Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'filly'

English Word: filly

Key Russian Translations:

• кобылка [kɐˈbɨlkə] - [Informal; used in everyday or equestrian contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in general conversation but appears in specialized contexts like animal husbandry or equestrian discussions.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with animal vocabulary and basic noun declensions, per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кобылка: [kɐˈbɨlkə]

Note on кобылка: The stress falls on the second syllable ("bɨ"), which is common in diminutive forms. Be cautious with the rolled 'r' sound in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A young female horse (typically under four years old)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кобылка - Used in informal settings, such as describing farm animals or in equestrian sports; it conveys affection or specificity to a young female horse.

Usage Examples:

• У фермы есть красивая кобылка, которая любит бегать по полю.

  The farm has a beautiful filly that loves to run in the field.

• Эта кобылка еще слишком молодая, чтобы участвовать в скачках.

  This filly is still too young to participate in races.

• В конюшне мы ухаживаем за кобылкой, которая родилась прошлой весной.

  In the stable, we take care of the filly that was born last spring.

• Кобылка показала отличные результаты на тренировке сегодня.

  The filly showed excellent results in training today.

• Мой друг купил кобылку для разведения лошадей.

  My friend bought a filly for horse breeding.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кобылка is a feminine noun in the first declension group, which means it follows standard patterns for diminutive forms in Russian. It is invariable in terms of gender but changes by case and number. Below is a table of its declensions for singular forms (plural is less common but follows similar patterns).

Note: In plural, it becomes кобылки (nominative), but this is rare as "filly" typically refers to individuals.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • молодая кобыла (young mare; more formal and descriptive, used in professional contexts)
  • лошадка (little horse; a broader, more affectionate term, but less specific to females)
• Antonyms:
  • жеребец (stallion; refers to a male horse)
  • старина (old horse; informal for an aged horse, contrasting with youth)

Related Phrases:

• молодая кобылка на пастбище - (A young filly in the pasture; used to describe everyday equestrian scenes.)
• воспитывать кобылку - (To raise a filly; common in contexts of horse breeding or training.)
• кобылка для скачек - (A filly for races; refers to competitive equestrian activities.)

Usage Notes:

кобылка directly corresponds to "filly" in English as a diminutive form, emphasizing youth and femininity, but it's more informal in Russian. Use it in casual conversations about animals or sports, avoiding formal writing. If the context requires precision, opt for "молодая кобыла." Grammatically, it must agree in case, number, and gender with surrounding words. For English speakers, remember that Russian nouns like this often require articles or prepositions in English translations that aren't needed in Russian.

• Avoid overusing diminutives; кобылка has a playful tone, so it's not ideal for serious reports.
• When choosing between translations, use кобылка for affectionate or everyday speech, and молодая кобыла for technical descriptions.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse кобылка with жеребенок (foal, which can be male or female) or mistakenly use masculine forms like жеребец (stallion). For example:

• Error: Using "жеребенок" for a female: "Это жеребенок" (meaning "This is a foal," but implying gender-neutrality when "filly" is specific).
• Correct: "Это кобылка" – This specifies a young female, avoiding gender ambiguity. Explanation: Russian requires attention to gender in animal terms, so always check the context.
• Another Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "с кобылка" instead of "с кобылкой" in instrumental case.
• Correct: "С кобылкой" – Ensure proper case agreement to sound natural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, horses like the filly (кобылка) hold historical significance, especially in rural and equestrian traditions. Terms like this evoke images of Cossack heritage or modern horse racing in regions like Moscow or Siberia, where horse breeding is a point of national pride. Using кобылка can add a folksy, affectionate nuance, reflecting Russia's deep-rooted connection to its pastoral past.

Related Concepts:

• кобыла (mare)
• жеребенок (foal)
• лошадь (horse)
• скачки (races)