Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'parrot'

English Word: parrot

Key Russian Translations:

• попугай /pɐˈpuɡaj/ - [Neutral, commonly used in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word is encountered in general conversations about animals and nature, but not as common as basic vocabulary like "dog" or "cat").

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary level; suitable for beginners as it follows standard noun patterns in Russian).

Pronunciation (Russian):

попугай: /pɐˈpuɡaj/

Note on попугай: The stress is on the second syllable ("pu"), which is a common feature in Russian nouns. Be careful with the "г" sound, which is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the "g" in "go" but softer in some dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The bird known as a parrot (a colorful, talking bird).

Translation(s) & Context:

• попугай - Used in general descriptions of the animal, in both formal and informal settings, such as in wildlife discussions or pet-related conversations.

Usage Examples:

• У меня дома есть попугай, который умеет говорить. (U menya doma yest' popugay, kotoryy umeet govorit'.)

  Translation: I have a parrot at home that can talk. (This example shows the word in a simple possessive sentence, highlighting everyday pet ownership.)

• В зоопарке мы увидели яркого попугая с зелёными перьями. (V zooparke my uvideIi yarkogo popugaya s zelenymi per'yami.)

  Translation: In the zoo, we saw a bright parrot with green feathers. (This demonstrates the word in a descriptive context, such as observing animals.)

• Попугай в клетке повторял слова хозяина. (Popugay v kletke povtoryal slova khozyaina.)

  Translation: The parrot in the cage was repeating its owner's words. (This example illustrates the bird's mimicry ability in a narrative setting.)

• Дети любят кормить попугаев в парке. (Deti lyubyat kormit' popugaev v parke.)

  Translation: Children love feeding parrots in the park. (Here, the plural form is used, showing the word in a recreational context.)

• Этот попугай из тропических лесов Африки. (Etot popugay iz tropicheskikh lesov Afriki.)

  Translation: This parrot is from the tropical forests of Africa. (This example places the word in an educational or geographical context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"попугай" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The noun is regular and does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • папагай (papagay) - A less common variant, often used in poetic or archaic contexts.
  • попугайчик (popugaychik) - Diminutive form, implying a small or cute parrot.
• Antonyms:
  • None directly applicable, as "попугай" is a specific animal term. However, in broader contexts, words like "хищник" (khishchnik, predator) could contrast with birds like parrots in wildlife discussions.

Related Phrases:

• Говорящий попугай (Govoryashchiy popugay) - Talking parrot; a common phrase for parrots that mimic speech, often used in stories or pet descriptions.
• Попугай в клетке (Popugay v kletke) - Parrot in a cage; refers to domesticated settings and highlights animal welfare themes.
• Тропический попугай (Tropicheskiy popugay) - Tropical parrot; used in discussions about exotic animals or travel.

Usage Notes:

The Russian word "попугай" directly corresponds to the English "parrot" and is used neutrally across various contexts, from scientific to casual. It is important to note that Russian nouns have genders, and "попугай" is masculine, which affects adjective agreements (e.g., "красивый попугай" for "beautiful parrot"). In formal writing, prefer full sentences with proper declensions. When choosing between translations, "попугай" is the standard; use diminutives like "попугайчик" for affectionate tones.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the wrong gender agreement, e.g., saying "красивая попугай" instead of "красивый попугай". Correct: "красивый попугай" (beautiful parrot). Explanation: As a masculine noun, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case.

• Error: Incorrect plural form, e.g., saying "попугайс" instead of "попугаи". Correct: "попугаи" (parrots). Explanation: Russian plurals follow specific patterns; for this noun, add "-и" in nominative plural.

• Error: Mispronouncing the stress, e.g., stressing the first syllable. Correct Pronunciation: /pɐˈpuɡaj/ with stress on "pu". Explanation: Stress errors can lead to misunderstandings in spoken Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, parrots are often associated with folklore and children's stories, symbolizing mimicry and cleverness. For instance, in Russian fairy tales, a talking parrot might represent wisdom or trickery, reflecting historical interactions with exotic animals through trade routes like the Silk Road.

Related Concepts:

• воробей (vorobey) - Sparrow
• птица (ptitsa) - Bird (general term)
• попугайные (popugainye) - Parrot family (in a zoological context)