Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shotgun'

English Word: shotgun

Key Russian Translations:

• дробовик [dɐˈbro.vʲɪk] - [Formal, used in contexts like hunting or military; Masculine noun]
• ружьё [ruˈʐʲjɵ] - [Informal, more general term for a gun; Masculine noun, but less specific]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of firearms, hunting, or action contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; Requires basic knowledge of Russian nouns and vocabulary related to tools/weapons; For 'дробовик', it's straightforward; for 'ружьё', similar difficulty)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дробовик: [dɐˈbro.vʲɪk]

ружьё: [ruˈʐʲjɵ]

Note on дробовик: The stress is on the second syllable; be mindful of the soft sign (ʲ) which affects the pronunciation of the preceding consonant, making it softer—a common challenge for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A firearm with a smooth bore designed for firing small projectiles at short range (e.g., for hunting or self-defense).

Translation(s) & Context:

• дробовик - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing hunting equipment or law enforcement tools; common in rural or outdoor settings.
• ружьё - A more general term, applicable in informal conversations about guns, but less precise for shotguns specifically; often used in broader weapon discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу он всегда берёт с собой дробовик для защиты от диких животных.

  In the forest, he always takes his shotgun with him for protection against wild animals.

• Дробовик — это идеальное оружие для охоты на уток в болотистой местности.

  A shotgun is the ideal weapon for hunting ducks in marshy terrain.

• Полиция использует дробовик в операциях по захвату преступников.

  The police use a shotgun in operations to apprehend criminals.

• В фильме герой вооружился ружьём, чтобы противостоять врагам.

  In the movie, the hero armed himself with a gun (shotgun context) to face his enemies.

Informal or slang usage (e.g., calling "shotgun" to claim a front seat in a vehicle, though less common in Russian).

Translation(s) & Context:

• дробовик (informally borrowed) - Rarely used; in youth slang, might reference claiming a seat, but it's not standard; more common in anglicized contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Эй, я первый крикнул "дробовик" — это моё место впереди!

  Hey, I called 'shotgun' first — that's my spot in the front!

• В нашей компании, чтобы сесть впереди, нужно быстро сказать "ружьё" или просто "первым".

  In our group, to get the front seat, you have to quickly say 'shotgun' or just 'first'.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'дробовик' and 'ружьё' are masculine nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. They inflect based on case, number, and gender agreements. 'Дробовик' is a regular noun with no irregularities, while 'ружьё' can have slight variations in some forms.

These nouns do not change in plural forms as frequently, but if needed: Plural Nominative for 'дробовики' and 'ружья'. They remain unchanged in some fixed phrases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дробовое ружьё (more descriptive, emphasizes the type of gun)
  • охотничье ружьё (hunting gun; slight difference in context, as it's specific to hunting)
• Antonyms:
  • пистолет (pistol; a handheld weapon, contrasting in size and range)

Related Phrases:

• охотничее дробовик — A hunting shotgun; used in contexts of outdoor sports or wildlife management.
• загружаемое ружьё — Loaded gun; refers to a prepared shotgun in action scenarios.
• дробовик для самообороны — Shotgun for self-defense; common in discussions about personal security.

Usage Notes:

Choose 'дробовик' for precise translations of 'shotgun' in formal or technical contexts, as it directly matches the English term's meaning related to smoothbore firearms. 'Ружьё' is more general and can be used informally, but it might not convey the specific type of gun. Be aware of Russian's grammatical gender—both are masculine—so adjectives and verbs must agree accordingly (e.g., "большой дробовик" for "big shotgun"). In slang usages like calling "shotgun" for a car seat, Russian doesn't have a direct equivalent, so it's often borrowed or adapted, which is more common among younger speakers influenced by English media.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'дробовик' with 'пистолет' (pistol), thinking all guns are interchangeable. Incorrect: "Я хочу купить пистолет для охоты" (meaning a shotgun). Correct: "Я хочу купить дробовик для охоты". Explanation: 'Пистолет' is for handguns, not long-barreled weapons like shotguns.

• Mispronouncing the stress in 'дробовик' (e.g., stressing the first syllable). Incorrect pronunciation: [ˈdɐ.bro.vʲɪk]. Correct: [dɐˈbro.vʲɪk]. Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings, as stress changes the word's perceived identity in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, shotguns like 'дробовик' are often associated with hunting traditions, especially in rural areas where activities such as bird hunting are popular. Historically, during the Soviet era, strict gun control limited civilian access, so these weapons carry connotations of necessity for survival or sport rather than casual ownership, unlike in some Western cultures.

Related Concepts:

• патроны (cartridges)
• охота (hunting)
• самооборона (self-defense)