Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'peck'

English Word: peck

Key Russian Translations:

• клюнуть [klʲʉˈnutʲ] - [Informal, used for quick, sharp actions like birds pecking]
• чмокнуть [t͡ɕmɐkˈnutʲ] - [Informal, specifically for a quick kiss or peck on the cheek]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts involving animals or light affectionate gestures, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "eat" or "kiss")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and informal expressions; for "клюнуть", it's straightforward, but "чмокнуть" may vary in nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клюнуть: [klʲʉˈnutʲ]

чмокнуть: [t͡ɕmɐkˈnutʲ]

Note on клюнуть: The stress falls on the last syllable ("nutʲ"), which is common in Russian perfective verbs; be careful with the palatalized "l" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on чмокнуть: This word often includes a smacking sound in pronunciation, represented by the "ch" as in "church"; it's onomatopoeic and varies slightly in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To strike or pick at something quickly, often with a beak (e.g., birds pecking)

Translation(s) & Context:

• клюнуть - Used in informal contexts describing animal behavior or metaphorical actions, such as pecking at food.

Usage Examples:

• Птица клюнула зерно с земли.

  The bird pecked the grain from the ground.

• Курица клюнула меня в палец, когда я пытался её покормить.

  The chicken pecked my finger when I tried to feed it.

• В саду дятел клюнул кору дерева в поисках насекомых.

  In the garden, the woodpecker pecked the tree bark in search of insects.

• Он клюнул яблоко, чтобы проверить, спелое ли оно.

  He pecked at the apple to check if it was ripe.

Meaning 2: To give a quick kiss or light touch (e.g., a peck on the cheek)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чмокнуть - Used in informal, affectionate contexts, often among friends or family, equivalent to a casual peck.

Usage Examples:

• Она чмокнула меня в щеку на прощание.

  She pecked me on the cheek goodbye.

• Дети чмокнули бабушку перед уходом.

  The children pecked their grandmother before leaving.

• В парке влюблённые чмокнули друг друга под деревом.

  In the park, the lovers pecked each other under the tree.

• Он чмокнул письмо, как в старых фильмах.

  He pecked the letter like in old movies.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "клюнуть" and "чмокнуть" are Russian perfective verbs, which means they describe completed actions. They follow standard conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs but have irregularities in some forms due to their roots.

For "клюнуть" (to peck, as in birds):

For "чмокнуть" (to peck, as in kiss): It is less commonly inflected but follows similar patterns. Note: It is invariant in some dialects and often used in perfective form without much variation in casual speech.

These verbs do not change for gender in the past tense except in agreement with the subject.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Для "клюнуть": поклевать (to peck repeatedly)
  • Для "чмокнуть": поцеловать (to kiss, more formal, with subtle differences in intensity)
• Antonyms:
  • Для "клюнуть": игнорировать (to ignore)
  • Для "чмокнуть": отвернуться (to turn away, avoiding affection)

Related Phrases:

• Клюнуть зерно - A common phrase meaning "to peck at grain," often used in contexts of animal behavior or metaphorically for sampling food.
• Чмокнуть в щеку - Refers to "pecking on the cheek," a light-hearted way to show affection in social settings.
• Клюнуть по ошибке - Means "to peck by mistake," used for accidental actions like biting or touching unintentionally.

Usage Notes:

"Peck" in English can be more casual or literal than its Russian equivalents. For "клюнуть," it's best for animal-related contexts and is informal; avoid it in formal writing. "Чмокнуть" is ideal for affectionate gestures but may sound childish in professional settings. Choose based on context: use "клюнуть" for physical actions and "чмокнуть" for social ones. Grammatically, both are perfective verbs, so they pair with completed actions in sentences.

• Tip: In Russian, aspect (perfective vs. imperfective) is crucial; pair with imperfective forms like "клевать" for ongoing actions.
• Regional note: "Чмокнуть" is more common in European Russian dialects for kisses.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "клюнуть" with "клевать" (imperfective form), using it for ongoing actions. Error: "Птица клюнуть зерно" (incorrect, as it implies a single action but lacks proper conjugation). Correct: "Птица клюнула зерно" (for a completed peck). Another error is overusing "чмокнуть" in formal contexts; instead, use "поцеловать" for a standard kiss to avoid sounding too playful.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "чмокнуть" reflects a warm, familial affection often seen in greetings or farewells, emphasizing emotional closeness without formality. It's common in literature and films to depict everyday intimacy, contrasting with more reserved English customs.

Related Concepts:

• Клевать (to peck repeatedly)
• Поцеловать (to kiss)
• Щелкнуть (to snap or click, similar quick actions)