Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'matador'

English Word: matador

Key Russian Translations:

• матадор [mɐˈtadər] - [Formal; Used in contexts related to Spanish culture or sports]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; it appears primarily in discussions of bullfighting, literature, or cultural topics.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; As a borrowed word from Spanish via English, it requires familiarity with Russian noun declensions and pronunciation of foreign loanwords.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

матадор: [mɐˈtadər]

Note on матадор: The stress falls on the second syllable (ta), which is a common feature in Russian loanwords. Be cautious with the 'r' sound, which is rolled in Russian. Variations may occur in regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A bullfighter, especially the one who performs the final act in a bullfight.

Translation(s) & Context:

• матадор - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing Spanish traditions or in literary works. It directly corresponds to the English "matador" and is not commonly adapted in everyday speech.

Usage Examples:

• В испанском городе толпа восторженно приветствовала матадора после удачного выступления.

  In the Spanish city, the crowd enthusiastically cheered the matador after his successful performance.

• Матадор с мужеством вошёл в арену, чтобы противостоять разъярённому быку.

  The matador entered the arena with courage to face the enraged bull.

• В музее выставлена картина, изображающая знаменитого матадора в классическом костюме.

  In the museum, there is a painting depicting a famous matador in his classic outfit.

• Молодой матадор тренировался ежедневно, чтобы perfected свои навыки в искусстве боя быков.

  The young matador trained daily to perfect his skills in the art of bullfighting.

• Во время фестиваля матадор продемонстрировал исключительную ловкость и точность.

  During the festival, the matador demonstrated exceptional agility and precision.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Матадор" is a masculine noun (мужской род) borrowed from Spanish, and it follows the standard patterns of Russian third-declension nouns for masculine words ending in a consonant. It is not irregular but may not be inflected in all contexts due to its foreign origin. Below is a table of its basic inflections:

Note: In plural forms, it behaves regularly, but in modern usage, the word might remain undeclined in fixed phrases to preserve its foreign flavor.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: быкоборец (bykoborets - a more general term for bullfighter, with a slight connotation of a fighter against bulls)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "матадор" is specific to a role; however, in broader contexts, words like зритель (zritel - spectator) could contrast in a non-combatant sense.

Related Phrases:

• Испанский матадор - A Spanish matador; Used when specifying the cultural origin, often in historical or travel contexts.
• Матадор в арене - Matador in the arena; Refers to the setting of a bullfight, emphasizing the performative aspect.
• Легендарный матадор - Legendary matador; Applied to famous figures in bullfighting history, with an admiring tone.

Usage Notes:

This Russian translation of "matador" is a direct borrowing and is used primarily in formal, cultural, or literary contexts rather than everyday speech. It maintains a strong association with Spanish traditions, so it's often paired with words like "испанский" (Spanish) for clarity. When choosing this word, ensure the context involves bullfighting or related themes; avoid it in casual conversations. Grammatically, treat it as a masculine noun and decline it according to standard Russian rules, but note that in fixed phrases, it may remain unchanged for stylistic reasons.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing the word as [maˈta.dor] instead of the correct Russian [mɐˈtadər], which might make it sound too Anglicized.

  Correct: Use the rolled 'r' and proper stress. Example of error: "Я видел ма-та-дор" (incorrect emphasis); Correct: "Я видел матадора" with proper pronunciation.

  Explanation: Russian learners often overlook the need to adapt loanwords to Russian phonetics, leading to confusion in native contexts.

• Error: Failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., using "матадор" in the genitive case as "матадор" instead of "матадора".

  Correct: In a sentence like "Книга о матадоре" (Book about the matador), ensure it's "матадора" for genitive. Example of error: "Книга о матадор".

  Explanation: This is a common mistake for beginners with Russian cases, which can alter the sentence's grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

The term "матадор" in Russian reflects the influence of Spanish culture, particularly the tradition of bullfighting, which is not native to Russia but is often discussed in literature, films, or travelogues. It carries connotations of bravery and spectacle, but in modern contexts, it may also evoke debates about animal rights and cultural heritage, as bullfighting has faced criticism globally.

Related Concepts:

• бык (byk - bull)
• арена (arena - arena)
• испанская культура (ispanskaya kul'tura - Spanish culture)