflects the country's emphasis on biology and environmental sciences, often tied to national parks and wildlife studies. However, it lacks strong cultural idioms, serving primarily as a technical term without deep emotional or historical connotations in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• биология (biology)
• психология (psychology)
• зоология (zoology)