Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prey'

English Word: prey

Key Russian Translations:

• добыча [ˈdobɨt͡ɕə] - [Formal, used in contexts of hunting or wildlife]
• жертва [ˈʐɛrtva] - [Informal, Plural possible, used metaphorically for victims]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, wildlife discussions, and everyday language about predation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic vocabulary for 'добыча', slightly easier for 'жертва' at A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

добыча: [ˈdobɨt͡ɕə]

Note on добыча: The stress falls on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound is a distinct Russian vowel, often challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'ch' as in 'church'.

жертва: [ˈʐɛrtva]

Note on жертва: The initial 'ж' is a voiced fricative, similar to 's' in 'measure'; be careful with the soft 'т' which can vary in speed.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: An animal hunted or seized for food.

Translation(s) & Context:

• добыча - Used in formal or natural contexts, such as wildlife or hunting scenarios.
• жертва - Applied in broader contexts, including metaphorical uses like crime or emotional predation.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу волк ищет добычу, чтобы накормить своих волчат.

  In the forest, the wolf searches for prey to feed its cubs.

• Охотники всегда следят за добычей в дикой природе.

  Hunters always watch for prey in the wild.

• Эта рыба становится легкой жертвой для более крупных хищников.

  This fish becomes easy prey for larger predators.

• В современном мире люди часто становятся жертвами мошенников.

  In the modern world, people often become prey to scammers.

• Добыча в океане включает мелкую рыбу, которую ловят дельфины.

  Prey in the ocean includes small fish that dolphins catch.

As a verb: To hunt or exploit something or someone.

Translation(s) & Context:

• охотиться (as in 'prey on') - Used in action-oriented contexts, often with prepositions like 'на'.

Usage Examples:

• Сокол охотится на добычу в открытом небе.

  The falcon preys on its target in the open sky.

• Интернет-мошенники охотятся на доверчивых пользователей.

  Online scammers prey on trusting users.

• В природе хищники всегда охотятся на слабую добычу.

  In nature, predators always prey on weak prey.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'добыча' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

For 'жертва' (feminine noun, 1st declension, similar pattern but with irregularities in plural):

For verbs like 'охотиться', it is an imperfective verb with regular conjugations: e.g., Present: охотюсь, охотишься; Past: охотился/охотилась.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: объект охоты (object of hunt) - More specific to hunting contexts; жертва хищника (prey of a predator) - Emphasizes the victim aspect.
• Antonyms: хищник (predator) - Direct opposite in ecological contexts; охотник (hunter) - Used when contrasting roles.

Related Phrases:

• охотиться за добычей - Hunting for prey; used in wildlife or metaphorical contexts to describe pursuit.
• стать жертвой обмана - To become prey to deception; common in discussions of fraud or manipulation.
• добыча в природе - Prey in nature; refers to natural food chains.

Usage Notes:

'Добыча' directly corresponds to the literal meaning of 'prey' as an animal or object being hunted, and is preferred in formal or scientific contexts. 'Жертва' is more versatile and often used metaphorically, similar to 'victim' in English, but avoid it for pure animal predation to prevent confusion. In Russian, always consider case endings based on sentence structure—e.g., use genitive after prepositions like 'на'. For verb forms, 'prey on' translates to 'охотиться на', which requires the accusative case for the object.

Common Errors:

• Using 'добыча' in plural without context: Incorrect: "Я видел добыча" (wrong case). Correct: "Я видел добычу" (accusative singular). Explanation: English speakers often forget Russian noun declensions, leading to grammatical errors.
• Confusing 'жертва' with 'добыча': Incorrect: Using 'жертва' for animal prey, e.g., "Волк ест жертва". Correct: "Волк ест добычу". Explanation: 'Жертва' implies human or emotional suffering, so it's not interchangeable in natural contexts.
• Overlooking verb aspects: Incorrect: Using perfective 'поохотиться' without need. Correct: Stick to imperfective 'охотиться' for ongoing actions. Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects; beginners might misuse them, altering the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'добыча' are often tied to historical hunting traditions, such as in folk tales or literature by authors like Tolstoy, where prey symbolizes vulnerability in the vast Russian wilderness. 'Жертва' carries a deeper connotation in contexts of war or social issues, reflecting Russia's history of resilience against adversity, as seen in WWII narratives.

Related Concepts:

• охота
• хищник
• экосистема