Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'saliva'

English Word: saliva

Key Russian Translations:

• слюна [slʲʊˈna] - [Feminine Noun, Informal/Formal, Singular/Plural depending on context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in medical, biological, or everyday health discussions, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner level; straightforward for English speakers due to basic vocabulary, but requires understanding of Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

слюна: [slʲʊˈna]

Note on слюна: The initial 'sl' sound is palatalized (soft), which is a common feature in Russian. Pay attention to the stress on the second syllable. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and animals for digestion and other functions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• слюна - Used in general, medical, or biological contexts; appropriate for both formal (e.g., scientific writing) and informal (e.g., everyday health talks) settings.

Usage Examples:

• В рту у него была слюна, что указывало на нервозность.

  In his mouth, there was saliva, which indicated nervousness.

• Слюна помогает переваривать пищу в организме.

  Saliva helps digest food in the body.

• Дети часто имеют слюну на подбородке во время прорезывания зубов.

  Children often have saliva on their chin during teething.

• В лабораторных тестах анализируют слюну для выявления инфекций.

  In laboratory tests, saliva is analyzed to detect infections.

• Избыток слюны может быть симптомом аллергии.

  An excess of saliva can be a symptom of an allergy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Слюна is a feminine noun in Russian and follows the standard first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -a. It changes based on case, number, and grammatical context. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively easy for learners, but always ensure correct case agreement with adjectives and verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • слюноотделение (slʲʊnɐɐtdʲelʲenʲije) - Refers more specifically to the process of saliva production; used in medical contexts.
  • слюнная жидкость (slʲʊnnaɐ ʐʲidkəsʲtʲ) - Emphasizes the liquid aspect; slightly more formal.
• Antonyms:
  • сухость (sʊxəsʲtʲ) - Dryness, as in the absence of moisture in the mouth.

Related Phrases:

• Слюнотечение (slʲʊnɐtʲeˈtɕenʲije) - Excessive saliva flow; often used in medical or veterinary contexts to describe drooling.
• Производить слюну (prəʔizvɐˈdʲitʲ slʲʊˈnu) - To produce saliva; common in discussions about digestion or physiological responses.
• Слюна на языке (slʲʊˈna na ˈjazʲykʲe) - Saliva on the tongue; used metaphorically in poetry or to describe oral health issues.

Usage Notes:

Слюна directly corresponds to the English word "saliva" and is used in similar contexts, such as biology, health, and everyday descriptions. It is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal settings, but be cautious with its declensions to match Russian sentence structure. For example, in questions or descriptions, ensure the case aligns with the verb or preposition. If multiple translations exist, choose слюна for general use, but слюноотделение for processes involving production. English learners should note that Russian often requires specifying the body part or context more explicitly.

• In medical texts, it's common to pair it with verbs like "производить" (to produce).
• Avoid overusing in casual speech; Russians might use euphemisms in polite conversation.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake the declension of слюна, using the nominative form in all cases. For example:

• Incorrect: Я видел слюна на столе. (This incorrectly uses nominative instead of accusative.)
• Correct: Я видел слюну на столе. (Proper accusative form.)

Explanation: Russian requires case changes based on the sentence role, so always check the governing preposition or verb.

• Another error is confusing it with similar words like "влага" (moisture), leading to imprecise meanings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, saliva is sometimes referenced in folklore and traditional medicine. For instance, in some rural customs, saliva was believed to have protective qualities against evil spirits, similar to spitting for good luck. In modern contexts, it's more associated with health discussions, such as in Russian literature where it might symbolize vulnerability or human frailty in works by authors like Chekhov.

Related Concepts:

• зубы (teeth)
• рот (mouth)
• язык (tongue)
• пища (food)