Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nymph'

English Word: nymph

Key Russian Translations:

• нимфа [ˈnʲimfə] - [Formal, used in mythology and biology; singular form]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literary, mythological, or scientific contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with borrowed words from Greek/Latin and basic knowledge of Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нимфа: [ˈnʲimfə]

Note on нимфа: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'нʲ' represents a palatalized 'n', which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, front-of-the-mouth 'n' sound, similar to the 'n' in "new" but more pronounced.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Mythological Meaning: A female spirit or deity associated with nature in ancient myths.

Translation(s) & Context:

• нимфа - Used in formal literary or educational contexts to describe mythical figures, often in poetry, art, or historical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В греческой мифологии нимфа жила в лесах и ручьях, охраняя природу.

  In Greek mythology, the nymph lived in forests and streams, guarding nature.

• Художник изобразил нимфу как грациозную фигуру, танцующую под луной.

  The artist depicted the nymph as a graceful figure dancing under the moon.

• В русской литературе нимфа часто символизирует невинность и красоту природы.

  In Russian literature, the nymph often symbolizes innocence and the beauty of nature.

• Дети слушали историю о нимфе, которая спасла героя от опасности.

  The children listened to the story about the nymph who saved the hero from danger.

Biological Meaning: The immature form of certain insects, such as in the life cycle of butterflies or dragonflies.

Translation(s) & Context:

• нимфа - Used in scientific or educational contexts, particularly in biology textbooks or discussions about entomology.

Usage Examples:

• В жизненном цикле бабочки нимфа проходит несколько этапов развития.

  In the life cycle of a butterfly, the nymph goes through several stages of development.

• Учёные изучают, как нимфа стрекоз адаптируется к водной среде.

  Scientists study how the nymph of dragonflies adapts to an aquatic environment.

• Нимфа насекомого часто выглядит совсем иначе, чем взрослый экземпляр.

  The nymph of an insect often looks completely different from the adult specimen.

• В лаборатории мы наблюдали, как нимфа превращается в имаго.

  In the laboratory, we observed how the nymph transforms into an adult form.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Нимфа" is a feminine noun (feminine gender, first declension in Russian). It follows standard Russian noun declension patterns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its inflections:

Note: The word is regular in its declension, but pay attention to the soft sign (ь) in some forms, which affects pronunciation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • русалка (rusalka) - A specifically Slavic water spirit, similar to a nymph but with more cultural connotations; often used in folklore.
  • дух природы (dukh prirody) - More descriptive, meaning "spirit of nature," used in poetic contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • монстр (monstr) - Meaning "monster," contrasting the benevolent nature of a nymph.
  • человек (chelovek) - Meaning "human," to highlight the mythical vs. mortal divide.

Related Phrases:

• Древняя нимфа леса (Drevnyaya nimfa lesa) - Meaning: An ancient nymph of the forest; used in literary descriptions of folklore.
• Нимфа реки (Nimfa reki) - Meaning: Nymph of the river; common in mythological stories to personify water bodies.
• Превращение нимфы (Prevrashcheniye nimfy) - Meaning: The transformation of the nymph; refers to biological metamorphosis in scientific contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Нимфа" directly corresponds to the English "nymph" as a borrowed word, making it straightforward for translation in both mythological and biological contexts. However, in Russian, it is primarily formal and literary; avoid using it in casual everyday speech. When choosing this word, consider the context: for mythology, it evokes ancient Greek influences, while in biology, it's technical. Grammatically, as a feminine noun, it must agree in gender, number, and case with adjectives and verbs (e.g., "красивая нимфа" for "beautiful nymph"). If multiple translations exist, like "русалка" for Slavic-specific nymphs, opt for "нимфа" when discussing universal myths to maintain neutrality.

Common Errors:

• Common Error: Misdeclining the noun, e.g., using "нимфа" in the genitive case as "нимфа" instead of "нимфы" (correct: нимфы реки for "nymph of the river").

  Correct Usage: Нимфы реки (The nymph of the river). Explanation: Russian nouns change endings based on case; always check the declension table to avoid this.

• Common Error: Pronouncing it as [ˈnɪmfə] like the English word, ignoring the palatalized 'нʲ'.

  Correct Usage: [ˈnʲimfə]. Explanation: The palatalization is key in Russian phonetics; practice with native audio to get the soft 'n' sound right.

• Common Error: Using it interchangeably with "русалка" without context, leading to cultural inaccuracies.

  Correct Usage: Choose "нимфа" for general myths and "русалка" for Slavic ones. Explanation: This prevents confusion between borrowed and indigenous terms.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "нимфа" often draws from Greek and Roman mythology but has been adapted into Slavic folklore, where similar figures like "русалка" appear in stories by authors such as Pushkin. It symbolizes untamed nature and feminine beauty, reflecting themes of harmony with the environment, which resonates in Russian literature and art as a contrast to industrialized society.

Related Concepts:

• русалка
• сатир (satiro - a male counterpart in mythology)
• нимфоманка (nimfomanka - related to psychological or literary themes)