Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'iris'

English Word: iris

Key Russian Translations:

• ирис [ˈi.rʲɪs] - [Formal, used for the plant, e.g., the flower]
• радужка [rɐˈduʐ.kə] - [Formal, used for the anatomical part of the eye]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in botanical and medical contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic knowledge of Russian nouns and their inflections, with 'ирис' being straightforward and 'радужка' involving common feminine noun patterns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ирис: [ˈi.rʲɪs]

радужка: [rɐˈduʐ.kə]

Note on радужка: The 'ж' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like a softer 'zh' in 'measure'. Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A type of flowering plant (e.g., Iris flower)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ирис - Used in formal botanical descriptions or gardening contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В саду расцветают красивые ирисы. (V sadu rascvetaût krasivye irisy.)

  In the garden, beautiful irises are blooming. (Shows the noun in plural form in a descriptive context.)

• Я посадил ирис у забора. (Ya posadil iris u zabora.)

  I planted an iris by the fence. (Demonstrates singular use in a simple action sentence.)

• Ирис — это популярное растение для ландшафтного дизайна. (Iris — eto populârnoe rastenie dlâ landsâftnogo dizayna.)

  The iris is a popular plant for landscape design. (Illustrates nominative case in a general statement.)

• Цвет ириса варьируется от синего до фиолетового. (Cvet irisa var'iruêtsâ ot sinego do fioletovogo.)

  The color of the iris varies from blue to purple. (Shows genitive case in a descriptive phrase.)

Meaning 2: The colored part of the eye (e.g., Iris of the eye)

Translation(s) & Context:

• радужка - Used in medical, anatomical, or everyday health-related contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Цвет радужки у человека может быть разным. (Cvet raduzhki u cheloveka mozhet byt' raznym.)

  The color of the iris in a person can vary. (Demonstrates genitive case in a scientific context.)

• Врачи изучили радужку пациента. (Vrachi izuchili raduzhku patsienta.)

  The doctors examined the iris of the patient. (Shows accusative case in a medical scenario.)

• Радужка защищает глаз от света. (Raduzhka zashchishchaet glaz ot sveta.)

  The iris protects the eye from light. (Illustrates nominative case in an explanatory sentence.)

• Изменение радужки может указывать на проблемы со зрением. (Izmenenie raduzhki mozhet ukazyvat' na problemy so zreniem.)

  Changes in the iris can indicate vision problems. (Shows genitive case in a health advisory context.)

• У кошки зеленая радужка. (U koshki zelenaya raduzhka.)

  The cat has a green iris. (Simple possessive use in everyday description.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'ирис' and 'радужка' are Russian nouns. 'Ирис' is a masculine noun and follows standard first-declension patterns, while 'радужка' is a feminine noun with variations based on case and number.

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

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for ирис (plant):
  • Цветок ириса (tsvetok irisa) - More descriptive, used in poetry.
  • Ирисовое растение (irisovoe rastenie) - Emphasizes the plant type.
• Synonyms for радужка:
  • Радужная оболочка (raduzhnaya obolochka) - More technical term in ophthalmology.
• Antonyms: Not directly applicable, as these are specific nouns without clear opposites. However, for радужка, a contrasting concept might be "склера" (sklera - sclera), which is the white part of the eye.

Related Phrases:

• Ирисовый сад (Irisovyy sad) - A garden of irises; refers to a botanical collection.
• Цвет радужки (Cvet raduzhki) - Color of the iris; used in descriptions of eye features.
• Радужка глаза (Raduzhka glaza) - Iris of the eye; common in medical contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'ирис' is primarily used for the flower and is a direct cognate, making it easy for English speakers to remember. For the eye, 'радужка' is the standard term in formal contexts like medicine, while 'ирис' is rarely used for eyes to avoid confusion. Always consider the context: botanical vs. anatomical. Grammatically, both nouns decline regularly, so pay attention to case endings in sentences. When choosing between translations, opt for 'ирис' in nature-related discussions and 'радужка' in health topics.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'ирис' to mean the eye part, e.g., saying "Цвет ириса глаза" instead of "Цвет радужки глаза".

  Correct: "Цвет радужки глаза" (The color of the iris of the eye). Explanation: This confuses the botanical and anatomical meanings, leading to misunderstandings; always specify the context.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., using "ирис" in genitive as "ирис" instead of "ириса".

  Correct: "Цвет ириса" (The color of the iris). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so learners often forget to change endings, which alters the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'ирис' as a flower symbolizes hope and faith, often featured in folklore and art, such as in paintings by Russian artists. For 'радужка', it's linked to eye health in traditional medicine, with proverbs emphasizing clear vision as a metaphor for insight, e.g., in literature like Tolstoy's works.

Related Concepts:

• Цветок (tsvetok) - Flower
• Глаз (glaz) - Eye
• Оболочка (obolochka) - Membrane or covering