Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foetus'

English Word: foetus

Key Russian Translations:

• плод (/plɔt/) - [Formal, Medical; Refers specifically to the later stages of prenatal development in humans or animals]
• эмбрион (/ɪmˈbrʲɪɐn/) - [Formal, Scientific; Used for earlier stages of development, though it can overlap with 'foetus' in some contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical, biological, and educational contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires familiarity with biological terminology and Russian noun declensions; For 'плод', it's straightforward, but 'эмбрион' may vary slightly in usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

плод: /plɔt/ (Stress on the first syllable; The 'o' sound is similar to the 'o' in 'lot' in English)

эмбрион: /ɪmˈbrʲɪɐn/ (Stress on the second syllable; The 'э' is a soft 'e' sound, and the 'рʲ' indicates a palatalized 'r', which can be challenging for English speakers)

Note on плод: Be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which is softer than in English; regional variations in Russia may slightly alter vowel length.

Note on эмбрион: This word is a loanword from Latin/Greek, so pronunciation is relatively consistent; avoid over-emphasizing the 'й' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The unborn offspring of a mammal in the later stages of development (e.g., human fetus)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плод - Used in formal medical or biological contexts, such as discussing prenatal care or veterinary science.
• эмбрион - Applied when referring to earlier embryonic stages, but can be interchangeable in some scientific discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи тщательно мониторят развитие плода во время беременности.

  Doctors carefully monitor the development of the fetus during pregnancy.

• После 8-й недели беременности эмбрион считается плодом.

  After the 8th week of pregnancy, the embryo is considered a fetus.

• Исследования показывают, что плод реагирует на звуки извне.

  Studies show that the fetus responds to external sounds.

• В акушерстве термин «эмбрион» используется для ранних этапов, а «плод» — для более поздних.

  In obstetrics, the term 'embryo' is used for early stages, and 'fetus' for later ones.

• Здоровье плода напрямую зависит от питания матери.

  The health of the fetus directly depends on the mother's nutrition.

Secondary Meaning: Figurative or metaphorical use in scientific contexts (e.g., in botany or general development)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плод - In botanical contexts, it can mean 'fruit' but is less common for animal fetuses in metaphor.

Usage Examples:

• В биологии плод представляет собой конечную стадию развития зародыша.

  In biology, the fetus represents the final stage of embryonic development.

• Ученые изучают, как внешние факторы влияют на плод в утробе.

  Scientists study how external factors affect the fetus in the womb.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Плод' is a masculine noun in Russian, following the standard third declension pattern with irregularities. It changes based on case and number. 'Эмбрион' is also masculine but less inflected in everyday use.

Note: 'Плод' is invariant in plural for some cases and is commonly used in singular in medical contexts. It does not change for gender but follows standard agreement rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эмбрион (Similar but for earlier stages; often used interchangeably in scientific texts)
  • зародыш (Embryo in a more general sense, with subtle differences in developmental timing)
• Antonyms:
  • ребенок (Child; Refers to post-birth stages)
  • взрослый (Adult; Contrasts with any prenatal stage)

Related Phrases:

• Развитие плода (Development of the fetus; Used in medical discussions about prenatal growth)
• Плод в утробе (Fetus in the womb; Common in contexts of pregnancy monitoring)
• Эмбриональное развитие (Embryonic development; Refers to early stages leading to the fetus)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'плод' is the most direct equivalent to 'foetus' in medical contexts and is preferred in formal writing or healthcare. It corresponds closely to the English term but is less commonly used in casual conversation. 'Эмбрион' is better for earlier stages (up to 8 weeks in humans). Always consider the context: use 'плод' for later prenatal phases and ensure proper declension based on sentence structure. For English learners, note that Russian nouns require case agreement, which can affect word choice in phrases.

• When choosing between translations, opt for 'плод' in obstetrics and 'эмбрион' in embryology.
• Grammar tip: 'Плод' must agree in case with its modifiers, e.g., "развитие плода" (genitive case).

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'плод' with 'эмбрион', using 'эмбрион' for later stages. Incorrect: "Эмбрион в третьем триместре" (The embryo in the third trimester) – This is wrong because by then it's a fetus. Correct: "Плод в третьем триместре". Explanation: 'Эмбрион' refers to pre-8-week development, so always check the timeline. Another error is forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "развитие плод" instead of "развитие плода".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and medicine, terms like 'плод' are heavily influenced by Soviet-era scientific traditions, emphasizing detailed prenatal care. Discussions around 'foetus' often tie into family planning and state-supported healthcare, reflecting historical policies on population growth. This can add a layer of sensitivity in conversations about reproduction.

Related Concepts:

• беременность (Pregnancy)
• роды (Childbirth)
• зародыш (Embryo)