Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sparrow'

English Word: sparrow

Key Russian Translations:

• воробей [vɐrɐˈbʲej] - [Formal, Neutral; Refers to the common bird species]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about nature, wildlife, or children's stories, but not as frequent as basic household words)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; Straightforward vocabulary for new learners, as it involves simple noun forms and basic contexts)

Pronunciation (Russian):

воробей: [vɐrɐˈbʲej]

Note on воробей: The stress falls on the second syllable ("bʲej"). Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) which softens the preceding consonant, making it a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The small, common bird of the sparrow family

Translation(s) & Context:

• воробей - Used in general contexts to describe the bird in everyday life, literature, or nature observations. Common in informal or educational settings.

Usage Examples:

• В саду поёт воробей. (V sadu poyot vorobey.)

  In the garden, the sparrow is singing. (This example shows the noun in a simple present-tense sentence, highlighting its role in describing wildlife.)

• Маленький воробей построил гнездо на дереве. (Malen'kiy vorobey postroil gnezdo na dereve.)

  The little sparrow built a nest in the tree. (Demonstrates the noun with an adjective for size and in a past-tense action, common in storytelling.)

• Дети кормят воробьёв в парке. (Deti kormyat vorob'yov v parke.)

  The children are feeding the sparrows in the park. (Illustrates the plural form and interaction in a social context, emphasizing everyday activities.)

• Воробей — символ весны в русской поэзии. (Vorobey — simvol vesny v russkoy poezii.)

  The sparrow is a symbol of spring in Russian poetry. (Shows metaphorical use in cultural or literary contexts, expanding beyond literal descriptions.)

• Этот воробей выглядит больным. (Etot vorobey vyglyadit bol'nym.)

  This sparrow looks sick. (Uses the noun with an adjective to describe a state, applicable in observational or educational scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Воробей is a masculine noun in the second declension. It follows regular noun inflection patterns in Russian, changing based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is invariant in terms of gender but changes predictably with cases. For beginners, focus on nominative and accusative forms first, as they are most common in simple sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пташка (ptashka) - A more diminutive or affectionate term, often used in informal or poetic contexts to refer to small birds.
  • воробушек (vorobushek) - A diminutive form, implying endearment, commonly used in children's language or folklore.
• Antonyms:
  • орёл (oryol) - Refers to an eagle, symbolizing something large and majestic, contrasting with the small, common sparrow.

Related Phrases:

• Воробьиный домик (Vorobyinyi domik) - A birdhouse for sparrows; literally "sparrow house," used in contexts of wildlife conservation or gardening.
• Корм для воробьёв (Korm dlya vorobyov) - Bird feed for sparrows; a practical phrase in everyday animal care, meaning "feed for sparrows."
• Воробей на крыше (Vorobey na kryshe) - Sparrow on the roof; an idiomatic expression in folklore, implying something ordinary or unnoticed, with the meaning "an everyday sight."

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "воробей" directly corresponds to the English "sparrow" as a noun for the bird, but it's often used in neutral or positive contexts, such as in children's stories or nature descriptions. Unlike English, Russian nouns require case agreement, so always adjust "воробей" based on its role in the sentence (e.g., genitive for possession). For formal writing, stick to the standard form; in informal speech, diminutives like "воробушек" add affection. When choosing among translations, "воробей" is the most precise for general use, but consider context—if discussing poetry, it may carry symbolic weight.

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse the case endings, such as saying "Я вижу воробей" instead of the correct "Я вижу воробья" (I see the sparrow). Error: Incorrect accusative case. Correct: Use genitive or accusative as needed; explanation: Russian requires nouns to change based on grammatical function, so in direct objects, adjust to accusative.

• Confusing it with similar words, like using "птица" (bird) interchangeably without specifying, leading to "Этот птица — воробей" instead of "Эта птица — воробей." Error: Gender mismatch or lack of specificity. Correct: "воробей" is masculine, so ensure agreement; explanation: Always check noun gender and context to avoid vague generalizations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the sparrow (воробей) often symbolizes simplicity, resilience, and the beauty of everyday life. It appears frequently in folklore and literature, such as in fables by Ivan Krylov, where it represents the common folk. Historically, sparrows were seen as harbingers of spring in rural traditions, reflecting themes of renewal and survival in harsh winters.

Related Concepts:

• птица (ptitsa) - General term for bird.
• ворон (voron) - Raven, often contrasted with smaller birds in stories.
• ласточка (lastachka) - Swallow, another common bird in Russian poetry and symbolism.