Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'muzzle'

English Word: muzzle

Key Russian Translations:

• морда [ˈmor.də] - [Informal, for animals; often used in everyday spoken language]
• дуло [ˈdu.lə] - [Formal, for firearms; neutral in most contexts]
• намордник [nɐˈmor.dʲnʲik] - [Specific to restraining devices; Used metaphorically for suppression]

Frequency: Medium (Common in contexts like animal descriptions or weaponry, but not everyday vocabulary for most speakers)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of basic noun declensions and contextual usage; For 'морда', it's straightforward, but 'дуло' may need familiarity with thematic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

морда: [ˈmor.də]

дуло: [ˈdu.lə]

намордник: [nɐˈmor.dʲnʲik]

Note on морда: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'r' sound, which can vary in speed of speech.

Note on дуло: Pronounce the 'u' as a short, closed vowel; common in technical or military contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The projecting part of an animal's face (e.g., a dog's snout).

Translation(s) & Context:

• морда - Used in informal, everyday descriptions of animals, often with a slightly affectionate or humorous tone in spoken Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Собака лает, обнажив свою длинную морду.

  The dog is barking, baring its long muzzle. (This example shows 'морда' in a descriptive, narrative context.)

• В зоопарке дети трогали морду тигра через забор.

  At the zoo, children touched the tiger's muzzle through the fence. (Illustrates 'морда' in a casual, observational setting.)

• Его морда была покрыта снегом после прогулки в лесу.

  His muzzle was covered in snow after a walk in the forest. (Demonstrates use with possessive pronouns and environmental descriptions.)

• Морда волка в фильме выглядела устрашающе.

  The wolf's muzzle in the movie looked terrifying. (Shows 'морда' in media or fictional contexts.)

Meaning 2: The open end of a firearm or weapon.

Translation(s) & Context:

• дуло - Typically used in formal, technical, or military contexts; implies precision and danger.

Usage Examples:

• Он направил дуло пистолета на цель.

  He aimed the muzzle of the pistol at the target. (This highlights 'дуло' in an action-oriented scenario.)

• Дуло ружья было грязным после охоты.

  The muzzle of the rifle was dirty after the hunt. (Shows 'дуло' with adjectives in a practical context.)

• В музее выставлено дуло старинного мушкета.

  The muzzle of an old musket is displayed in the museum. (Illustrates historical or educational use.)

• Дуло танкового орудия выглядело внушительно.

  The muzzle of the tank gun looked imposing. (Demonstrates 'дуло' in military descriptions.)

Meaning 3: A device to cover an animal's mouth or to suppress speech metaphorically.

Translation(s) & Context:

• намордник - Used literally for animal restraints or figuratively for censorship; common in legal or social discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Собаке надели намордник перед прогулкой.

  They put a muzzle on the dog before the walk. (Basic literal usage in daily life.)

• Правительство пытается надеть намордник на прессу.

  The government is trying to muzzle the press. (Metaphorical use in political contexts.)

• Намордник на лошади предотвратил укусы.

  The muzzle on the horse prevented bites. (Shows 'намордник' with animals in a safety context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Морда' is a feminine noun (3rd declension) and changes based on case and number. It follows standard Russian noun patterns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	морда	морды
Genitive	морды	морд
Dative	морде	мордам
Accusative	морду	морды
Instrumental	мордой	мордами
Prepositional	морде	мордах

'Дуло' is a neuter noun with regular declensions:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	дуло	дула
Genitive	дула	дул

'Намордник' is a masculine noun and does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Рыло (for 'морда'; more vulgar or animal-specific, often used for wild animals)
  • Ствол (for 'дуло'; in the context of guns, emphasizing the barrel)
  • Кляп (for 'намордник'; metaphorical for gagging speech)
• Antonyms:
  • Голос (voice; opposite of suppressing, as in 'намордник')

Related Phrases:

• Длинная морда (long muzzle) - Refers to an elongated animal face, often in descriptions of breeds.
• Направить дуло (to aim the muzzle) - Common in action or military phrases, meaning to point a weapon.
• Надеть намордник (to put on a muzzle) - Figuratively means to censor or restrict free expression.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'muzzle' translations vary by context: 'морда' is informal and animal-related, while 'дуло' is precise for weaponry. Choose based on formality—avoid 'морда' in professional settings. 'Намордник' can be metaphorical for suppression, similar to English, but ensure the context fits Russian idiomatic use. Grammatically, these nouns require correct case agreement with verbs and adjectives.

Common Errors:

• Using 'морда' in formal writing: Incorrect: "The animal's морда is sharp." Correct: Use in casual speech; in formal contexts, opt for descriptive phrases. Explanation: 'Морда' sounds too colloquial for scientific or official texts.
• Confusing 'дуло' with 'ствол': Incorrect: "The дуло of the gun exploded" (if meaning barrel). Correct: 'Дуло' specifically means the open end. Explanation: Learners often mix with 'ствол' (barrel), leading to precision errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'морда' might carry a light-hearted or diminutive connotation in folklore, such as in stories about animals in fairy tales, reflecting a historical anthropomorphic tradition. 'Дуло' relates to Russia's military history, often appearing in literature about wars, symbolizing power and conflict.

Related Concepts:

• Рыло
• Ствол
• Кляп