Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mammoth'

English Word: mammoth

Key Russian Translations:

• мамонт /maˈmɔnt/ - [Formal, used in scientific, historical, or metaphorical contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation but appears in educational, scientific, or literary contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with Russian noun declensions and vocabulary related to history or nature, as per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мамонт: /maˈmɔnt/

Note on мамонт: The stress falls on the second syllable ("mɔnt"), which is a common challenge for English speakers due to the softer Russian vowels. The "м" is pronounced as a clear bilabial nasal, similar to "m" in "mother".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A prehistoric elephant-like animal that lived during the Ice Age.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мамонт - Used in formal, educational, or historical discussions about paleontology and ancient fauna.

Usage Examples:

• В музее выставлен скелет мамонта, найденного в Сибири.

  In the museum, there is a mammoth skeleton on display that was found in Siberia.

• Учёные изучают ДНК мамонта, чтобы понять эволюцию слонов.

  Scientists are studying mammoth DNA to understand the evolution of elephants.

• Мамонт вымер из-за изменения климата в конце ледникового периода.

  The mammoth went extinct due to climate change at the end of the Ice Age.

• Дети были в восторге от модели мамонта в зоопарке.

  The children were thrilled by the mammoth model in the zoo.

• Экскурсовод рассказал о том, как охотились на мамонта в древние времена.

  The tour guide explained how people hunted mammoths in ancient times.

Meaning 2: Something very large, huge, or enormous (metaphorical use).

Translation(s) & Context:

• мамонт - Used informally or figuratively to describe size, often in a humorous or exaggerated way, similar to "behemoth" in English.

Usage Examples:

• Его новый компьютер — настоящий мамонт по размерам и мощности!

  His new computer is a real mammoth in terms of size and power!

• Эта компания — мамонт в индустрии, с тысячами сотрудников.

  This company is a mammoth in the industry, with thousands of employees.

• Проект оказался настоящим мамонтом, требующим огромных вложений.

  The project turned out to be a real mammoth, requiring huge investments.

• В магазине продают мамонт-пиццу, которая может накормить целую семью.

  In the store, they sell mammoth-sized pizza that can feed a whole family.

• Её сумка — как мамонт, вмещает всё необходимое для поездки.

  Her bag is like a mammoth; it holds everything needed for a trip.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Мамонт" is a masculine noun in Russian (3rd declension). It follows standard noun inflection patterns for case and number. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is regular in its declension, with no irregular forms. In metaphorical uses, it remains unchanged in basic structure but adapts to sentence context via cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гигант (gigant) - Emphasizes size more generally, often used for living things.
  • колосс (koloss) - Implies something monumental or enormous, with a slightly more formal tone.
• Antonyms:
  • карлик (karlik) - Means "dwarf" or something very small.
  • миниатюра (miniatyura) - Refers to something tiny or miniature, often in a figurative sense.

Related Phrases:

• ледниковый мамонт - Refers to the "woolly mammoth," a specific subspecies, often discussed in historical contexts.
• мамонтовая кость - Means "mammoth bone," used in archaeology or as a material in crafts.
• мамонт в бизнесе - A metaphorical phrase for a "business mammoth," indicating a large, dominant company.

Usage Notes:

The Russian word "мамонт" directly corresponds to the English "mammoth" in both literal and metaphorical senses, but it's more commonly used in formal or educational settings rather than casual conversation. When translating, choose "мамонт" for precise historical references, and ensure it agrees with Russian grammar by declining it according to case (e.g., use genitive "мамонта" after prepositions like "of"). For metaphorical uses, it's similar to English idioms like "elephant in the room," but avoid overusing it in informal speech to prevent sounding archaic. If multiple translations exist, prefer "мамонт" for clarity over synonyms like "гигант" unless emphasizing scale without historical connotations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мамонт" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел мамонт" instead of "Я видел мамонта" in accusative case.

  Correct: "Я видел мамонта" (I saw the mammoth). Explanation: Russian nouns must change form based on case; ignoring this makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

• Error: Confusing it with similar words like "мамочка" (mommy), leading to pronunciation mistakes.

  Correct: Pronounce as /maˈmɔnt/, not confusing it with diminutives. Explanation: English learners often mix up vowel sounds, so practice the stressed "o" sound.

• Error: Over-literal translation in metaphors, e.g., using "мамонт" where "гигант" might be more natural.

  Correct: Use "гигант" for general bigness. Explanation: "Мамонт" carries historical baggage, so it's not always the best fit for modern metaphors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "мамонт" is often associated with Siberia and the Ice Age, where many mammoth fossils have been discovered. This ties into national pride in paleontology and history, as seen in museums like the one in Yakutsk. Metaphorically, it reflects Russia's vast landscapes and enduring heritage, sometimes symbolizing something ancient yet powerful in literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• мастодонт (mastodont) - Another prehistoric animal.
• слон (slon) - Modern elephant, often compared to mammoths in evolutionary discussions.
• ледниковый период (lednikovyy period) - Ice Age, the era when mammoths lived.