Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'liver'

English Word: liver

Key Russian Translations:

• Печень [ˈpʲeʧʲɪnʲ] - [Formal, Singular, Used in medical and everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in health, biology, and daily conversations, but not as frequent as basic everyday words)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary level; suitable for beginners learning basic vocabulary, though understanding inflections may require practice)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Печень: [ˈpʲeʧʲɪnʲ]

Note on Печень: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'ч' sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'loch' (Scottish English). Be careful with the soft sign 'ь' at the end, which softens the preceding consonant but isn't pronounced as a separate sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: The internal organ responsible for detoxification, metabolism, and other vital functions in the body.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Печень - Used in formal medical discussions, educational contexts, or when referring to health and anatomy. This is the standard and most accurate translation for the biological organ.

Usage Examples:

• Моя печень болит после вчерашнего ужина. (Moya pechen' bolit posle vcherashnego uzhina.)

  My liver hurts after last night's dinner. (This example shows the word in a simple declarative sentence about personal health.)

• Врачи рекомендуют очищать печень с помощью здорового питания. (Vrachi rekomenduyut ochishchat' pechen' s pomoshch'yu zdorovogo pitaniya.)

  Doctors recommend cleansing the liver with healthy eating. (Here, it's used in an advisory context, demonstrating the word in a sentence with a verb like 'очищать' for actions related to health.)

• Печень является ключевым органом в пищеварительной системе. (Pechen' yavlyayetsya klyuchevym organom v pishchevaritel'noy sisteme.)

  The liver is a key organ in the digestive system. (This illustrates the word in a factual, educational sentence, often found in textbooks or lectures.)

• Из-за проблем с печенью он вынужден придерживаться диеты. (Iz-za problem s pechenu on vynuzhden priderzhivat'sya diety.)

  Due to liver problems, he has to stick to a diet. (This example shows the word in a possessive or problem-related context, highlighting its use with prepositions like 'с'.)

• В кулинарии печень часто используется для приготовления паштетов. (V kulinaril pechen' chasto ispol'zuetsya dlya prigotovleniya pashtetov.)

  In cooking, liver is often used to make pâtés. (This demonstrates the word in a culinary context, showing its application in everyday or specialized language.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Печень is a feminine noun (3rd declension) in Russian, which means it undergoes regular inflection based on case and number. It does not have an irregular pattern, but learners should pay attention to the soft sign 'ь' that affects pronunciation in certain forms.

Note: The plural forms are rarely used for this word, as 'liver' typically refers to a single organ, but they can appear in contexts like medical discussions of multiple samples.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Печёночный орган (Pechyonichnyy organ) - More descriptive, used in formal medical contexts to specify the organ.
  • Гепатический орган (Gepaticheskiy organ) - Less common, borrowed from Greek, used in scientific literature.
• Antonyms:
  • Сердце (Serdtse) - Heart; represents a different vital organ.
  • Лёгкие (Lyogkiye) - Lungs; contrasts with respiratory functions.

Related Phrases:

• Болезни печени (Bolezni pecheni) - Liver diseases; Common in medical contexts, referring to conditions like hepatitis.
• Очищение печени (Ochishchenie pecheni) - Liver cleanse; Used in health and wellness discussions for detoxification routines.
• Печень в кулинарии (Pechen' v kulinaril) - Liver in cooking; Refers to culinary uses, such as in traditional Russian dishes.

Usage Notes:

• The Russian word "Печень" directly corresponds to the English "liver" as a biological organ, but it's important to use it in the correct case based on sentence structure (e.g., genitive for possession). It's neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal settings.
• In everyday Russian, avoid overusing it in casual conversation unless discussing health; instead, it pairs well with verbs like "болеть" (to hurt) or "очищать" (to cleanse).
• When choosing among translations, "Печень" is the most straightforward; alternatives like "Гепатический орган" are reserved for scientific contexts.
• Grammar note: As a feminine noun, it agrees with adjectives and verbs in gender, so phrases like "больная печень" (sick liver) use feminine endings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я имею печень" instead of "У меня болит печень" (I have liver pain).
  Correct: "У меня проблемы с печенью" (U menya problemy s pechenu) - The genitive "печенью" is needed for "with the liver." Explanation: English speakers often forget case changes, which can make the sentence sound unnatural.
• Error: Pronouncing it as [pɛˈtʃɛn] instead of [ˈpʲeʧʲɪnʲ].
  Correct Pronunciation: [ˈpʲeʧʲɪnʲ] - Focus on the palatalized 'п' and stress on the first syllable to avoid confusion with similar words.
• Error: Confusing it with "печка" (pechka, meaning stove or oven).
  Correct: Use "печень" specifically for the organ. Explanation: This mix-up happens due to similar sounds, but context usually clarifies.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the liver isn't as symbolically prominent as in some other traditions (e.g., ancient Greek medicine), but it's often referenced in health folklore. For instance, traditional Russian medicine emphasizes liver health through herbal remedies like milk thistle, reflecting a broader Slavic focus on natural detoxification practices.

Related Concepts:

• Желудок (Zheludok) - Stomach
• Поджелудочная железа (Podzheludochnaya zheleza) - Pancreas
• Кровь (Krov') - Blood (often related in discussions of liver functions)