Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gander'

English Word: gander

Key Russian Translations:

• гусак [ˈɡusək] - [Informal, Noun; Refers to a male goose]
• взглянуть [vzɡlʲəˈnutʲ] - [Informal, Verb; Used for taking a quick look or glance]

Frequency: Low (The word 'gander' is not commonly used in everyday English, and its Russian equivalents are situation-specific, such as in animal husbandry or casual speech.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1-B2 level per CEFR; Learners need familiarity with basic noun and verb inflections in Russian. For 'гусак', it's straightforward; for 'взглянуть', verb conjugation adds complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гусак: [ˈɡusək] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'у' is pronounced like 'oo' in 'food'.)

взглянуть: [vzɡlʲəˈnutʲ] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'зг' cluster can be challenging for beginners, often softened in speech.)

Note on взглянуть: This verb has palatalization in the root, making it sound more fluid in rapid speech. Variations in informal contexts may include regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A male goose (Literal, zoological sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гусак - Used in contexts related to animals, farming, or wildlife; Informal or neutral register, often in descriptive or educational settings.

Usage Examples:

• В саду гуляет большой гусак.

  In the garden, a large gander is strolling around. (This example shows the noun in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting everyday animal description.)

• Гусак в стае гусей всегда самый шумный.

  The gander in the flock of geese is always the noisiest. (Demonstrates use in a comparative structure, emphasizing behavior.)

• Фермер кормит гусаков каждый вечер.

  The farmer feeds the ganders every evening. (Illustrates plural form in a routine action context.)

• Этот гусак весит больше пяти килограммов.

  This gander weighs more than five kilograms. (Shows attributive use with measurements.)

Meaning 2: To take a quick look or glance (Idiomatic or slang sense, as in "take a gander")

Translation(s) & Context:

• взглянуть - Used in casual conversations for briefly observing something; Informal, often in spoken language or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Давай взглянем на новый фильм в кинотеатре.

  Let's take a gander at the new movie in the theater. (This shows the verb in a suggestion for a quick view, in a social context.)

• Он быстро взглянул на часы и ушёл.

  He took a quick gander at the watch and left. (Illustrates the verb in a hurried, everyday action.)

• Взгляни на это фото, оно забавное!

  Take a gander at this photo; it's funny! (Demonstrates imperative form in informal, expressive speech.)

• Перед покупкой всегда взгляни на товар внимательно.

  Before buying, always take a gander at the item carefully. (Shows use in advisory contexts with adverbs for emphasis.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'гусак' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension):

For 'взглянуть' (a verb, imperfective aspect, from the perfective 'взглянуть'):

This is a perfective verb with standard conjugation for the first conjugation group. It is irregular in some forms due to palatalization. Example infinitive: взглянуть. Conjugated in present tense (though perfective verbs like this are often used in past or future):

• Я взгляну (I will glance)
• Ты взглянешь (You will glance)
• Он/Она взглянет (He/She will glance)

Note: 'взглянуть' does not change in aspect for basic use but pairs with imperfective 'смотреть' for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Гусь (more general term for goose, but less specific to male)
  • Оглядеться (for the glance meaning, implying a broader look)
• Antonyms:
  • Игнорировать (to ignore, opposite of glancing)

Related Phrases:

• Бродячий гусак - A wandering gander; Refers to something or someone aimless in movement.
• Бросить взгляд - To cast a glance; A common phrase for quickly looking at something.
• Гусиный гусак - Geese's gander; Used in idiomatic expressions about family or groups in animal contexts.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'gander' has two main senses: literal (a male goose) and idiomatic (a quick look). In Russian, choose 'гусак' for the literal sense, which aligns closely but requires attention to gender and case in sentences. For the idiomatic sense, 'взглянуть' is more versatile and fits informal English slang, but it's a verb, so ensure proper verb-noun agreement. Be cautious with register: 'гусак' is neutral in animal contexts, while 'взглянуть' is everyday informal. When selecting between translations, consider context—e.g., use 'взглянуть' in dynamic scenes and 'гусак' in static descriptions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'гусь' instead of 'гусак' for a male goose. Incorrect: 'Этот гусь самец.' Correct: 'Этот гусак.' Explanation: 'Гусь' is gender-neutral, leading to ambiguity; 'гусак' specifies male, matching 'gander' precisely.

• Error: Misconjugating 'взглянуть' in sentences. Incorrect: 'Я взглянутая.' Correct: 'Я взгляну.' Explanation: This verb follows first-conjugation patterns; learners often confuse it with adjectives or other verb types, resulting in non-standard forms.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, geese like the 'gander' often symbolize rural life or folklore, appearing in traditional stories (e.g., fairy tales where geese represent simplicity or mischief). The idiomatic use of 'gander' as a glance doesn't have a direct cultural parallel in Russian, but phrases like 'бросить взгляд' evoke curiosity in literature, reflecting a shared human experience of quick observation.

Related Concepts:

• Гуси (geese)
• Оглядка (glance or overview)
• Птицы (birds, broader category)