Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'feline'

English Word: feline

Key Russian Translations:

• кошачий [kɐˈʂaʧɪj] - [Adjective; Formal; Used in descriptive or scientific contexts]
• кошка [ˈkoʂkə] - [Noun; Informal; Refers specifically to a female cat]
• кот [kot] - [Noun; Informal; Refers to a male cat]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, literature, and zoology, but not as ubiquitous as basic animal terms)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections for "кошачий"; "кошка" and "кот" are A2 for beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кошачий: [kɐˈʂaʧɪj]

Note on кошачий: The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative [ʂ], which can be challenging for English speakers; stress falls on the second syllable. Variations may occur in dialects.

кошка: [ˈkoʂkə]

Note on кошка: Pronounced with a soft 'к' in some contexts; the final 'a' is reduced in casual speech.

кот: [kot]

Note on кот: A straightforward pronunciation; no major variations, but ensure the 'o' is not diphthongized as in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As an adjective, relating to cats or cat-like qualities (e.g., in zoology or descriptions).

Translation(s) & Context:

• кошачий - Used in formal, literary, or scientific contexts to describe feline characteristics, such as appearance or behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Его кошачий взгляд всегда настораживает людей. (Yego koshachiy vzglyad vsegda nastorazhivaet lyudey.)

  His feline gaze always makes people wary. (Demonstrates use in describing human traits metaphorically.)

• В зоопарке есть отдел кошачьих животных. (V zooparke yest' otdel koshachikh zhivotnykh.)

  In the zoo, there is a section for feline animals. (Shows use in a scientific or categorical context.)

• Кошачья грация делает эту кошку уникальной. (Koshach'ya gratsiya delayet etu koshku unikal'noy.)

  Feline grace makes this cat unique. (Illustrates adjectival form in praising physical attributes.)

• В мифах часто упоминаются кошачьи существа. (V mifakh chasto upominayutsya koshachiye sushchestva.)

  Myths often mention feline creatures. (Used in cultural or mythical discussions.)

• Кошачий мех мягкий и теплый. (Koshachiy mech myagkiy i teplyy.)

  Feline fur is soft and warm. (Applies to material descriptions.)

Meaning 2: As a noun, referring to a cat (gender-specific in Russian).

Translation(s) & Context:

• кошка - Informal, everyday use for a female cat; common in domestic contexts.
• кот - Informal, for a male cat; often used in stories or casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Моя кошка любит играть с клубком ниток. (Moya koshka lyubit igrat' s klubkom nitok.)

  My cat loves playing with a ball of yarn. (Basic domestic scenario with female noun.)

• Этот кот всегда охотится за мышами. (Etot kot vsegda okhotaetsya za myshami.)

  This cat always hunts for mice. (Male noun in an action-oriented context.)

• Кошка и кот живут в нашем дворе. (Koshka i kot zhivut v nashem dvore.)

  The cat and tomcat live in our yard. (Shows plural or paired usage.)

• В деревне много кошек и котов. (V derevne mnogo koshek i kotov.)

  There are many cats in the village. (Plural form in a general setting.)

• Кот мяукает, когда хочет есть. (Kot myaukaet, kogda khochet yest'.)

  The cat meows when it wants food. (Behavioral context with male noun.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For adjectives like "кошачий", Russian adjectives inflect based on gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective following standard patterns.

For nouns: "кошка" (feminine) inflects regularly (e.g., Genitive: кошки), while "кот" (masculine) is invariable in some cases but follows standard patterns (e.g., Genitive: кота).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Кошачий: пушистый (pushistyy) - Similar in describing fur, but more general for fluffiness.
  • Кошка: мурка (murka) - Informal, affectionate term for a cat.
  • Кот: котик (kotik) - Diminutive, endearing form.
• Antonyms:
  • Кошачий: собачий (sobachiy) - Relating to dogs, contrasting animal types.
  • Кошка/Кот: собака (sobaka) - Dog, as an opposite pet animal.

Related Phrases:

• Кошачий глаз (Koshachiy glaz) - Cat's eye (refers to a reflective road marker); Used in traffic or literal descriptions.
• Домашняя кошка (Domashnyaya koshka) - Domestic cat; Common in pet-related contexts.
• Кот в сапогах (Kot v sapogakh) - Puss in Boots; A famous fairy tale phrase.

Usage Notes:

"Feline" as an adjective corresponds most closely to "кошачий" in Russian, which must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For nouns, choose "кошка" for females and "кот" for males to match natural gender, unlike English's gender-neutral "cat". Be cautious with formal contexts where "кошачий" is preferred over informal terms. When learning, focus on inflection patterns to avoid errors in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кошачий" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "кошачий кошка" instead of "кошачья кошка". Correct: Ensure agreement, as in "кошачья кошка". Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender and case.
• Error: Confusing "кошка" and "кот" based on English's unisex "cat", e.g., using "кот" for a female cat. Correct: Use "кошка" for females. Explanation: Gender specificity in Russian nouns affects meaning and grammar.
• Error: Pronouncing "кошачий" with an English 'sh' sound instead of the Russian [ʂ]. Correct: Practice the retroflex [ʂ] for authenticity. Explanation: Mispronunciation can lead to misunderstandings in spoken language.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, cats like "кошка" or "кот" often symbolize mystery or independence, as seen in folklore such as the fairy tale "Кот в сапогах" (Puss in Boots). They are also associated with good luck in some traditions, contrasting with superstitions in other cultures, which adds a layer of cultural depth to these words.

Related Concepts:

• Собака (sobaka) - Dog
• Животные (zhivotnye) - Animals
• Домашние питомцы (domashniye pitomtsy) - Pets