Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mole'

English Word: mole

Key Russian Translations:

• крот /krɐt/ - [Neutral, Common for animal]
• шпион /ʂpʲɪˈon/ - [Informal, Used in espionage context]
• моль /molʲ/ - [Technical, Formal, Used in chemistry]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'крот' is commonly encountered in everyday language, while 'шпион' and 'моль' are more context-specific.)

Difficulty: A2 for 'крот' (Beginner level, basic vocabulary); B1 for 'шпион' (Intermediate, due to contextual usage); B2 for 'моль' (Upper Intermediate, technical term)

Pronunciation (Russian):

крот: /krɐt/

Note on крот: The 'р' is a trilled 'r' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; stress is on the first syllable.

шпион: /ʂpʲɪˈon/

Note on шпион: The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'she', but with a softer palatalized 'п'.

моль: /molʲ/

Note on моль: The final 'ь' indicates palatalization, making the 'л' sound softer; pronunciation is straightforward but context-dependent.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A small burrowing animal (e.g., the mammal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• крот - Used in everyday descriptions of wildlife or nature, especially in rural or children's contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В саду живет крот, который роет туннели под землей.

  In the garden lives a mole that digs tunnels underground.

• Кроты часто повреждают корни растений в огороде.

  Moles often damage the roots of plants in the vegetable garden.

• Дети наблюдали за кротом, выходящим из норы.

  The children watched the mole coming out of its burrow.

• В лесу можно увидеть следы кротa на влажной земле.

  In the forest, you can see traces of a mole on the damp ground.

Meaning 2: A spy or infiltrator (figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• шпион - Used in informal or literary contexts for undercover agents, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• В фильме главный герой разоблачает шпиона в своей организации.

  In the movie, the main character uncovers a mole in his organization.

• Шпион проник в здание, чтобы украсть конфиденциальную информацию.

  The mole infiltrated the building to steal confidential information.

• Правительство подозревает, что в команде есть шпион.

  The government suspects there is a mole in the team.

• Шпион был пойман после долгих расследований.

  The mole was caught after lengthy investigations.

Meaning 3: A unit in chemistry (e.g., Avogadro's number)

Translation(s) & Context:

• моль - Used in scientific and academic contexts, formal and precise.

Usage Examples:

• В химии моль используется для измерения количества вещества.

  In chemistry, the mole is used to measure the amount of substance.

• Ученики изучили, как рассчитывать массу одного моля элемента.

  The students learned how to calculate the mass of one mole of an element.

• Моль является фундаментальной единицей в молекулярной физике.

  The mole is a fundamental unit in molecular physics.

• В формуле указано, что реакция требует два моля реагента.

  The formula states that the reaction requires two moles of reagent.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'крот' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	крот	кроты
Genitive	крота	кротов
Dative	кроту	кротам
Accusative	крота	кротов
Instrumental	кротом	кротами
Prepositional	кроте	кротах

'Шпион' follows similar masculine patterns. 'Моль' is an indeclinable noun in most contexts, remaining unchanged in all cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • крот (for animal): барсук (badger) - More specific to larger burrowing animals.
  • шпион: агент (agent) - Often interchangeable in espionage contexts.
  • моль: молекула (molecule) - Related but not exact; used in broader scientific terms.
• Antonyms:
  • For 'шпион': лоялист (loyalist) - Implies trustworthiness in contrast.

Related Phrases:

• Крот в саду - A common phrase meaning "a mole in the garden"; refers to pest control issues.
• Шпионская сеть - Meaning "spy network"; used in discussions of intelligence operations.
• Один моль вещества - Translates to "one mole of substance"; a standard phrase in chemistry labs.

Usage Notes:

When translating 'mole' to Russian, choose based on context: 'крот' for the animal, 'шпион' for espionage, and 'моль' for chemistry. 'Крот' is neutral and widely used in casual speech, while 'моль' is formal and restricted to scientific domains. Be cautious with gender agreements in sentences, as 'крот' is masculine. English speakers often confuse 'крот' with 'кролик' (rabbit), so clarify based on description.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'крот' interchangeably with 'кролик' in animal contexts. Correct: Крот роет туннели (The mole digs tunnels). Explanation: 'Кролик' means rabbit, which doesn't burrow like a mole.
• Error: Mispronouncing 'шпион' as /ʃpion/ without the palatalized 'п'. Correct: /ʂpʲɪˈon/. Explanation: The palatalization is key in Russian for accurate pronunciation and comprehension.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'крот' as an animal is often featured in folktales and children's stories, symbolizing persistence or mischief, similar to Western lore. 'Шпион' carries Cold War connotations, reflecting historical espionage tensions between Russia and the West, which adds a layer of political sensitivity in modern usage.

Related Concepts:

• барсук (badger)
• агент (agent)
• молекула (molecule)