Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'kitten'

English Word: kitten

Key Russian Translations:

• котёнок [koˈtʲonək] - [Informal, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about animals, but not as frequent as basic nouns like "cat").

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it involves simple vocabulary and basic grammar; suitable for new learners of Russian).

Pronunciation (Russian):

котёнок: [koˈtʲonək]

Note on котёнок: The "ё" sound is pronounced as a distinct "yo" with a soft "tʲ" (palatalized t), which can be challenging for English speakers. Stress falls on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A young cat or kitten

Translation(s) & Context:

• котёнок - Used in informal contexts to refer to a baby cat, often in family, pet-related, or children's discussions.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть милый котёнок, который любит играть с клубком ниток.

  I have a cute kitten that loves playing with a ball of yarn. (Demonstrates the word in a possessive context with an adjective.)

• Этот котёнок спит на диване весь день.

  This kitten sleeps on the couch all day. (Shows the word with a demonstrative pronoun in a simple descriptive sentence.)

• Дети кормят котёнка молоком в парке.

  The children are feeding the kitten milk in the park. (Illustrates the word in an action-oriented sentence with plural subjects.)

• Мой котёнок очень игривый и всегда бегает по дому.

  My kitten is very playful and always runs around the house. (Highlights the word with adjectives and verbs in a dynamic context.)

• Котёнок потерялся в саду, и мы его искали час.

  The kitten got lost in the garden, and we searched for it for an hour. (Uses the word in a narrative context involving past actions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"котёнок" is a masculine noun in the third declension. It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. Below is a table outlining its key forms:

Note: The plural form "котята" is irregular in some ways, as it derives from diminutive patterns, but it follows common rules for diminutive nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • котенок (a variant spelling, essentially identical, but less common in modern usage)
  • маленький кот (literally "little cat"; used interchangeably in informal speech, but less specific)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "kitten" is a specific stage of life. However, for contrast: взрослый кот (adult cat).

Related Phrases:

• игривый котёнок - A playful kitten (Used to describe energetic behavior in children’s stories or pet discussions).
• потерявшийся котёнок - A lost kitten (Common in narratives about finding pets, emphasizing care and adventure).
• домашний котёнок - A domestic kitten (Refers to pets in a household context, highlighting the idea of companionship).

Usage Notes:

"Котёнок" directly corresponds to the English "kitten" as a diminutive form, emphasizing youth and cuteness. It is typically used in informal or affectionate contexts, such as talking about pets with family or children. Be mindful of Russian noun cases: for example, use the genitive "котёнка" after prepositions like "у" (at). If multiple translations exist, choose "котёнок" for standard usage; variants like "котенок" are stylistic. Avoid using it in formal writing, where "молодой кот" might be preferred.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse cases, e.g., using nominative "котёнок" in all contexts. Incorrect: "Я иду с котёнок" (wrong case). Correct: "Я иду с котёнком" (instrumental case). This error stems from English's lack of cases, so always check the sentence structure.

• Mispronouncing the "ё" sound, saying [ko'tenok] instead of [koˈtʲonək], which can make it sound like a different word. Practice with native audio to master the palatalization.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, cats and kittens like "котёнок" often symbolize domestic warmth and playfulness, appearing in folklore and children's literature (e.g., in stories by authors like Pushkin). They are not tied to specific historical events but reflect the general affection for pets in Russian daily life, where cats are common household companions.

Related Concepts:

• кот (cat)
• щенок (puppy)
• птенец (chick or young bird)