Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'salmon'

English Word: salmon

Key Russian Translations:

• лосось /lɐˈsosʲ/ - [Formal, Common in culinary and biological contexts]
• сёмга /ˈsʲɵmɡə/ - [Informal, Often refers specifically to smoked or Atlantic salmon]

Frequency: Medium - 'лосось' is commonly used in everyday conversations about food, fishing, and wildlife, but not as ubiquitous as basic daily words.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Straightforward for learners at this level due to its regular noun forms, though pronunciation of 'лосось' may pose challenges for beginners.

Pronunciation (Russian):

лосось: /lɐˈsosʲ/ - The stress is on the second syllable; the 'сʲ' sound is a soft 's' followed by a palatalized consonant, which is common in Russian.

сёмга: /ˈsʲɵmɡə/ - Stress on the first syllable; note the soft 'sʲ' and the vowel 'ɵ' which is similar to the 'u' in "cute" but shorter.

Note on лосось: Be cautious with the palatalization; non-native speakers often soften it too much, making it sound like /lɐˈsoʂ/.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The fish (Salmonidae family) - Refers to the species of fish, often in culinary or natural contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лосось - Used in formal scientific, environmental, or general descriptions of the fish, such as in wildlife documentaries or recipes.
• сёмга - Applied in informal settings, particularly for prepared salmon like smoked or farmed varieties in everyday meals or markets.

Usage Examples:

• Я готовлю лосось на гриле для ужина. (Ya gotovlyu losos' na grille dlya uzhina.)

  I am grilling salmon for dinner. (This example shows 'лосось' in a simple declarative sentence about cooking.)

• В реке водится много лосося, но охота на него запрещена. (V reke voditsya mnogo lososya, no okhota na nego zapreshchena.)

  There are many salmon in the river, but hunting them is prohibited. (Demonstrates 'лосось' in genitive case within a environmental context.)

• Сёмга – это мой любимый ингредиент для салата. (Syomga – eto moy lyubimyy ingredient dlya salata.)

  Smoked salmon is my favorite ingredient for salad. (Illustrates 'сёмга' in an informal, personal preference scenario.)

• Лосось мигрирует из океана в реки для нереста. (Losos' migriruet iz okeana v reki dlya neresa.)

  Salmon migrates from the ocean to rivers for spawning. (Shows 'лосось' in a scientific or biological context with verb conjugation.)

• В магазине я купил свежую сёмгу для праздничного стола. (V magazine ya kupil svazhuyu syomgu dlya prazdnicheskogo stola.)

  At the store, I bought fresh smoked salmon for the holiday table. (Highlights 'сёмга' in a casual shopping and cultural event context.)

Figurative or culinary extensions - Sometimes used metaphorically for something valuable or in idiomatic expressions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лосось - In rare metaphorical uses, e.g., implying rarity or quality, but primarily literal.

Usage Examples:

• Этот проект – как лосось в океане: редкий и ценный. (Etot proyekt – kak losos' v okeane: redkiy i cennïy.)

  This project is like salmon in the ocean: rare and valuable. (A metaphorical use to show 'лосось' in idiomatic language.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'лосось' and 'сёмга' are both masculine nouns in Russian, following standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. 'лосось' is invariable in plural forms in some contexts but can inflect regularly.

For 'сёмга': It follows a similar pattern but is less commonly pluralized.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сёмга - Similar to 'salmon' but often implies smoked or processed forms; used interchangeably in casual speech.
  • кижуч - Refers to a specific type of Pacific salmon, more regional.
• Antonyms: None directly, as it's a specific noun. However, contrasting terms like пресноводная рыба (freshwater fish) could be considered in broader contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Копчёный лосось (Kopchyoniy losos') - Smoked salmon; a popular delicacy in Russian cuisine, often served at holidays.
• Свежий лосось (Svazhiy losos') - Fresh salmon; used in recipes or market contexts to emphasize quality.
• Лосось на гриле (Losos' na grille) - Grilled salmon; a common phrase in cooking instructions.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'лосось' for general or formal references to the fish, especially in scientific or environmental discussions, as it directly corresponds to the English 'salmon'. 'Сёмга' is more specific to prepared or Atlantic varieties and is common in informal, culinary settings. Be mindful of case endings in Russian sentences; for example, use genitive for possession. In formal writing, pair with adjectives like 'дикий' (wild) to distinguish from farmed salmon.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'лосось' interchangeably with 'сёмга' without context, e.g., saying "Я ем сёмгу" when referring to raw fish. Correct: Use 'лосось' for raw or general fish; 'сёмга' for smoked. Explanation: This confusion arises from partial translations, leading to inaccurate descriptions in recipes.
• Mistake: Forgetting case changes, e.g., saying "Я вижу лосось" in accusative contexts instead of "Я вижу лосося". Correct: Adjust to "Я вижу лосося". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, salmon (especially 'лосось') holds significance in traditional cuisine, particularly in regions like Siberia and the Far East where fishing is a key activity. It's often featured in festive meals, symbolizing abundance and natural resources, and appears in folk tales as a symbol of migration and survival.

Related Concepts:

• форель (forel') - Trout, another freshwater fish.
• осётр (osyotr) - Sturgeon, often compared in gourmet contexts.
• рыба (ryba) - General term for fish.