Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shoal'

English Word: shoal

Key Russian Translations:

• мель [mʲelʲ] - [Formal, used in nautical or geographical contexts]
• косяк [kɐˈsʲak] - [Informal, specifically for groups of fish or animals]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in contexts like geography, fishing, or literature, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level per CEFR; requires basic understanding of Russian nouns and declensions; for 'косяк', it may vary slightly based on context but generally aligns with B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мель: [mʲelʲ]

косяк: [kɐˈsʲak]

Note on мель: The 'м' is palatalized, which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'm' followed by 'yeh'. Pronounce it with a light stress on the first syllable.

Note on косяк: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'к' is unaspirated, common in Russian, and the 'я' sound is like 'ya' in 'yard'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A shallow area in a body of water (e.g., a sandbank or underwater ridge)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мель - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as navigation or environmental discussions, to describe underwater shallows that can be hazardous to boats.

Usage Examples:

• Корабль налетел на мель во время шторма.

  The ship ran aground on a shoal during the storm.

• В этой реке много мелей, поэтому нужно быть осторожным.

  There are many shoals in this river, so one must be careful.

• Мореходы всегда отмечают мели на картах для безопасности.

  Seafarers always mark shoals on maps for safety.

• Из-за мели вода здесь теплее и мельче.

  Because of the shoal, the water here is warmer and shallower.

Meaning 2: A large group of fish or other sea creatures swimming together

Translation(s) & Context:

• косяк - Commonly used in informal or everyday contexts related to fishing, wildlife, or nature documentaries, implying a collective movement.

Usage Examples:

• Рыбаки увидели огромный косяк сардин у берега.

  The fishermen saw a huge shoal of sardines near the shore.

• В океане косяки тунца мигрируют каждую осень.

  In the ocean, shoals of tuna migrate every autumn.

• Косяк акул приблизился к лодке, вызвав панику.

  A shoal of sharks approached the boat, causing panic.

• Морские биологи изучают, как косяки рыб координируют движения.

  Marine biologists study how shoals of fish coordinate their movements.

• Летом косяки сельди заполняют заливы.

  In summer, shoals of herring fill the bays.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'мель' and 'косяк' are Russian nouns. 'Мель' is a feminine noun (feminine singular in its base form), while 'косяк' is a masculine noun. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. Below are the key inflections:

Note: These words do not have irregular inflections; they follow standard patterns for their genders. For plural forms, 'мель' becomes 'мели' in nominative plural, and 'косяк' becomes 'косяки'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for мель: отмель (otmel' - similar but often implies a beach or shore), банка (banka - for sandbanks)
• Synonyms for косяк: стая (staya - for a flock or school, with a broader animal context), скопление (skopleniye - for a gathering, more neutral)
• Antonyms for мель: глубина (glubina - depth, opposite in nautical terms)
• Antonyms for косяк: одиночка (odinochka - solitary fish, implying isolation)

Brief notes: 'Отмель' is often interchangeable with 'мель' in coastal contexts but may emphasize a more accessible shallow area. 'Стая' for 'косяк' can apply to birds as well, adding versatility.

Related Phrases:

• Морская мель - A sea shoal; used in navigation to warn of hazards.
• Косяк рыбы - A shoal of fish; common in fishing reports or ecological discussions.
• Пройти через мель - To pass through a shoal; implies navigating shallow waters carefully.
• Большой косяк в океане - A large shoal in the ocean; often in contexts of marine life migration.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'мель' directly corresponds to the nautical sense of 'shoal' and is preferred in formal or technical English-Russian translations, while 'косяк' aligns with the biological sense. Be mindful of context: 'Мель' is inanimate and doesn't change much in everyday speech, but always declines based on case. For 'косяк', it's more dynamic and often used with quantifiers like 'большой' (large). English learners should note that Russian requires precise case agreement; for example, use genitive after prepositions like 'на' (on). When choosing between translations, opt for 'мель' in geographical texts and 'косяк' in wildlife scenarios to ensure naturalness.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'мель' without proper declension, e.g., saying "на мель" instead of "на мели" in genitive contexts. Correct: "на мели" – This mistake often stems from ignoring Russian case rules, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing 'косяк' with 'стая' and using it for non-fish groups, e.g., "косяк птиц" (incorrect for birds). Correct: Use "стая птиц" instead. Explanation: 'Косяк' is specific to fish or linear animal groups, while 'стая' is more general.

• Error: Pronouncing 'мель' with an English 'm' sound, making it sound like "mel" without palatalization. Correct: Emphasize the soft 'мʲ' as in [mʲelʲ]. This can make the word unintelligible to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'мель' often appears in folklore and literature, such as in stories about sailors and mythical creatures like mermaids, symbolizing hidden dangers in vast waterways like the Black Sea or Volga River. 'Косяк' evokes images of abundant marine life in Russia's extensive coastlines, reflecting themes of resourcefulness in fishing communities, as seen in traditional songs and proverbs about the sea's bounty and risks.

Related Concepts:

• отмель
• стая
• глубина
• рыбный косяк