Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hog'

English Word: hog

Key Russian Translations:

• свинья [ˈsvʲinʲjə] - [Informal, General use for a domestic pig]
• хряк [xrak] - [Formal, Specifically for a male hog or boar]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts related to animals and agriculture, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; straightforward for English speakers due to basic cognates and simple pronunciation, though inflection rules may add slight complexity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

свинья: [ˈsvʲinʲjə] (The "sv" sound is similar to "sv" in "svelte," with a soft "y" at the end; stress on the first syllable)

Note on свинья: Be cautious with the palatalized "nʲ" sound, which is common in Russian and can be tricky for beginners; it's softer than in English.

хряк: [xrak] (The "x" is a guttural sound like in Scottish "loch"; stress on the first syllable)

Note on хряк: This word features a hard "r" and the fricative "x," which might require practice for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A domestic pig, often raised for meat (Primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свинья - Used in informal, everyday conversations about farm animals or metaphorically in expressions.
• хряк - Applied in more formal or agricultural contexts, such as veterinary or wildlife discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В ферме есть несколько свиней, которые едят много корма.

  On the farm, there are several hogs that eat a lot of feed.

• Хряк в лесу может быть опасным, если подойти слишком близко.

  A hog in the forest can be dangerous if you get too close.

• Моя бабушка разводит свиней для производства колбасы.

  My grandmother raises hogs for making sausage.

• В зоопарке хряк стал популярным экспонатом среди детей.

  The hog at the zoo became a popular exhibit among children.

• Свинья в саду съела все овощи, что было очень досадно.

  The hog in the garden ate all the vegetables, which was very annoying.

2. Slang or metaphorical use (e.g., a greedy or unclean person, though less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свинья - In informal slang, to describe someone messy or greedy, but use with caution as it can be offensive.

Usage Examples:

• Он ест как свинья, не оставляя ничего на тарелке.

  He eats like a hog, not leaving anything on the plate.

• Не будь свиньей; поделись едой с друзьями.

  Don't be a hog; share the food with your friends.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"свинья" is a feminine noun in the first declension, which means it follows regular patterns for most cases. It is invariable in plural forms for some uses but changes by case. "хряк" is a masculine noun with standard inflection patterns.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregularities for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • поросёнок (porosyonok) - For a young hog or piglet; more specific to juveniles.
  • кабан (kaban) - Similar to хряк, for a wild boar; often interchangeable in hunting contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • волк (volk) - Wolf; represents a predator, contrasting with a domesticated animal like a hog.
  • кот (kot) - Cat; as a common pet, opposing the idea of a farm animal.

Related Phrases:

• Свинья в яблоках (Svin'ya v yablokakh) - Phrase meaning "pig in apples," referring to a traditional Russian dish; used in culinary contexts.
• Хряк на воле (Hryak na vole) - Meaning "boar on the loose," implying something wild or uncontrolled; often metaphorical for chaos.
• Развод свиней (Razd sviney) - "Raising hogs"; a common phrase in agricultural discussions, with the implication of farming practices.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "свинья" is the most direct translation for "hog" in general contexts, but choose "хряк" for male-specific or formal references to avoid inaccuracy. Be aware of cultural sensitivities, as "свинья" can be used metaphorically to insult someone (e.g., implying greed), similar to English slang. Grammatically, always adjust for case based on sentence structure, as Russian nouns inflect. For English speakers, the key is to practice pronunciation to distinguish soft consonants.

• When deciding between translations, use "свинья" for everyday talk and "хряк" in professional or wildlife settings.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the context to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "свинья" in a formal context without inflection, e.g., saying "Я вижу свинья" instead of "Я вижу свинью" (accusative case).
  Correct: "Я вижу свинью." Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; beginners often forget to change the ending based on the verb.
• Error: Confusing "свинья" with "свиня" (a misspelling or incorrect form).
  Correct: Always use "свинья"; the correct spelling includes the "я" for the feminine ending. Explanation: This is a common typo for English learners unfamiliar with Cyrillic orthography.
• Error: Overusing "хряк" for female hogs.
  Correct: Reserve "хряк" for males; use "свинья" for females. Explanation: Misgendering animals in Russian can lead to confusion, as gender-specific words are precise in the language.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hogs like "свинья" are often associated with rural life and traditional farming, symbolizing abundance in folklore (e.g., in fairy tales, pigs represent prosperity). However, they can also carry negative connotations in idioms, reflecting historical attitudes toward cleanliness and greed, which stem from Orthodox Christian influences where pigs were seen as unclean animals.

Related Concepts:

• коровa (korova) - Cow
• овца (ovtsa) - Sheep
• петух (petukh) - Rooster