Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lion'

English Word: lion

Key Russian Translations:

• лев /lʲef/ - [Formal, Singular, Used in general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in everyday language, especially in discussions about animals, wildlife, or literature, but not as frequent as basic everyday words.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; straightforward vocabulary that is often introduced early in language learning due to its basic nature and commonality in children's stories and animal themes.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лев: /lʲef/

Note on лев: The 'л' is a palatalized 'l' sound, which may be challenging for English speakers; it's softer than the English 'l' in "lion." Practice the 'ʲ' diacritic for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The large wild cat (animal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• лев - Used in formal and informal contexts to refer to the animal, often in wildlife, zoos, or metaphorical expressions.

Usage Examples:

• В зоопарке есть большой лев.

  In the zoo, there is a big lion.

• Лев — король зверей в африканских саваннах.

  The lion is the king of beasts in African savannas.

• Дети любят смотреть на льва в цирке.

  Children love watching the lion in the circus.

• Этот лев выглядит очень мощным и грациозным.

  This lion looks very powerful and graceful.

• В сказках лев часто символизирует смелость.

  In fairy tales, the lion often symbolizes courage.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Лев" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. The word changes based on case and number, but it is regular and straightforward.

Note: The plural form "львы" is used when referring to multiple lions, and inflections are regular without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: царь зверей (tsar' zverey) - literally "king of beasts," used metaphorically; барс (bars) - though more specific to leopard in some contexts, but can be synonymous in broader animal discussions.
• Antonyms: мышонок (myshonok) - a small mouse, representing the opposite in size and strength; or simply any small animal like котенок (kotenok) for kitten, to contrast with the lion's majesty.

Related Phrases:

• Лев в клетке (Lev v kletke) - A lion in a cage; refers to something confined or restricted.
• Король джунглей (Korol' dzhungley) - King of the jungle; a phrase used to describe the lion's dominance, often in metaphorical contexts.
• Рык льва (Ryk l'va) - The roar of the lion; used to describe a loud, intimidating sound.

Usage Notes:

"Лев" directly corresponds to the English "lion" as an animal, but in Russian, it's often used in idiomatic expressions to symbolize strength, courage, or leadership, similar to English usage. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences; "лев" is masculine, so adjectives and verbs must agree (e.g., "большой лев" for "big lion"). In formal writing, it's straightforward, but in informal speech, it might appear in proverbs. When choosing between translations, "лев" is the standard and most accurate for literal meanings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я видел льва" incorrectly as "Я видел лев" in accusative contexts. Correct: "Я видел льва" (I saw the lion). Explanation: Russian requires accusative case for direct objects, so change to "льва."
• Error: Confusing with feminine nouns, leading to incorrect adjectives, e.g., "большая лев" instead of "большой лев." Correct: "большой лев" (big lion). Explanation: "Лев" is masculine, so use masculine adjective forms.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the lion isn't native to Russia, so it's often associated with exotic wildlife, literature (e.g., in fables by Krylov), or as a symbol in heraldry. However, it represents strength and royalty, similar to Western traditions, and appears in proverbs like "Лев не охотится на мышей" (A lion doesn't hunt mice), emphasizing focus on significant challenges.

Related Concepts:

• тигр (tigr) - tiger
• слон (slon) - elephant
• волк (volk) - wolf