Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flora'

English Word: flora

Key Russian Translations:

• флора [ˈflɔra] - [Formal, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, educational, and environmental contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with scientific terminology and basic Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

флора: [ˈflɔra]

Note on флора: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'o' sound is similar to the English 'o' in 'floor'. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects, but this is the standard Moscow variant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The plant life or vegetation of a particular region, time, or environment (e.g., in biology or ecology)

Translation(s) & Context:

• флора - Used in formal, scientific, or educational contexts to refer to the collective plant species in a specific area, such as in botanical studies.

Usage Examples:

• В Сибири богатая флора, включая редкие виды сосен и берёз.

  In Siberia, there is a rich flora, including rare species of pines and birches.

• Учёные изучают флору Амазонии, чтобы понять влияние климата.

  Scientists are studying the flora of the Amazon to understand the impact of climate.

• Флора парка включает как местные, так и экзотические растения.

  The flora of the park includes both local and exotic plants.

• Изменение флоры в регионе указывает на экологические проблемы.

  Changes in the flora of the region indicate environmental issues.

• Гидрофлора озера разнообразна, с водными растениями и водорослями.

  The hydroflora of the lake is diverse, with aquatic plants and algae.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Флора" is a feminine noun (1st declension) in Russian and follows standard noun inflection patterns. It is invariable in the nominative singular form but changes in other cases and numbers as shown below:

Note: The plural form is less common and used when referring to multiple distinct floras (e.g., from different regions). There are no irregular inflections for this borrowed word.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Растительность (more general term for vegetation, often used interchangeably in everyday contexts)
  • Вегетация (a direct borrowing, used in scientific contexts with subtle differences in formality)
• Antonyms:
  • Фауна (refers to animal life, contrasting with plant life)

Related Phrases:

• Местная флора - Local flora; refers to plants native to a specific area.
• Экзотическая флора - Exotic flora; used for non-native or introduced plant species.
• Флора и фауна - Flora and fauna; a common phrase in environmental discussions to describe biodiversity.

Usage Notes:

"Флора" directly corresponds to the English "flora" in scientific and formal contexts, making it a straightforward borrowing. It is primarily used in written or academic Russian rather than casual speech. When choosing between translations like "флора" and "растительность", opt for "флора" in botanical or ecological discussions for precision, as "растительность" is broader and can include general plant cover. Be mindful of grammatical gender (feminine) and always decline it according to the sentence structure. For example, in prepositional phrases, use "в флоре" (in the flora).

Common Errors:

• Incorrect: Using "флора" without proper declension, e.g., saying "из флора" instead of "из флоры".

  Correct: "Из флоры региона" (From the region's flora). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case; here, genitive case is required after prepositions like "из".

• Incorrect: Confusing "флора" with "фауна" in sentences, e.g., "Флора включает животных" (Flora includes animals).

  Correct: "Фауна включает животных" (Fauna includes animals). Explanation: "Флора" specifically means plant life, so ensure the context matches to avoid mixing biological categories.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "флора" often appears in discussions of national parks, environmental protection, and literature, such as in the works of botanists like Vladimir Sukachev. It reflects Russia's vast biodiversity, from the taiga forests to the steppes, and is tied to national pride in natural heritage. For instance, eco-tourism in places like the Altai Mountains emphasizes the unique "флора" as a symbol of untouched wilderness.

Related Concepts:

• Фауна
• Биота
• Экосистема