Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'rat'

English Word: rat

Key Russian Translations:

• крыса /ˈkrɨsə/ - [Informal, Common noun for the animal]
• предатель /prʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ/ - [Formal, Used in contexts of betrayal or slang]

Frequency: Medium - The word is commonly encountered in everyday Russian, especially in discussions about animals, but less frequent in formal contexts.

Difficulty: A1 for 'крыса' (Beginner level, as it's basic vocabulary); B1 for 'предатель' (Intermediate, due to contextual nuances in social or ethical discussions).

Pronunciation (Russian):

крыса: /ˈkrɨsə/ - The stress is on the first syllable; note the palatalized 'р' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

предатель: /prʲɪˈdatʲɪlʲ/ - Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the soft 'т' and 'л' sounds.

Note on крыса: The 'ы' sound (/ɨ/) is unique to Russian and has no direct English equivalent; it's similar to the 'i' in 'bit' but more centralized.

Note on предатель: This word often involves rapid consonant clusters, which may require practice for fluency.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A small rodent animal

Translation(s) & Context:

• крыса - Used in everyday contexts like biology, pest control, or casual conversation about wildlife.
• предатель - Rarely used for the animal; more for metaphorical senses, but not primary here.

Usage Examples:

• В подвале живет большая крыса. (V podvale zhivet bol'shaya krysa.)

  In the basement lives a big rat. (This example shows the noun in a simple declarative sentence, describing a common household scenario.)

• Мы видели крысу в парке вчера вечером. (My videli krysu v parke vchera vecherom.)

  We saw a rat in the park last evening. (Illustrates the noun in a past tense narrative, common in storytelling.)

• Крыса — это распространенный вредитель в городах. (Krysa — eto rasprostranennyy vreditel' v gorodakh.)

  The rat is a common pest in cities. (Demonstrates the noun in a general statement, often used in educational or informational contexts.)

• Дети боятся крысы в зоопарке. (Deti boyatsya krysy v zooparke.)

  Children are afraid of the rat in the zoo. (Shows the noun with emotional context, highlighting fear or reaction in social settings.)

• Эта крыса убежала, когда мы подошли ближе. (Eta krysa ubezhala, kogda my podoshli blizhe.)

  This rat ran away when we approached closer. (Exemplifies the noun in an action-oriented sentence, varying verb tense for dynamic usage.)

Meaning 2: Slang for a traitor or betrayer

Translation(s) & Context:

• предатель - Used in informal or dramatic contexts, such as literature, politics, or personal accusations.

Usage Examples:

• Он оказался предателем в нашей группе. (On okazalsya predatelyem v nashey gruppe.)

  He turned out to be a rat in our group. (This highlights the metaphorical use in social dynamics, akin to English slang.)

• Предатель всегда предает доверие друзей. (Predatel' vsegda predayet doverie druzey.)

  A rat always betrays the trust of friends. (Shows the noun in a proverbial sense, emphasizing moral implications.)

• В истории много предателей, изменивших исход войны. (V istorii mnogo predatelyey, izmenivshikh iskhod voyny.)

  History is full of rats who changed the outcome of wars. (Illustrates use in historical or narrative contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'крыса' (a feminine noun in the first declension), it follows standard Russian noun inflections. It changes based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table of its declensions:

For 'предатель' (a masculine noun in the second declension), it also inflects regularly:

Both words are invariable in terms of gender but change with case as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • крыса - Мышь (mish') [Similar small rodent, but smaller size]
  • предатель - Изменник (izmenik) [Often used interchangeably, but 'изменник' implies state betrayal]
• Antonyms:
  • For крыса: Друг (drug) [Friend, contrasting in animal or metaphorical contexts]
  • For предатель: Верный (vernïy) [Loyal, directly opposing betrayal]

Related Phrases:

• Крыса в стенах (Krysa v stenakh) - A rat in the walls; Refers to a hidden pest or problem in a house.
• Быть предателем (Bït' predatelyem) - To be a rat; Means to act as a betrayer in personal or professional settings.
• Крысиная нора (Krisinaya nora) - Rat hole; Used metaphorically for a dirty or unsafe place.

Usage Notes:

'Крыса' directly corresponds to the English 'rat' as an animal, making it straightforward for beginners, but be cautious with plural forms in sentences. 'Предатель' is more nuanced and should be used in contexts of trust violation, similar to English slang for 'rat' as a traitor. In formal Russian, prefer 'предатель' over casual equivalents, and always consider the gender agreement in sentences (e.g., adjectives must match). When choosing between translations, use 'крыса' for literal animal references and 'предатель' for figurative ones to avoid confusion.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'крыса' in plural without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "Я видел крыса" instead of "Я видел крысу" (for accusative singular).
  Correct: "Я видел крысу." Explanation: Russian requires case changes based on sentence role; beginners often forget this.
• Mistake: Confusing 'предатель' with 'предательница' (for female), e.g., using it for a female traitor.
  Correct: Use 'предательница' for feminine forms. Explanation: Russian nouns have gender, so match the subject's gender to avoid grammatical errors.
• Mistake: Overusing 'предатель' in neutral contexts, which might sound dramatic.
  Correct: Opt for synonyms like 'изменник' in less intense situations. Explanation: This can make speech sound unnatural; context dictates word choice.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'крыса' often carries negative connotations, symbolizing filth or betrayal, as seen in folklore like Aesop's fables adapted into Russian tales. Historically, during the Soviet era, 'предатель' was used in propaganda to denounce defectors, reflecting themes of loyalty in Russian literature and history, such as in works by Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• Мышь (mish')
• Вор (vor) [Thief]
• Лояльный (loyal'nyy) [Loyal]