Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hippopotamus'

English Word: hippopotamus

Key Russian Translations:

• Гипопотам [ɡʲɪpɐˈpotəm] - [Formal, Singular]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in educational, zoological, or wildlife contexts.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 level, as it involves recognizing loanwords and basic noun inflections, suitable for learners with foundational vocabulary.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Гипопотам: [ɡʲɪpɐˈpotəm]

Note on Гипопотам: The stress falls on the third syllable ("po"), which is common in Russian loanwords. Be mindful of the soft 'г' sound, represented by [ɡʲ], which is palatalized and may be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: Listen to pronunciation [Here, insert an audio player or link placeholder for the word 'Гипопотам']

Meanings and Usage:

Large African mammal living in rivers and lakes

Translation(s) & Context:

• Гипопотам - Used in formal or educational contexts to describe the animal, such as in wildlife documentaries or biology lessons.

Usage Examples:

• В зоопарке есть огромный гипопотам, который плавает в пруду.

  In the zoo, there is a huge hippopotamus that swims in the pond.

• Гипопотамы часто отдыхают в воде, чтобы защититься от жары.

  Hippopotamuses often rest in water to protect themselves from the heat.

• Во время сафари мы увидели стаю гипопотамов в африканской реке.

  During the safari, we saw a herd of hippopotamuses in the African river.

• Гипопотам является одним из самых опасных животных в Африке из-за своей агрессивности.

  The hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa due to its aggressiveness.

• Дети в музее восторгались моделью гипопотама.

  The children at the museum were delighted by the model of a hippopotamus.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Гипопотам' is a masculine noun in Russian (despite its ending, it follows second declension patterns for borrowed words). It undergoes regular inflection based on cases and numbers. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: This word follows standard masculine noun patterns, with no irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Бегемот (behemoth) - Often used interchangeably, but 'Бегемот' can imply a more archaic or biblical connotation.
  • Гиппо (colloquial abbreviation) - Informal variant, used in casual speech among younger speakers.
• Antonyms:
  • Слон (elephant) - Not a direct antonym, but represents a contrasting large animal in wildlife contexts.
  • Кролик (rabbit) - Used to denote a small, non-threatening animal as an opposite in size and behavior.

Related Phrases:

• Африканский гипопотам - African hippopotamus; Refers to the species in geographical contexts.
• Гипопотам в воде - Hippopotamus in water; Common phrase for describing its habitat and behavior.
• Дикий гипопотам - Wild hippopotamus; Used when contrasting with captive or zoo animals.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'Гипопотам' directly corresponds to the English 'hippotamus' as a straightforward loanword, making it easy for English speakers to recognize. It is typically used in formal or scientific contexts, such as biology or travel descriptions, rather than everyday conversation. When using this word, ensure correct case agreement with verbs and prepositions (e.g., 'с гипопотамом' for 'with the hippopotamus'). If multiple translations exist, choose 'Гипопотам' for standard usage, but 'Бегемот' for a more poetic or historical tone. Be aware of gender: it's masculine, so adjectives must agree (e.g., 'большой гипопотам' for 'big hippopotamus').

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as [ɡɪpəˈpɒtəmʲ] (influenced by English). Correct: [ɡʲɪpɐˈpotəm]. Explanation: Russian palatalization (soft 'г') is often overlooked by English learners, leading to a harder sound; practice with native audio to master the distinction.

• Error: Using the wrong case, e.g., saying 'Я видел гипопотам' instead of 'Я видел гипопотама' in accusative. Correct: 'Я видел гипопотама'. Explanation: In Russian, direct objects require the accusative case, which changes the ending; always check sentence structure for case requirements.

• Error: Confusing with 'Бегемот' and using it interchangeably without context. Correct: Use 'Гипопотам' for modern, scientific references. Explanation: While similar, 'Бегемот' has biblical origins and may imply exaggeration, so context matters to avoid semantic shifts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'Гипопотам' is not deeply embedded in folklore or idioms, as it refers to an African animal. However, it often appears in children's literature and educational media, symbolizing exotic wildlife. This reflects Russia's interest in global nature, seen in zoos and wildlife documentaries, which help bridge cultural gaps with African heritage.

Related Concepts:

• Слон (elephant)
• Зебра (zebra)
• Лев (lion)
• Река (river) - As it relates to the hippopotamus's habitat