Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'seal'

English Word: seal

Key Russian Translations:

• тюлень [ˈtʲulʲɪnʲ] - [Informal, Common for animal context]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'тюлень' appears regularly in everyday Russian conversations about wildlife, but not as commonly as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp it with some exposure to Russian noun declensions, though the palatalized pronunciation may pose a slight challenge for beginners.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тюлень: [ˈtʲulʲɪnʲ]

Note on тюлень: The initial 'т' is palatalized (softened by the following 'ю'), which is a common feature in Russian but can be tricky for English speakers. Stress falls on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A marine mammal (e.g., the animal that lives in the sea)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тюлень - Used in informal or educational contexts when discussing wildlife, marine biology, or casual observations. It's the most direct equivalent for 'seal' as an animal.

Usage Examples:

• В океане плавает большой тюлень.

  In the ocean, a large seal is swimming.

• Тюлень ловко ныряет за рыбой в холодных водах.

  The seal skillfully dives for fish in the cold waters.

• Дети в зоопарке наблюдали за тюленем, который играл в бассейне.

  The children at the zoo watched the seal playing in the pool.

• Учёные изучают популяцию тюленей в Арктике.

  Scientists are studying the seal population in the Arctic.

Meaning 2: A stamp or seal for official documents (if applicable, as 'seal' can have this secondary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• печать - Used in formal, legal, or administrative contexts, such as official documents or signatures.

Usage Examples:

• Документ должен иметь официальную печать.

  The document must have an official seal.

• Печать на контракте подтверждает его подлинность.

  The seal on the contract confirms its authenticity.

• В России печать часто используется в бизнес-документах.

  In Russia, a seal is often used in business documents.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'тюлень' (a masculine noun, first declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with changes based on case and number. It is a regular noun with no irregularities.

For 'печать' (a feminine noun, third declension), it is also regular and changes based on case and number as follows:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: морской лев (sea lion; used for similar marine animals, but implies a larger species)
• Antonyms: (Not directly applicable, as 'seal' doesn't have a clear opposite; conceptually, perhaps сухопутное животное, but that's not specific.)

Related Phrases:

• Тюлень в океане - A seal in the ocean; refers to marine habitats and is commonly used in educational or environmental discussions.
• Охота на тюленей - Seal hunting; a phrase related to wildlife conservation or historical practices, often with cultural implications.
• Печать на документе - Seal on a document; used in formal contexts to denote authentication.

Usage Notes:

When translating 'seal' to Russian, choose 'тюлень' for the animal meaning in everyday or informal settings, as it directly corresponds and is widely understood. For official contexts like documents, use 'печать', which aligns with formal English usage. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical cases; for example, 'тюлень' must decline based on its role in the sentence. English speakers often overlook palatalization, so practice pronunciation to avoid sounding unnatural. If multiple meanings are possible, context is key—e.g., in wildlife topics, 'тюлень' is preferred over 'печать'.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'тюлень' in a formal document context instead of 'печать'. Correct: Say "Нужна печать на договоре" (A seal is needed on the contract) instead of "Нужен тюлень на договоре" (which incorrectly implies an animal). Explanation: This confusion arises from not distinguishing between homonyms in English; always check the context to select the right word.
• Mistake: Forgetting to decline 'тюлень' in sentences, e.g., saying "Я видел тюлень" in genitive contexts. Correct: Use "Я видел тюленя" for accusative. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English lacks, so learners must memorize declensions to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'тюлень' (seal) often appears in folklore and environmental discussions, symbolizing the vast Arctic regions of Russia. For instance, seals are iconic in stories from indigenous Siberian communities, representing adaptability in harsh climates. Meanwhile, 'печать' as an official seal reflects Russia's bureaucratic traditions, where stamped documents hold significant legal weight, dating back to imperial times.

Related Concepts:

• Дельфин (dolphin)
• Морской лев (sea lion)
• Океанская фауна (oceanic fauna)