Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'herdsman'

English Word: herdsman

Key Russian Translations:

• пастух [pɐˈstux] - [Formal, Singular, Refers to a male shepherd or herdsman]
• пастушка [pɐˈstʊʂkə] - [Informal, Singular, Feminine form, Used for a female herdsman or shepherd]

Frequency: Medium (Common in contexts related to rural life, agriculture, or literature, but not everyday urban vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun inflections; for feminine form like 'пастушка', it may be B2 due to gender-specific variations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пастух: [pɐˈstux]

пастушка: [pɐˈstʊʂkə]

Note on пастух: The 'х' sound is a guttural [x] like in Scottish 'loch', which can be challenging for English speakers; stress is on the second syllable.

Note on пастушка: The ending '-ушка' softens the word, indicating femininity; pronounce the 'ш' as a soft [ʂ] similar to 'sh' in 'sheep'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person who tends or herds livestock, such as sheep, cattle, or goats.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пастух - Used in formal or literary contexts for a male herdsman, especially in rural or traditional settings.
• пастушка - Applied in informal or folkloric contexts for a female herdsman, often in stories or cultural references.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пастух ведёт стадо коров через поле. (The Russian herdsman leads the herd of cows across the field.)

  English Translation: The Russian herdsman leads the herd of cows across the field.

• В деревне живет старая пастушка, которая знает все секреты природы. (In the village lives an old herdsman (female) who knows all the secrets of nature.)

  English Translation: In the village lives an old herdsman (female) who knows all the secrets of nature.

• Молодой пастух охраняет овец от волков ночью. (The young herdsman protects the sheep from wolves at night.)

  English Translation: The young herdsman protects the sheep from wolves at night.

• Пастухи в горах часто поют песни, чтобы успокоить животных. (Herdsmen in the mountains often sing songs to calm the animals.)

  English Translation: Herdsmen in the mountains often sing songs to calm the animals.

• Если бы не пастушка, стада бы разбежались по лесу. (If it weren't for the herdsman (female), the herds would scatter into the forest.)

  English Translation: If it weren't for the herdsman (female), the herds would scatter into the forest. This example shows the word in a hypothetical context.

Secondary Meaning: Figurative use, e.g., someone who guides or manages a group metaphorically.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пастух - In metaphorical contexts, like a leader or guardian, e.g., in literature or speeches.

Usage Examples:

• В этой компании директор – настоящий пастух для своих сотрудников. (In this company, the director is a true herdsman for his employees.)

  English Translation: In this company, the director is a true herdsman for his employees.

• Пастух идей всегда ведет команду к успеху. (The herdsman of ideas always leads the team to success.)

  English Translation: The herdsman of ideas always leads the team to success. This illustrates figurative usage in professional contexts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'пастух' and 'пастушка' are nouns. 'Пастух' is a masculine noun (2nd declension), while 'пастушка' is feminine. Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. Below is a table for 'пастух' (singular and plural forms). 'Пастушка' follows similar patterns but with feminine endings.

For 'пастушка', the singular forms are: Nominative - пастушка, Genitive - пастушки, etc. It is invariable in plural for most cases, following standard feminine patterns. These are regular inflections, but pay attention to the soft endings in oblique cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • скотник (more general for livestock keeper; differs from 'пастух' by implying farm-based work)
  • овчар (specifically for sheep herder)
• Antonyms:
  • охотник (hunter; implies pursuing animals rather than tending them)
  • горожанин (city dweller; contrasts with rural lifestyle)

Related Phrases:

• пастух стада - (Herdsman of the herd; a common phrase for someone managing a group, often used metaphorically.)
• вести как пастух - (To lead like a herdsman; implies guiding with care, as in leadership contexts.)
• пастухи и волки - (Herdsmen and wolves; a phrase from folklore, referring to protectors versus threats.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'пастух' directly corresponds to 'herdsman' in English, but it's more commonly used in literary or historical contexts rather than modern everyday speech. Choose 'пастух' for male subjects and 'пастушка' for female ones to maintain gender accuracy, which is crucial in Russian grammar. Be mindful of the word's rural connotations; it's rarely used in urban settings. When translating, ensure the context matches—e.g., avoid it in business metaphors unless emphasizing traditional leadership.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'пастух' for a female subject. Incorrect: "Она пастух." Correct: "Она пастушка." Explanation: Russian nouns have grammatical gender, so mismatched gender can confuse native speakers and alter meaning.

• Error: Forgetting inflections in sentences. Incorrect: "Я видел пастух." (Should be accusative: "Я видел пастуха.") Correct: "Я видел пастуха." Explanation: Always adjust for case; this is a common mistake for English learners who aren't used to declensions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'пастух' often evokes images from folklore and literature, such as in fairy tales or works by authors like Tolstoy, where herdsmen symbolize simplicity, connection to nature, and rural life. Historically, herdsmen were integral to Russian agrarian society, and the term carries a nostalgic or romanticized connotation in modern usage, reflecting the country's vast rural heritage.

Related Concepts:

• фермер (farmer)
• стадо (herd)
• деревенская жизнь (village life)