Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fleece'

English Word: fleece

Key Russian Translations:

• шерсть [ʃɛrstʲ] - [Noun, Formal, Singular; Refers to animal wool or fleece material]
• обирать [ɐbʲɪˈratʲ] - [Verb, Informal; Implies swindling or cheating, often in financial contexts]
• обманывать [ɐbmɐˈnʲivətʲ] - [Verb, Neutral; A broader term for deceiving, used in everyday situations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in contexts like clothing and informal discussions, but not everyday vocabulary for most learners)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Basic noun forms are accessible at A2, but verb conjugations and contextual usage may require B1-B2 proficiency)

Pronunciation (Russian):

шерсть: [ʃɛrstʲ] (The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'sheep')

обирать: [ɐbʲɪˈratʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'р' is a trilled 'r', and 'ять' ends with a soft 't')

обманывать: [ɐbmɐˈnʲivətʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'нʲ' sound, which can be tricky for beginners)

Note on шерсть: This word features a soft 'тʲ' at the end, which may soften to [tʲ] in fast speech; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Note on обирать: The infinitive form has a clear 'р' trill; in conjugated forms, the stress shift can alter pronunciation slightly.

Audio: Play audio for шерсть | Play audio for обирать | [Audio player placeholder; insert actual audio links here]

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Wool or fleece material from animals (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• шерсть - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as discussing clothing, textiles, or animal husbandry; common in written Russian or educational settings.

Usage Examples:

• Эта куртка сделана из натуральной шерсти овец. (This jacket is made from natural sheep fleece.)

  This jacket is made from natural sheep fleece.

• В холодную зиму шерсть помогает животным сохранять тепло. (In cold winter, fleece helps animals stay warm.)

  In cold winter, fleece helps animals stay warm.

• Шерсть используется в производстве теплой одежды и ковров. (Fleece is used in producing warm clothing and carpets.)

  Fleece is used in producing warm clothing and carpets.

• Купите шерсть для вашего вязального проекта в ближайшем магазине. (Buy fleece for your knitting project at the nearest store.)

  Buy fleece for your knitting project at the nearest store.

• Цвет шерсти у этой породы овец обычно белый. (The color of the fleece on this breed of sheep is usually white.)

  The color of the fleece on this breed of sheep is usually white.

Meaning 2: To swindle, cheat, or fleece someone financially (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обирать - Informal and colloquial, often in contexts of petty crime or exploitation; implies taking money unfairly.
• обманывать - More neutral, used in everyday conversations for general deception; can be less severe than обирать.

Usage Examples:

• Мошенники часто обирают туристов в crowded местах. (Scammers often fleece tourists in crowded places.)

  Scammers often fleece tourists in crowded places.

• Он обманывает людей, продавая поддельные товары. (He fleeces people by selling fake goods.)

  He fleeces people by selling fake goods.

• Не позволяйте им обирать вас в этом магазине; цены завышены. (Don't let them fleece you in this store; the prices are inflated.)

  Don't let them fleece you in this store; the prices are inflated.

• Обманывать друзей — это неэтично и может разрушить отношения. (Fleeing friends is unethical and can ruin relationships.)

  Fleeing friends is unethical and can ruin relationships.

• В интернете легко обирать людей через фальшивые инвестиции. (It's easy to fleece people online through fake investments.)

  It's easy to fleece people online through fake investments.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "шерсть" (feminine noun, third declension):

This noun is invariable in the plural for some forms but follows standard feminine patterns. It does not change in the nominative plural.

For "обирать" (verb, first conjugation, imperfective):

This is an imperfective verb with regular conjugation patterns. It has aspects and can pair with perfective forms like "обобрать".

For "обманывать" (verb, similar to above): Follows the same first conjugation with slight variations in stems.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for шерсть: мех (fur; more general for animal coverings), вата (cotton wool; for soft materials)
• Synonyms for обирать: грабить (to rob; more violent connotation), надувать (to con; informal)
• Synonyms for обманывать: вводить в заблуждение (to mislead; formal context)
• Antonyms for обирать: помогать (to help; implies assistance rather than exploitation)
• Antonyms for обманывать: говорить правду (to tell the truth; straightforward opposition)

Related Phrases:

• Натуральная шерсть - Natural fleece; often used in eco-friendly clothing contexts.
• Обирать до нитки - To fleece someone completely; implies thorough exploitation in informal speech.
• Обманывать доверие - To deceive trust; a common phrase in psychological or relational discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Fleece" as "шерсть" directly corresponds to animal-derived materials and is neutral in most contexts, but avoid using it metaphorically in Russian. For the verb forms like "обирать" or "обманывать", they are more informal and carry a negative connotation, so use them cautiously in polite conversation. "Обирать" is preferred for financial swindling, while "обманывать" fits broader deception. Grammar note: Verbs must agree with subject gender and number in past tense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "шерсть" with "мех" and using it for all fur types. Correct: Use "шерсть" only for wool; "мех" for general fur. Example of error: "Эта шуба из шерсти" (wrong, as it should be "мех" for a fur coat). Correct: "Эта шуба из меха".
• Error: Overusing "обирать" in formal writing. Correct: Opt for "обманывать" or "вводить в заблуждение" in professional contexts. Example of error: "Компания обирает клиентов" in a business report; Correct: "Компания обманывает клиентов".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "шерсть" is linked to traditional crafts like knitting and rural life, symbolizing warmth and practicality in harsh winters. Conversely, verbs like "обирать" reflect historical distrust of authority or scams, stemming from Soviet-era experiences with black markets, highlighting themes of resilience and caution in interpersonal dealings.

Related Concepts:

• овечка (sheep)
• текстиль (textile)
• мошенничество (fraud)