Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'jaw'

English Word: jaw

Key Russian Translations:

• челюсть [ˈt͡ɕelʲʊstʲ] - [Formal, Singular; Refers to the anatomical jaw, especially in medical or general contexts]
• челюсти [ˈt͡ɕelʲʊstʲi] - [Formal, Plural; Used for jaws in a general or paired sense, e.g., upper and lower]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in medical, dental, or descriptive contexts, but not as frequent as basic body parts like 'head' or 'hand')

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp the vocabulary with some exposure to noun declensions, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

челюсть: [ˈt͡ɕelʲʊstʲ] (The initial 'ч' is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to the 'ch' in 'church', but softer; stress on the first syllable)

Note on челюсть: Be cautious with the soft sign 'ь' at the end, which palatalizes the preceding 'с' sound, making it more subtle. This can be tricky for English speakers used to harder consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Anatomical meaning (The bony structure of the mouth)

Translation(s) & Context:

• челюсть - Used in formal or medical contexts to describe the jawbone, such as in dentistry or anatomy discussions.
• челюсти - Plural form for referring to both upper and lower jaws, common in plural contexts like animal descriptions or injuries.

Usage Examples:

• У него была сломана челюсть после аварии. (U nego byla slomana chylyst' posle avarii.)

  He had a broken jaw after the accident. (This example shows the singular form in a medical context.)

• Зубной врач осмотрел мои челюсти во время проверки. (Zubnoy vrach osmotrel moi chylysti vo vremya proverki.)

  The dentist examined my jaws during the check-up. (Illustrates the plural form in a routine health scenario.)

• Челюсть тигра гораздо сильнее, чем у человека. (Chylyst' tigra goro' she bol'she, chem u cheloveka.)

  A tiger's jaw is much stronger than a human's. (Demonstrates comparison in a zoological context.)

• После операции она не могла открывать челюсть. (Posle operatsii ona ne mogla otkryvat' chylyst'.)

  After the surgery, she couldn't open her jaw. (Shows the word in a post-injury recovery context.)

Figurative or idiomatic meaning (e.g., clenching the jaw in anger, though less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• челюсть - In informal or expressive contexts, as in "clench your jaw," translated as "стиснуть челюсть" in phrases.

Usage Examples:

• Он сжал челюсть, чтобы не показать гнев. (On szhal chylyst', chtoby ne pokazat' gnev.)

  He clenched his jaw to hide his anger. (This example uses the word in an emotional, figurative sense.)

• В стрессовых ситуациях люди часто напрягают челюсти. (V stressovykh situatsiyakh lyudi chasto napryagayut chylysti.)

  In stressful situations, people often tense their jaws. (Illustrates a psychological context with plural form.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Челюсть" is a feminine noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows standard patterns for feminine nouns ending in a consonant. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is regular in its declension, with no irregular forms. For compound uses like "нижняя челюсть" (lower jaw), inflections apply to the adjective as well.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • челюстная кость (chylystnaya kost') - More specific, referring to the jawbone; used in anatomical contexts.
  • нижняя челюсть (nizhnyaya chylyst') - Specifically for the lower jaw; implies a subset meaning.
• Antonyms:
  • None directly, as 'jaw' is a physical part; however, in figurative senses, opposites might include words like "расслабление" (rassyableniye, relaxation), but not exact antonyms.

Related Phrases:

• Сломанная челюсть (Slomannaya chylyst') - Broken jaw; Used in injury contexts. (Refers to a common medical phrase.)
• Затянуть челюсть (Zatyanut' chylyst') - To wire the jaw shut; Informal for dental procedures. (Implies treatment after injury.)
• Челюстная боль (Chylystnaya bol') - Jaw pain; A frequent complaint in health discussions. (Highlights discomfort related to the jaw.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "челюсть" directly corresponds to the English "jaw" in anatomical terms but is more formal and less commonly used in casual conversation compared to English. Always consider the context: use singular for specific references and plural for general or paired ones. For English learners, note that Russian requires proper declension based on case, which can affect word endings. When choosing between translations, opt for "челюсть" in medical scenarios and "нижняя челюсть" for specificity.

• Grammar tip: As a feminine noun, it pairs with feminine adjectives (e.g., "большая челюсть" for "big jaw").
• Context tip: In informal speech, Russians might use more descriptive phrases instead of the direct word.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake the declension, such as using "челюсть" in the wrong case. For example:

• Incorrect: "Боль в челюсть" (Should be genitive: "Боль в челюсти" - Pain in the jaw).
• Correct: "Боль в челюсти" - This properly uses the genitive case to indicate location.

  Explanation: Russian requires nouns to change based on their role in the sentence; failing to do so can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

• Incorrect: Using "челюсти" when singular is needed, e.g., "Моя челюсти болит" (Wrong plural).

  Correct: "Моя челюсть болит" - My jaw hurts. Explanation: Match number to the context to avoid confusion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, references to the jaw often appear in expressions related to resilience or injury, such as in sports or military contexts. For instance, enduring a "broken jaw" metaphorically symbolizes toughness, drawing from historical events like World War II stories. However, it's not as idiomatically rich as in English, where phrases like "jaw-dropping" exist.

Related Concepts:

• зуб (zub) - Tooth (Often associated with the jaw in dental contexts)
• череп (cherep) - Skull (Broader anatomical structure including the jaw)
• рот (rot) - Mouth (Functions with the jaw in speech and eating)