Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'jellyfish'

English Word: jellyfish

Key Russian Translations:

• медуза /mʲɪˈduzə/ - [Feminine noun, Formal and Informal, Singular and Plural forms vary]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of marine biology, travel, or nature, but not everyday vocabulary for non-specialists)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary, per CEFR; straightforward for beginners learning basic nouns, but pronunciation and inflections may pose slight challenges)

Pronunciation (Russian):

медуза: /mʲɪˈduzə/

Note on медуза: The 'мʲ' sound is a palatalized 'm', which can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to the 'm' in "mew." Stress falls on the second syllable. Variations in regional accents may soften the 'з' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The marine animal (a gelatinous sea creature with tentacles)

Translation(s) & Context:

• медуза - Used in contexts related to marine life, biology, or casual descriptions of the ocean; applicable in both formal (e.g., scientific texts) and informal (e.g., everyday conversation) settings.

Usage Examples:

• В океане плавает медуза, и она может ужалить.

  A jellyfish is swimming in the ocean, and it can sting.

• На пляже мы увидели несколько медуз в воде.

  We saw several jellyfish in the water at the beach.

• Медуза — это прозрачное существо, которое обитает в соленой воде.

  A jellyfish is a transparent creature that lives in saltwater.

• Во время дайвинга осторожно избегайте медуз.

  While diving, carefully avoid jellyfish.

• Дети учились о медузах в школьном уроке биологии.

  Children learned about jellyfish in their school biology lesson.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Медуза" is a feminine noun in the first declension group. It follows regular Russian noun inflections for case, number, and gender. Below is a table outlining its key forms:

Note: The word is invariant in terms of gender but changes regularly across cases. For compound words or specific contexts, such as "ядовитая медуза" (poisonous jellyfish), inflections apply to the adjective as well.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • морская медуза (more descriptive, emphasizing the marine aspect; used in poetic or scientific contexts)
  • желейная рыба (less common, literal translation; implies a fish-like quality but not standard)
• Antonyms: Not directly applicable, as "медуза" is a specific noun. However, related opposites might include terms for non-marine creatures, e.g., "сушесть" (land animal, though not a true antonym).

Related Phrases:

• Ядовитая медуза - Poisonous jellyfish; used in warnings about dangerous sea creatures.
• Медуза в аквариуме - Jellyfish in an aquarium; common in discussions of marine exhibits or zoos.
• Прозрачная медуза - Transparent jellyfish; refers to its physical appearance in educational contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "медуза" directly corresponds to the English "jellyfish" as a marine invertebrate. It is a feminine noun, so adjectives and verbs must agree in gender (e.g., "большая медуза" for "big jellyfish"). Use it in formal contexts like scientific writing or informal ones like travel blogs. When choosing between translations, "медуза" is the most precise and common; avoid "желейная рыба" as it may imply a fish, which is inaccurate. Be mindful of case inflections in sentences, such as in prepositional phrases (e.g., "о медузе" for "about the jellyfish").

• Contextual tip: In Russian media or literature, it's often used metaphorically for something elusive or stinging, similar to English usage.

Common Errors:

• Error: Treating "медуза" as a masculine or neuter noun, leading to incorrect adjective agreement (e.g., saying "большой медуза" instead of "большая медуза").

  Correct: Use feminine forms, e.g., "Эта медуза опасная" (This jellyfish is dangerous). Explanation: Russian nouns have grammatical gender, and "медуза" is always feminine.

• Error: Forgetting inflections in sentences, such as using the nominative in all cases (e.g., "Я боюсь медуза" instead of "Я боюсь медузы").

  Correct: "Я боюсь медузы" (genitive case after "боюсь"). Explanation: Proper case usage ensures grammatical accuracy in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, jellyfish like those in the Black Sea or Baltic Sea are often associated with summer beach warnings due to their stings. They appear in folklore as mysterious sea entities, symbolizing the unpredictability of nature, and are frequently featured in children's books or environmental education to teach about marine ecosystems.

Related Concepts:

• акули (sharks)
• морские звезды (starfish)
• крабы (crabs)