Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'manure'

English Word: manure

Key Russian Translations:

• навоз [ˈnavəz] - [Formal, used in agricultural and scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in rural, agricultural, or environmental discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic knowledge of Russian nouns and vocabulary related to nature and farming)

Pronunciation (Russian):

навоз: [ˈnavəz]

Note on навоз: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'o' is pronounced as a short 'a' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers used to similar words. Pay attention to the soft 'v' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Organic fertilizer derived from animal waste, used to enrich soil in agriculture.

Translation(s) & Context:

• навоз - Typically used in formal or technical contexts, such as farming, environmental science, or gardening; it refers specifically to animal dung-based fertilizer.

Usage Examples:

• Русские фермеры часто используют навоз для улучшения плодородия почвы.

  Russian farmers often use manure to improve soil fertility.

• В органическом земледелии навоз считается лучшим натуральным удобрением.

  In organic farming, manure is considered the best natural fertilizer.

• Из-за нехватки химических удобрений, многие садоводы возвращаются к использованию навоза.

  Due to the shortage of chemical fertilizers, many gardeners are returning to using manure.

• Навоз из коров и лошадей смешивают с соломой для создания компоста.

  Manure from cows and horses is mixed with straw to create compost.

• В некоторых регионах России навоз применяется в традиционных методах обработки земли.

  In some regions of Russia, manure is used in traditional soil treatment methods.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Навоз" is a masculine noun in the third declension group in Russian. It follows a standard pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant, with some irregularities in certain cases. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: The word is invariant in gender and does not change for number in some fixed expressions, but plural forms are used when referring to multiple types or piles of manure.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • перегной (peregnoj) - Similar to compost; used for decomposed organic matter, with a slight nuance of being more refined or processed.
  • удобрение (udobreniye) - A broader term for any fertilizer, but less specific to animal waste; often used in general agricultural contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • искусственное удобрение (iskusstvennoye udobreniye) - Artificial or chemical fertilizer; implies man-made alternatives rather than natural ones.

Related Phrases:

• органический навоз (organicheskiy navoz) - Organic manure; refers to untreated, natural animal waste used in eco-friendly farming.
• навозное удобрение (navoznoye udobreniye) - Manure-based fertilizer; a common phrase in agricultural texts, emphasizing its role as a soil enhancer.
• свежий навоз (svezhiy navoz) - Fresh manure; used to describe recently produced waste, often with a warning about its strong odor or potential for contamination.

Usage Notes:

"Навоз" directly corresponds to "manure" in English, focusing on animal-derived organic matter, but it's more commonly used in formal or technical settings in Russian. Unlike English, where "manure" might be used casually, Russian speakers often prefer this term in agricultural or scientific discussions to avoid euphemisms. Be mindful of context: in polite conversation, alternatives like "удобрение" might be chosen. When selecting between translations, use "навоз" for precise, literal meanings in farming scenarios, but note its plural forms for quantities.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "навоз" with "удобрение": Learners might overuse "удобрение" as a general synonym, but it's broader and doesn't specify animal waste. Error: Saying "Я использую удобрение для сада" when meaning animal-based; Correct: "Я использую навоз для сада" to be precise. This error stems from not recognizing the specificity of "навоз".
• Incorrect declension: Forgetting to change cases, e.g., using nominative "навоз" in all contexts. Error: "Я купил навоз" (correct) vs. wrongly saying "Я купил навоза" in accusative. Always check the case based on sentence structure to avoid grammatical mistakes.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "навоз" holds practical significance in rural and agricultural traditions, especially in regions like the Russian countryside where subsistence farming is common. It symbolizes sustainability and connection to the land, harking back to historical practices in Soviet-era collective farms. However, in urban settings, it might carry a negative connotation due to odors, reflecting broader cultural attitudes toward manual labor and environmentalism.

Related Concepts:

• почва (pochva) - Soil
• ферма (ferma) - Farm
• удобрение (udobreniye) - Fertilizer
• земледелие (zemledeliye) - Agriculture