Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scavenger'

English Word: scavenger

Key Russian Translations:

• стервятник [ˈstʲɛrvʲætnʲik] - [Informal, used for animals, e.g., in wildlife or metaphorical contexts]
• сборщик отбросов [sˈbɐrɕɪk ɐtˈbɐrəsəf] - [Formal, plural forms possible, used for human or waste-related activities]
• мусорщик [ˈmusərɕɪk] - [Informal, everyday language, often in urban or colloquial settings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in environmental, wildlife, and everyday contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary in general conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and contextual usage; for "стервятник," it may be A2 for beginners due to its concrete meaning, while "сборщик отбросов" could be B2 for its compound structure)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стервятник: [ˈstʲɛrvʲætnʲik] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' which can be tricky for English speakers)

сборщик отбросов: [sˈbɐrɕɪk ɐtˈbɐrəsəf] (Multiple syllables; note the soft 'р' in "сборщик" and the rolling 'р' in "отбросов"; practice the vowel reductions in unstressed positions)

мусорщик: [ˈmusərɕɪk] (Similar to the above; the 'у' is pronounced as a short 'u' sound, and the word ends with a soft consonant)

Note on стервятник: This word has a voiceless 'т' in the middle, which might be confused with a 'd' sound by English learners; it's often used metaphorically in Russian literature.

Note on сборщик отбросов: The compound nature means stress shifts; be aware of regional variations in pronunciation across Russian dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An animal that feeds on dead or decaying matter (e.g., a vulture).

Translation(s) & Context:

• стервятник - Used in natural history, wildlife documentaries, or metaphorical expressions for opportunists.

Usage Examples:

• В пустыне стервятники кружат над тушей животного.

  In the desert, scavengers circle over the animal's carcass.

• Стервятник — это типичный пример падальщика в экосистеме.

  A scavenger is a typical example of a scavenger in the ecosystem.

• В фильме стервятник символизирует жадность и алчность.

  In the film, the scavenger symbolizes greed and avarice.

• Молодой стервятник учится охотиться на остатки пищи.

  The young scavenger learns to hunt for food remnants.

Meaning 2: A person who searches for and collects discarded items (e.g., waste picker).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сборщик отбросов - Formal contexts like environmental discussions or social services.
• мусорщик - Informal, everyday talk, such as in cities or waste management.

Usage Examples:

• Сборщик отбросов работает на свалке, чтобы перерабатывать материалы.

  The scavenger works at the landfill to recycle materials.

• Мусорщик нашел ценный предмет в куче отходов.

  The scavenger found a valuable item in the pile of waste.

• В бедных районах сборщики отбросов зарабатывают на жизнь, собирая металлолом.

  In poor areas, scavengers make a living by collecting scrap metal.

• Мусорщик осторожно сортирует мусор, избегая опасных предметов.

  The scavenger carefully sorts through the trash, avoiding hazardous items.

• Сборщик отбросов стал героем документального фильма о экологии.

  The scavenger became the hero of a documentary film about ecology.

Meaning 3: In computing or technical contexts, something that cleans up data (e.g., a cleanup process).

Translation(s) & Context:

• очиститель - Used in technical or IT discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Программа-очиститель удаляет ненужные файлы с жесткого диска.

  The scavenger program removes unnecessary files from the hard drive.

• Очиститель в системе работает как автоматический сборщик отбросов.

  The scavenger in the system works like an automatic cleanup tool.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are nouns, which inflect based on case, number, and gender in Russian. "Стервятник" is a masculine noun (animate), while "сборщик отбросов" is a masculine noun phrase, and "мусорщик" is also masculine.

Case	Singular (стервятник)	Plural (стервятники)
Nominative	стервятник	стервятники
Genitive	стервятника	стервятников
Dative	стервятнику	стервятникам
Accusative	стервятника	стервятников
Instrumental	стервятником	стервятниками
Prepositional	стервятнике	стервятниках

For "сборщик отбросов" and "мусорщик," they follow similar patterns as masculine nouns. Note: These are regular inflections; no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • падальщик (more literary, for animals)
  • собиратель (general term for collector)
• Antonyms:
  • охотник (hunter, as it implies active pursuit rather than scavenging)
  • производитель (producer, in ecological contexts)

Note: "Падальщик" is often used interchangeably with "стервятник" but carries a more negative connotation in some contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Стервятник в небе - A scavenger in the sky (refers to birds circling, often metaphorically for opportunists).
• Сборщик отбросов на свалке - A scavenger at the dump (common in discussions of waste management or poverty).
• Мусорный стервятник - Garbage scavenger (a slang phrase for someone who rummages through trash, with a humorous or derogatory tone).

Usage Notes:

"Scavenger" translates variably in Russian based on context: use "стервятник" for animal-related meanings and "сборщик отбросов" for human activities to maintain formality. Be cautious with informal terms like "мусорщик" in casual speech, as they can imply lower social status. Grammatically, these nouns require case agreement, e.g., in prepositional phrases. When choosing among translations, opt for "стервятник" in metaphorical English uses, as it's more idiomatic in Russian literature.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "стервятник" for human scavengers, which might sound odd or metaphorical. Correct: Use "сборщик отбросов" instead. Example of error: "Человек-стервятник на улице" (implies the person is like a vulture). Correct: "Человек-сборщик отбросов на улице" – This avoids unintended negative connotations.

• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., saying "стервятник в дом" instead of "стервятнике в доме" (prepositional case). Explanation: Russian requires precise case endings for grammatical accuracy; English learners often overlook this due to English's lack of cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "стервятник" often appears in folklore and literature as a symbol of death or opportunism, drawing from Slavic myths where scavenger birds like vultures represent the harshness of nature. This contrasts with Western views, where scavengers might symbolize resourcefulness in survival stories.

Related Concepts:

• экосистема (ecosystem)
• переработка (recycling)
• падаль (carrion)