Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hound'

English Word: hound

Key Russian Translations:

• гончая [ɡɐnˈt͡ɕajə] - [Noun, Formal, Used in contexts related to hunting or animal breeds]
• преследовать [prʲɪsʲɪˈlʲovətʲ] - [Verb, Formal, Used in contexts of pursuit or harassment]
• досаждать [dɐˈsadʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for milder forms of bothering or pestering]

Frequency: Medium - 'Hound' as a noun is moderately common in discussions of animals or literature, while as a verb, it's less frequent in everyday Russian conversation but appears in formal or narrative contexts.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for verbs like 'преследовать' and 'досаждать' due to conjugation rules; A2 (Beginner) for the noun 'гончая' as it has straightforward declensions.

Pronunciation (Russian):

гончая: [ɡɐnˈt͡ɕajə]

Note on гончая: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'ч' sound, which is similar to the English 'ch' in 'church' but softer.

преследовать: [prʲɪsʲɪˈlʲovətʲ]

Note on преследовать: This verb has a complex consonant cluster; practice the initial 'пр' blend, and note that the stress is on the third syllable, which can vary in rapid speech.

досаждать: [dɐˈsadʲɪtʲ]

Note on досаждать: The 'ж' sound is a soft fricative; it's often used in informal settings and can be confused with 'журчать' in pronunciation drills.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A type of dog used for hunting (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гончая - Used in formal or specialized contexts like wildlife, hunting literature, or veterinary discussions; implies a breed specifically trained for tracking.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу мы видели стаю гончих, которые преследовали лису.

  In the forest, we saw a pack of hounds that were pursuing a fox.

• Моя гончая всегда готова к охоте, несмотря на плохую погоду.

  My hound is always ready for the hunt, regardless of the bad weather.

• Гончая — это порода собак, которая ценится за свою выносливость и инстинкт.

  A hound is a breed of dog valued for its endurance and instincts.

• В русской литературе гончие часто символизируют преданность и силу.

  In Russian literature, hounds often symbolize loyalty and strength.

• Если вы занимаетесь охотой, то гончая станет вашим верным помощником.

  If you're into hunting, a hound will become your faithful companion.

Meaning 2: To pursue or harass persistently (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• преследовать - Used in formal contexts like legal, psychological, or narrative descriptions; implies relentless chasing or persecution.
• досаждать - Used in informal, everyday contexts; suggests annoying or pestering without the intensity of 'преследовать'.

Usage Examples:

• Журналисты начали преследовать политика после скандала.

  Journalists started hounding the politician after the scandal.

• Его коллеги досаждали ему вопросами весь день.

  His colleagues were hounding him with questions all day.

• В фильме герой преследует преступника через весь город.

  In the movie, the hero hounds the criminal through the entire city.

• Не досаждай мне звонками; я отвечу, когда смогу.

  Don't hound me with calls; I'll respond when I can.

• Преследовать кого-то за ошибку — это неэффективный способ разрешения конфликтов.

  Hounding someone for a mistake is an ineffective way to resolve conflicts.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'гончая' (feminine noun, first declension):

This noun follows standard Russian declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -ая. It is inflected based on case and number.

For 'преследовать' (first conjugation verb):

This is an imperfective verb that conjugates irregularly in some aspects. Below is a basic present tense conjugation table.

Note: 'досаждать' is also a first conjugation verb and follows similar patterns but is less irregular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • охотничья собака (for гончая; more general term for hunting dogs)
  • гнать (for преследовать; implies driving away or chasing)
  • надоедать (for досаждать; used in informal contexts for mild annoyance, with a connotation of persistence)
• Antonyms:
  • оставить в покое (leave alone; opposite of преследовать)
  • игнорировать (ignore; opposite of досаждать)

Related Phrases:

• Гончая на следу — A hound on the trail; refers to actively pursuing something, often metaphorically in detective work.
• Преследовать до конца — To hound to the end; used for relentless pursuit in conflicts or investigations.
• Досаждать вопросами — To hound with questions; common in everyday conversations about persistent inquiries.

Usage Notes:

'Hound' as 'гончая' directly corresponds to a specific dog breed and is best used in formal or specialized contexts, avoiding casual speech where 'собака' (dog) might suffice. For the verb forms, 'преследовать' is more intense and formal than 'досаждать', which suits informal scenarios; choose based on the level of persistence. Grammatically, verbs like these require attention to aspect (imperfective for ongoing action). In Russian, these words often carry emotional weight, so consider the speaker's intent to avoid miscommunication.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'гончая' interchangeably with 'собака' without context, leading to 'Я имею гончую' instead of 'У меня гончая'. Correct: Specify the breed context to avoid sounding unnatural. Explanation: 'Гончая' is specific, so misuse can make sentences overly precise or awkward in general conversation.
• Mistake: Conjugating 'преследовать' incorrectly, e.g., saying 'я преследуюет' instead of 'я преследую'. Correct: 'Я преследую' (I hound). Explanation: English learners often struggle with Russian verb endings; practice conjugation tables to master person and number agreements.
• Mistake: Overusing 'досаждать' in formal writing, e.g., in a legal document. Correct: Use 'преследовать' for seriousness. Explanation: 'Досаждать' is informal and can undermine the tone in professional contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'гончая' often appears in literature and folklore, such as in stories by Tolstoy or Chekhov, symbolizing loyalty and the harsh realities of rural life. The verb 'преследовать' can evoke themes of persecution from historical events like the Soviet era, adding a layer of emotional depth that English users should be sensitive to in cross-cultural communication.

Related Concepts:

• охота (hunting)
• собака (dog)
• гон (chase)
• надзор (surveillance)