Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gull'

English Word: gull

Key Russian Translations:

• ча́йка [ˈt͡ɕajkə] - [Noun, Feminine, Common; Used in everyday contexts for the bird]
• обмануть [ɐb.mɐˈnutʲ] - [Verb, Informal; Used to mean 'to deceive' or 'to trick']

Frequency: Medium (The word 'gull' as 'seagull' is moderately common in discussions about nature; as a verb, it's less frequent in everyday speech but appears in literature and informal contexts.)

Difficulty: A2 for 'ча́йка' (Beginner level, as it's a basic noun); B1 for 'обмануть' (Intermediate, due to verb conjugations and contextual usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ча́йка: [ˈt͡ɕajkə]

обмануть: [ɐb.mɐˈnutʲ]

Note on обмануть: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations include imperfective forms like обманывать [ɐb.mɐˈnivatʲ].

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A type of seabird (e.g., seagull)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ча́йка - Used in general descriptions of birds, especially in coastal or natural settings; common in both formal and informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• На пляже часто можно увидеть стаю чаек, которые ищут еду.

  On the beach, you can often see a flock of seagulls looking for food.

• Чайка с криком пролетела над волнами.

  The seagull flew over the waves with a cry.

• В зоопарке есть экспозиция, где показывают различных чаек из разных регионов.

  In the zoo, there's an exhibit showcasing various seagulls from different regions.

• Морские чайки иногда залетают в город и клюют мусор.

  Seagulls sometimes fly into the city and peck at garbage.

Meaning 2: To deceive or trick someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• обмануть - Used in informal or narrative contexts to describe misleading someone; can imply a one-time action, as opposed to ongoing deception.

Usage Examples:

• Он пытался обмануть меня, но я заметил его хитрость.

  He tried to gull me, but I noticed his trickery.

• Не давай себя обмануть этим продавцом; проверь товар заранее.

  Don't let that seller gull you; check the goods beforehand.

• В фильме главный герой обманул врагов, чтобы спасти друзей.

  In the movie, the main character gulled the enemies to save his friends.

• Дети иногда обманывают родителей, чтобы получить лишние сладости.

  Children sometimes gull their parents to get extra sweets.

• Обмануть кого-то в бизнесе может привести к серьезным последствиям.

  Gulling someone in business can lead to serious consequences.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'ча́йка' (a feminine noun in the first declension):

Note: This noun follows regular first-declension patterns with no irregularities.

For 'обмануть' (a verb, perfective aspect of обманывать):

This verb has irregular aspects; the imperfective 'обманывать' is used for ongoing actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • морская птица (for ча́йка; literally 'sea bird', used interchangeably in formal contexts)
  • ввести в заблуждение (for обмануть; implies leading astray, often in more formal or psychological contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • сказать правду (for обмануть; means 'to tell the truth')
  • помочь (for обмануть; means 'to help', contrasting deception with assistance)

Related Phrases:

• Крик чайки - A seagull's cry; often used in poetic or descriptive contexts to evoke seaside atmospheres.
• Обмануть ожидания - To gull expectations; refers to disappointing or misleading someone's hopes in business or personal interactions.
• Стая чаек - A flock of seagulls; commonly used in travel or nature descriptions.

Usage Notes:

'Ча́йка' directly corresponds to 'gull' as a noun and is straightforward in usage, but remember that Russian nouns change by case, so adjust based on sentence structure (e.g., use genitive for possession). For 'обмануть', it's a perfective verb, ideal for completed actions of deception, unlike the imperfective 'обманывать' for ongoing tricks. Choose 'обмануть' in informal settings or narratives, but opt for more neutral synonyms in formal writing. English speakers should note that Russian verbs require aspect consideration, which has no direct equivalent in English.

Common Errors:

• Using 'ча́йка' without proper case agreement: Error - "Я видел ча́йка" (incorrect); Correct - "Я видел ча́йку" (accusative case). Explanation: Russian requires nouns to agree in case with the verb or preposition, which English speakers often overlook.
• Misconjugating 'обмануть': Error - "Я обманутая" (incorrect form); Correct - "Я обманула" for feminine past. Explanation: Verbs must agree in gender, number, and tense; confusing perfective and imperfective aspects can lead to timeline errors in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

'Ча́йка' evokes imagery from Russian literature, such as in Anton Chekhov's play "The Seagull" (Ча́йка), symbolizing unfulfilled dreams and artistic struggle. In Russian culture, seagulls are often associated with the vastness of the sea and freedom, contrasting with urban life, which adds a layer of poetic connotation beyond the literal meaning.

Related Concepts:

• воробей (sparrow)
• обман (deception)
• птица (bird, general term)