Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'neanderthal'

English Word: neanderthal

Key Russian Translations:

• неандерталец [nʲɪɐnˈdʲɛrtəlʲɛts] - [Formal, Scientific]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in academic, historical, or anthropological contexts; not common in everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; Requires familiarity with scientific terminology and basic Russian noun declensions.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

неандерталец: [nʲɪɐnˈdʲɛrtəlʲɛts]

Note on неандерталец: The stress falls on the third syllable ("dʲɛrt"), which can be tricky for learners due to the palatalized consonants. Variations may occur in regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An extinct species of early humans (Homo neanderthalensis)

Translation(s) & Context:

• неандерталец - Used in formal or scientific discussions about prehistoric humans, often in historical or educational contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В музее выставлены скелеты неандертальцев, которые жили в Европе тысячи лет назад.

  In the museum, skeletons of Neanderthals are displayed, who lived in Europe thousands of years ago.

• Неандертальцы, как предполагают ученые, могли использовать примитивные инструменты для охоты.

  Neanderthals, as scientists suggest, could have used primitive tools for hunting.

• Исследования ДНК показывают, что неандертальцы имели генетические связи с современными людьми.

  DNA studies show that Neanderthals had genetic connections with modern humans.

• В школьном уроке по истории мы обсуждали, как неандертальцы адаптировались к ледниковому периоду.

  In our school history lesson, we discussed how Neanderthals adapted to the Ice Age.

Meaning 2: Informal or slang reference to a primitive, uncivilized person

Translation(s) & Context:

• неандерталец - Used informally to describe someone as brutish or outdated, often in a humorous or derogatory way, but less common in Russian than in English.

Usage Examples:

• Его манеры такие, как будто он неандерталец из каменного века.

  His manners are as if he's a Neanderthal from the Stone Age.

• Не зови его неандертальцем, это может обидеть, но иногда он ведет себя очень примитивно.

  Don't call him a Neanderthal, as it might offend, but sometimes he behaves very primitively.

• В этой комедии главный герой изображен как неандерталец, не умеющий пользоваться современными гаджетами.

  In this comedy, the main character is portrayed as a Neanderthal who can't use modern gadgets.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Неандерталец" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the second declension. It follows standard noun inflection patterns for gender, number, and case. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic declensions are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • первобытный человек (primitive human) - More general term for early humans.
  • древний предок (ancient ancestor) - Emphasizes evolutionary context.
• Antonyms:
  • современный человек (modern human) - Refers to contemporary Homo sapiens.
  • цивилизованный индивид (civilized individual) - Used in slang contexts to contrast with primitive behavior.

Related Phrases:

• Неандертальский человек (Neanderthal man) - A phrase used in scientific discussions; refers to the species in evolutionary biology.
• Генетика неандертальцев (Genetics of Neanderthals) - Common in contexts discussing DNA and human evolution; implies shared heritage.
• Поведение неандертальца (Behavior of a Neanderthal) - Informal phrase for describing uncivilized actions in modern settings.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "неандерталец" directly corresponds to the English "Neanderthal" in scientific contexts, but it's less commonly used in everyday slang compared to English. Always consider the formality: use it in academic or educational settings to avoid offense. For multiple translations, prefer "неандерталец" for precision, but if emphasizing primitiveness, pair it with adjectives like "примитивный" (primitive). Grammatically, ensure correct declension based on sentence structure, as Russian nouns change by case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неандертал" without the suffix, thinking it's the base form. Correct: In Russian, it should be "неандерталец" for the full noun. Example of error: "Я видел неандертал" (incorrect). Correct: "Я видел неандертальца". Explanation: Russian nouns require proper endings for grammatical agreement.

• Error: Mispronouncing the word by placing stress on the wrong syllable. Correct: Stress on "dʲɛrt". Example of error: Pronouncing it as [nʲɪɐnˈdʲɛrtlɛts] (wrong stress). Explanation: This can lead to confusion with similar words, so practice with audio resources.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "неандерталец" often appears in educational media or discussions about human evolution, reflecting Russia's rich archaeological history in regions like the Caucasus where Neanderthal remains have been found. It can carry a humorous connotation in popular media, symbolizing resistance to modernization, but avoid using it pejoratively as it may reference scientific heritage rather than insult.

Related Concepts:

• кроманьонец (Cro-Magnon)
• гомо сапиенс (Homo sapiens)
• эволюция человека (human evolution)