Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pig'

English Word: pig

Key Russian Translations:

• свинья (/svʲinʲja/) - [Formal, used for the animal]
• поросёнок (/pərɐˈsʲonək/) - [Informal, specifically for a young pig]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday language, especially in contexts related to animals or idioms)

Difficulty: A1 (beginner level, as it involves basic vocabulary and straightforward grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

свинья: /svʲinʲja/ (The "sv" sound is a soft, palatalized "s" followed by "v", and the final "ya" is pronounced as a soft "a". Stress is on the first syllable.)

поросёнок: /pərɐˈsʲonək/ (The stress is on the third syllable; note the soft "sʲ" sound, which can be challenging for beginners.)

Note on свинья: This word has a soft sign (ь) that affects pronunciation, making the preceding consonant palatalized. Be careful with the vowel sounds in casual speech.

Note on поросёнок: Diminutive forms like this often end in "-ок" and carry an affectionate tone; pronunciation may vary slightly in different dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A domesticated animal, often referring to the species Sus scrofa domesticus.

Translation(s) & Context:

• свинья - Used in formal or neutral contexts when discussing farm animals or biology.
• поросёнок - Used in informal or affectionate contexts, such as describing young pigs in stories or children's literature.

Usage Examples:

• В ферме есть несколько свиней, которые едят много корма.

  On the farm, there are several pigs that eat a lot of feed.

• Маленький поросёнок бегал по двору, играя с другими животными.

  The little piglet was running around the yard, playing with other animals.

• Свинья в зоопарке выглядит счастливой, когда её кормят посетители.

  The pig at the zoo looks happy when visitors feed it.

• Фермеры разводят свиней для производства мяса и сала.

  Farmers raise pigs for producing meat and lard.

Meaning 2: Slang for a greedy, dirty, or unpleasant person (informal or derogatory usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• свинья - Used informally to insult someone, implying greed or messiness, often in spoken language or literature.

Usage Examples:

• Не будь свиньёй и поделись конфетами с друзьями!

  Don't be a pig and share the candies with your friends!

• Он ведёт себя как свинья, всегда берёт больше, чем ему нужно.

  He acts like a pig, always taking more than he needs.

• В этой комедии главный герой называет босса свиньёй за его жадность.

  In this comedy, the main character calls the boss a pig for his greed.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "свинья" and "поросёнок" are nouns. "Свинья" is a feminine noun of the first declension, which follows regular patterns. "Поросёнок" is a masculine diminutive noun and also declines regularly.

Note: These are regular declensions; no irregularities for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • хрюшка (informal for a pig, often affectionate)
  • поросят (for young pigs, plural)
• Antonyms:
  • волк (wolf, as an opposite in animal contexts or idioms)
  • дружественный зверь (friendly animal, in metaphorical senses)

  Antonyms may vary by context; for example, in slang, antonyms could imply cleanliness or generosity.

Related Phrases:

• Свинья в мешке - A phrase meaning "a pig in a poke" (buying something without inspecting it first; used to warn against hasty decisions).
• Жирная свинья - Refers to a "greedy pig" in slang, implying someone who hoards resources (common in informal criticism).
• Поросёнок в сказке - Like "the piglet in the fairy tale," often in children's stories (e.g., referring to characters in folklore).

Usage Notes:

The English word "pig" corresponds most directly to "свинья" in Russian for the animal, but be cautious with slang uses, as "свинья" can be offensive when applied to people. It is neutral in formal contexts but informal in derogatory ones. For learners, note that Russian nouns have genders and declensions, so "свинья" (feminine) changes based on case. When choosing between translations, use "поросёнок" for young or cute contexts to add a diminutive, affectionate tone. Grammar tip: Always consider the case when using these words in sentences, as Russian requires agreement with other elements.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "свинья" in plural without proper declension, e.g., saying "свиньяs" (influenced by English).

  Correct: Use "свиньи" for plural nominative. Example of error: "Я видел свиньяs на ферме." Correct: "Я видел свиней на ферме." Explanation: Russian doesn't add an "s" for plurals; follow the declension table.

• Error: Mispronouncing the soft sign in "свинья," making it sound like "svinya" without palatalization.

  Correct: Pronounce as /svʲinʲja/ with the soft "nʲ". Explanation: This can make the word harder to understand, as palatalization is key in Russian phonetics.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, pigs are often associated with rural life and folklore, such as in fairy tales like "The Three Little Pigs" (translated as "Три Поросёнка"). The word "свинья" can carry negative connotations in idioms, reflecting historical views of pigs as unclean animals in some contexts, though this is less prominent in modern usage.

Related Concepts:

• коровa (cow)
• овца (sheep)
• ферма (farm)