Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'monkey'

English Word: monkey

Key Russian Translations:

• обезьяна [ɐbʲɪˈzʲjanə] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts]
• мартышка [ˈmartɨʂkə] - [Informal, often for smaller or playful monkeys; may imply affection or diminutiveness]

Frequency: Medium (This word appears regularly in conversations about animals, children's stories, or wildlife, but is not among the most everyday terms like basic food items.)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner; straightforward for new learners, as it follows basic noun patterns, though pronunciation of palatalized sounds may require practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обезьяна: [ɐbʲɪˈzʲjanə]

мартышка: [ˈmartɨʂkə]

Note on обезьяна: The 'зʲ' sound is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in 'measure' but softer. Pronounce it with the tongue closer to the roof of the mouth.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: A primate animal, often referring to species like chimpanzees or apes in a general sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обезьяна - Used in formal and informal settings for describing wild or zoo animals; common in educational or descriptive contexts.
• мартышка - Applied in informal, affectionate, or childish contexts, such as talking about pets or in folklore; implies a smaller, more playful creature.

Usage Examples:

• В зоопарке мы увидели забавную обезьяну, которая качалась на ветках.

  In the zoo, we saw a funny monkey swinging on the branches.

• Моя дочь обожает мартышку из мультфильма; она даже купила плюшевую игрушку.

  My daughter loves the monkey from the cartoon; she even bought a plush toy.

• Обезьяна в джунглях часто имитирует звуки других животных для выживания.

  The monkey in the jungle often imitates the sounds of other animals for survival.

• В русской сказке мартышка хитрая и ловкая, но иногда попадает в неприятности.

  In Russian folktales, the monkey is clever and agile but sometimes gets into trouble.

• Учёные изучают, как обезьяна использует инструменты в дикой природе.

  Scientists study how monkeys use tools in the wild.

Figurative Meaning: Sometimes used metaphorically for a mischievous or clever person, similar to English slang.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обезьяна - In informal slang, to describe someone playful or naughty, e.g., in children's behavior.
• мартышка - Often in a light-hearted, diminutive way for pranks or clever tricks.

Usage Examples:

• Этот мальчик — настоящая обезьяна; он вечно лазает по деревьям и устраивает шалости.

  This boy is a real monkey; he's always climbing trees and getting into mischief.

• Её подруга — хитрая мартышка, всегда находит способ выиграть в игре.

  Her friend is a clever monkey, always finding a way to win the game.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "обезьяна" and "мартышка" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow the standard feminine declension patterns. "Обезьяна" is a first-declension noun with regular inflections, while "мартышка" is also regular but often used in diminutive forms. Below is a table for "обезьяна" as an example:

For "мартышка", it follows a similar pattern but with diminutive forms like "мартышечка" for added affection. These nouns do not change in gender but inflect regularly across cases and numbers.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • примат (primat) - More scientific term for primates in general.
  • шимпанзе (shimpanze) - Specifically for chimpanzees, a type of monkey.
• Antonyms:
  • человек (chelovek) - Human, contrasting with animalistic behavior.

Note: "Примат" is more formal and used in scientific contexts, while "шимпанзе" specifies a subset but shares playful connotations.

Related Phrases:

• Обезьяна на цепи (Obez'yana na tsepi) - A monkey on a chain; meaning something or someone restricted, often in a metaphorical sense for control or captivity.
• Мартышка и очки (Martyška i ochki) - The monkey and glasses; refers to a Russian fable about misuse of tools, implying incompetence.
• Дикая обезьяна (Dikaya obez'yana) - Wild monkey; used for untamed or unpredictable behavior in informal speech.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "обезьяна" directly corresponds to the English "monkey" in literal contexts, such as zoology or daily observations, but it can carry a neutral or affectionate tone. "Мартышка" is more diminutive and often used in storytelling or with children, similar to how English might use "little monkey" for endearment. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, stick to "обезьяна," and avoid it in scientific texts where "примат" might be preferred. When choosing between translations, opt for "мартышка" for playful or informal scenarios to capture nuances of size and personality.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "обезьяна" with "обезьяны" (plural) when referring to a single monkey. Correct: Use "обезьяна" for singular nominative. Example of error: "Я видел обезьяны в зоопарке" (incorrect). Correct: "Я видел обезьяну в зоопарке." Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, number, and gender, so always check the context.

• Error: Overusing "мартышка" in formal contexts, which can sound childish. Correct: In professional settings, use "обезьяна." Example of error: "В научном отчёте упомянута мартышка" (informal). Correct: "В научном отчёте упомянута обезьяна." Explanation: This maintains appropriate register and avoids unintended humor.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, monkeys often appear in folktales and fables, such as those by Ivan Krylov, where they symbolize cleverness, mischief, or folly. For instance, the phrase "мартышка и очки" draws from a fable illustrating how tools can be misused, reflecting a broader cultural emphasis on wisdom and caution in human behavior.

Related Concepts:

• лев (lev) - Lion
• слон (slon) - Elephant
• зоопарк (zoopark) - Zoo