Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flock'

English Word: flock

Key Russian Translations:

• стадо [ˈstadə] - [Formal, used for groups of animals like sheep or birds]
• отара [ɐˈtarə] - [Informal, specific to sheep or goats in pastoral contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday language related to agriculture and nature, but not in casual urban conversations)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun declensions, but straightforward for learners familiar with CEFR A2 vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стадо: [ˈstadə]

Note on стадо: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'о' at the end is often reduced in fast speech to a schwa sound, which is common in Russian neuter nouns.

отара: [ɐˈtarə]

Note on отара: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'р' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its rolled pronunciation.

Audio: Listen to "стадо" | Listen to "отара"

Meanings and Usage:

A group of animals, such as sheep, birds, or other livestock.

Translation(s) & Context:

• стадо - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as in literature or scientific discussions about animal behavior.
• отара - Applied in informal or regional contexts, especially in rural or historical settings involving herding.

Usage Examples:

• Фермеры пасут стадо овец на зеленых пастбищах.

  Farmers herd a flock of sheep on green pastures. (This example shows the word in a simple declarative sentence, emphasizing everyday agricultural use.)

• В небе пролетело большое стадо перелетных птиц.

  A large flock of migratory birds flew across the sky. (Illustrates the word in a context involving birds, demonstrating its flexibility across animal types.)

• Дети наблюдали за стадом, которое бродило по полю.

  The children watched the flock wandering through the field. (This highlights the word in a observational or narrative context, common in storytelling.)

• В зоопарке собралось стадо экзотических животных для выставки.

  A flock of exotic animals was gathered for the zoo exhibition. (Shows usage in a modern, urban setting like a zoo, expanding beyond traditional rural connotations.)

• Отара овец потерялась в горах во время бури.

  The flock of sheep got lost in the mountains during the storm. (This uses the alternative translation "отара" in a dramatic, informal narrative to convey risk or adventure.)

Metaphorical or extended meaning (e.g., a group of people).

Translation(s) & Context:

• стадо - Rarely used metaphorically for people, in a derogatory sense, such as in crowds or mobs.

Usage Examples:

• В толпе людей он чувствовал себя частью большого стада.

  In the crowd of people, he felt like part of a large flock. (Demonstrates metaphorical use in psychological or social contexts.)

• Политик говорил о народе как о стадо, что вызвало споры.

  The politician referred to the people as a flock, which sparked controversy. (Shows the word in a critical or figurative sense, highlighting potential negative connotations.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "стадо" and "отара" are neuter nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard neuter declension patterns. They are third-declension nouns and inflect based on case and number. "стадо" is more common and has regular inflections, while "отара" is similar but can vary slightly in regional dialects.

Note: These nouns do not change for gender but must agree in case with adjectives or verbs in a sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: отара (similar but more specific to sheep), косяк (for fish or birds in some contexts), стая (for birds or wild animals)
• Antonyms: одиночка (solitary individual, as it contrasts with a group)

Note: "Стая" is often preferred for birds and implies a more dynamic group, while "стадо" suggests domestication or control.

Related Phrases:

• пасти стадо - To herd a flock (used in contexts of animal management or metaphorically for leadership).
• стадо овец - A flock of sheep (a common fixed phrase in agricultural descriptions).
• разогнать стадо - To scatter a flock (implies disruption or dispersal, often in figurative language).

Usage Notes:

"Flock" in English often refers to birds or sheep, and its Russian equivalents like "стадо" align closely, but "отара" is more regionally specific to Central Asian or Caucasian contexts. Use "стадо" for general purposes, especially in formal writing, as it is neutral and widely understood. Be cautious with metaphorical uses, as they can carry negative connotations in Russian (e.g., implying herd mentality). In sentences, ensure the noun agrees in case with surrounding elements, which is a key grammatical feature of Russian not present in English.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "стадо" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я вижу стадо" in a context requiring genitive like "Я думаю о стадо" (incorrect; should be "стада").

  Correct: "Я думаю о старе" (for the correct form). Explanation: Russian nouns must change based on case, unlike English, so learners often forget to adjust for prepositions.

• Error: Confusing "стадо" with "стая" for birds, leading to misuse like "стадо птиц" when "стая птиц" is more accurate.

  Correct: Use "стая" for birds. Explanation: While "стадо" can work, "стая" is idiomatically preferred, and mixing them can sound unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "стадо" evoke images of rural life and traditional herding practices, as seen in folk tales and literature by authors like Tolstoy. It can symbolize community or conformity, but negatively in modern contexts, reflecting historical collectivization under Soviet rule, where individuals were sometimes compared to a "stado" in propaganda.

Related Concepts:

• овца (sheep)
• птица (bird)
• пастух (shepherd)