Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'seals'

English Word: seals

Key Russian Translations:

• тюлень [ˈtʲulʲɪnʲ] - [Informal, Singular, Used for common references to the animal]
• прокладка [prɐˈkladkə] - [Formal, Technical, Used in engineering contexts for seals as gaskets or seals in machinery]
• печать [pʲɪˈt͡ɕatʲ] - [Formal, Legal, Used for seals as stamps or official imprints]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'тюлень' is common in everyday conversation about wildlife, while 'прокладка' and 'печать' are more specialized)

Difficulty: B1 for 'тюлень' (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun declensions); B2 for 'прокладка' and 'печать' (Upper Intermediate, due to contextual and technical usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тюлень: [ˈtʲulʲɪnʲ]

прокладка: [prɐˈkladkə] - Note: The stress on the second syllable can vary slightly in fast speech; ensure to pronounce the 'к' as a hard [k].

печать: [pʲɪˈt͡ɕatʲ] - Note: The 'ч' is a palatalized [t͡ɕ], which is a common challenge for English speakers; it sounds like 'ch' in 'church' but softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Marine mammal (e.g., referring to the animal like a seal in English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тюлень - Used in casual or educational contexts when discussing wildlife, marine biology, or nature documentaries.

Usage Examples:

• В океане часто можно увидеть тюленя, который ловко плавает и охотится за рыбой.

  In the ocean, you can often see a seal swimming skillfully and hunting for fish.

• Тюлени – это умные животные, которые живут в холодных водах Арктики.

  Seals are intelligent animals that live in the cold waters of the Arctic.

• Во время экскурсии мы наблюдали, как тюлень вылезает на берег, чтобы отдохнуть.

  During the excursion, we watched as a seal climbed onto the shore to rest.

• Молодой тюлень учится плавать под присмотром своей матери.

  A young seal is learning to swim under the supervision of its mother.

Meaning 2: A device or material for sealing (e.g., in engineering or packaging)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прокладка - Used in technical or mechanical contexts, such as automotive or industrial sealing.

Usage Examples:

• В автомобиле прокладка двигателя предотвращает утечку масла.

  In a car, the engine seal prevents oil leakage.

• Для герметичности трубы используют специальную прокладку из резины.

  For pipe sealing, they use a special rubber seal.

• Изношенная прокладка может привести к проблемам с гидравликой.

  A worn seal can cause issues with the hydraulics.

Meaning 3: An official stamp or imprint (e.g., for documents)

Translation(s) & Context:

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

Usage Examples:

• Документ должен иметь официальную печать для подтверждения подлинности.

  The document must have an official seal to confirm its authenticity.

• В России печать на паспорте указывает на гражданство.

  In Russia, the seal on a passport indicates citizenship.

• Без печати контракт не считается юридически действительным.

  Without a seal, the contract is not considered legally binding.

• Государственная печать используется на всех важных указах.

  The state seal is used on all important decrees.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'тюлень' (a masculine noun in the second declension):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	тюлень	тюлени
Genitive	тюленя	тюленей
Dative	тюленю	тюленям
Accusative	тюленя	тюленей
Instrumental	тюленем	тюленями
Prepositional	тюлене	тюленях

For 'прокладка' (a feminine noun in the first declension, it follows regular patterns):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	прокладка	прокладки
Genitive	прокладки	прокладок

For 'печать' (feminine, first declension, no irregularities):

This word is relatively stable and follows standard feminine noun inflections without major exceptions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • морской котик (for 'тюлень', meaning sea lion, but less common)
  • герметик (for 'прокладка', meaning sealant in technical contexts)
  • штемпель (for 'печать', meaning stamp, with a slight connotation of everyday use)
• Antonyms:
  • открытие (for 'прокладка', meaning opening or unsealing)
  • неподтвержденный (for 'печать', meaning unverified or unofficial)

Related Phrases:

• Тюлень на льдине - A seal on an ice floe (common in descriptions of Arctic wildlife).
• Прокладка для окон - Window seal (used in construction for weatherproofing).
• Официальная печать - Official seal (refers to governmental or legal authentication).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'тюлень' directly corresponds to the English 'seal' as an animal and is commonly used in informal settings, but remember to decline it correctly based on case. For technical 'seals' like 'прокладка', it's more precise in professional jargon and often paired with specific materials (e.g., 'резиновая прокладка' for rubber seal). 'Печать' is formal and implies authority, so use it in official contexts only. When choosing among translations, opt for 'тюлень' in everyday scenarios and 'прокладка' or 'печать' based on context to avoid confusion with English homonyms.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'тюлень' in a technical context, e.g., saying "тюлень для машины" instead of "прокладка для машины". Correct: 'Прокладка' is the proper term for mechanical seals. Explanation: This confuses the animal with engineering, which can lead to misunderstandings in professional settings.
• Error: Forgetting to decline 'тюлень' in sentences, e.g., "Я видел тюлень" (incorrect accusative). Correct: "Я видел тюленя". Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so always check the grammatical role.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'тюлень' often appears in folklore and literature as a symbol of the harsh Arctic environment, featured in stories from indigenous Siberian peoples. For 'печать', it carries historical significance in Russian bureaucracy, dating back to tsarist times, where official seals denoted imperial authority, emphasizing trust and authenticity in governance.

Related Concepts:

• дельфин (dolphin)
• морской лев (sea lion)
• герметизация (sealing process)
• штамп (stamp)