Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mottle'

English Word: mottle

Key Russian Translations:

• пестрый [ˈpʲestrɨj] - [Adjective, Informal/Neutral]
• пятнистый [ˈpʲatnʲistɨj] - [Adjective, Formal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in descriptive language, such as in literature or everyday descriptions of patterns, but not as frequent as basic color terms)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjectives and their inflections, but accessible with basic vocabulary knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пестрый: [ˈpʲestrɨj]

Note on пестрый: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'е' sound is a soft 'ye' as in "yes," and the 'ы' is a back unrounded vowel, which can be tricky for English speakers. Practice with native audio for accuracy.

пятнистый: [ˈpʲatnʲistɨj]

Note on пятнистый: Stress on the first syllable; the 'я' is pronounced as a soft 'ya' sound, and the word ends with a soft 'y' glide before the 'ы'. This word is longer and may require more attention to palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To mark or color with spots or patches (as a verb in English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пестрить - Used in contexts describing patterns on surfaces, like fabrics or animal fur, in neutral or informal settings.
• пятнистый - Applied to nouns to describe something with spots, often in more formal or scientific descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Эта ткань пестрит разноцветными узорами. (This fabric is mottled with colorful patterns.)

  Translation: This fabric is mottled with colorful patterns. (Example shows the verb form in a descriptive context.)

• Лесной камуфляж делает солдата пятнистым, чтобы слиться с окружающей средой. (The forest camouflage makes the soldier mottled to blend with the surroundings.)

  Translation: The forest camouflage makes the soldier mottled to blend with the surroundings. (Illustrates adjective use in a practical, military scenario.)

• Осенняя листва пестрит оттенками красного и желтого. (The autumn leaves are mottled with shades of red and yellow.)

  Translation: The autumn leaves are mottled with shades of red and yellow. (Demonstrates poetic or seasonal usage.)

• Кожа леопарда всегда пестрая и уникальная. (A leopard's skin is always mottled and unique.)

  Translation: A leopard's skin is always mottled and unique. (Shows application to animal descriptions.)

• Художник решил пятнистый узор для своей новой картины. (The artist decided on a mottled pattern for his new painting.)

  Translation: The artist decided on a mottled pattern for his new painting. (Example in an artistic context, varying sentence structure.)

Meaning 2: A pattern of spots or patches (as a noun in English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пестрота - Refers to the quality or state of being mottled, used in abstract or literary contexts.
• пятнистость - More formal, often in scientific or technical descriptions, like in biology.

Usage Examples:

• Пестрота листьев придает саду живой вид. (The mottling of the leaves gives the garden a lively appearance.)

  Translation: The mottling of the leaves gives the garden a lively appearance. (Noun form in a natural setting.)

• У этого минерала заметна пятнистость из-за примесей. (This mineral has a noticeable mottling due to impurities.)

  Translation: This mineral has a noticeable mottling due to impurities. (Scientific context with varied grammar.)

• Художник изобразил пестроту неба на закате. (The artist depicted the mottling of the sky at sunset.)

  Translation: The artist depicted the mottling of the sky at sunset. (Artistic and descriptive usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. Adjectives like пестрый and пятнистый follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

Note: These adjectives are regular and do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners once the basic patterns are mastered.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • разноцветный (variegated; more general for mixed colors)
  • крапчатый (speckled; implies smaller spots)
• Antonyms:
  • однотонный (monochrome; uniform color)
  • ровный (even; smooth without variations)

Related Phrases:

• пестрый узор (mottled pattern) - A design with irregular spots, often used in fashion or art.
• пятнистый камуфляж (spotted camouflage) - Military attire designed for concealment in varied environments.
• пестрая листва (mottled foliage) - Refers to leaves with mixed colors, common in autumn descriptions.

Usage Notes:

Mottle in English often corresponds to adjectives like пестрый in Russian, which must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For example, use пестрый with masculine nouns and пестрая with feminine ones. пестрый is more versatile in everyday language, while пятнистый is preferred in formal or technical contexts, such as biology or design. When translating, consider the context: if the English word implies action (e.g., "to mottle"), use the verb form like пестрить. Be cautious with synonyms, as крапчатый implies finer spots than пестрый.

Common Errors:

• Using the adjective without proper inflection: English learners might say "пестрый дом" for a feminine noun like "house" (which is дом, masculine), but forget to change it for a feminine noun like "книга" (book), leading to "пестрый книга" instead of "пестрая книга." Correct usage: Always match the adjective's ending to the noun's gender and case.
• Confusing with similar words: Learners often mix up пестрый with пёстрый (a variant spelling), but the key error is overusing it for uniform patterns. For example, saying "пестрый синий" (mottled blue) when meaning a solid blue; correct is "однотонный синий."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like пестрый often evoke imagery from folk art, such as Matryoshka dolls or traditional textiles, which feature intricate, mottled designs symbolizing diversity and vibrancy. This reflects Russia's rich heritage in decorative arts, where such patterns are not just aesthetic but also carry symbolic meanings of complexity and natural beauty.

Related Concepts:

• крапчатый
• разноцветный
• узорчатый