Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spawn'

English Word: spawn

Key Russian Translations:

• порождать [pɐˈroʐdətʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Used in biological or generative contexts]
• потомство [pɐˈtomstvə] - [Noun, Formal, Plural forms common in discussions of lineage or offspring]
• разводить [rɐzɐˈvjitʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used when referring to breeding or spawning in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, biological, and gaming contexts, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (For "порождать" and "потомство" due to verb conjugations and noun declensions; "разводить" is A2 Beginner level as it's more straightforward)

Pronunciation (Russian):

порождать: [pɐˈroʐdətʲ]

Note on порождать: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like the 's' in "measure." Stress falls on the second syllable.

потомство: [pɐˈtomstvə]

Note on потомство: The final 'о' is reduced in casual speech to a schwa sound [ə], common in unstressed positions in Russian.

разводить: [rɐzɐˈvjitʲ]

Note on разводить: The 'в' is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative; pay attention to the soft sign 'ь' affecting the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To produce or generate offspring, especially in a biological sense (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• порождать - Used in formal scientific or literary contexts, such as describing animal reproduction.
• разводить - Applied in informal or practical settings, like fish farming or animal breeding.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Лосось порождает миллионы икринок в реке каждый год.

  English: Salmon spawn millions of eggs in the river every year.

• Русский: В лаборатории ученые разводят новые виды рыб для исследования.

  English: In the laboratory, scientists spawn new fish species for research.

• Русский: Животные в дикой природе порождают потомство только в определенное время года.

  English: Animals in the wild spawn offspring only at a specific time of year.

• Русский: Рыбаки разводят мальков в искусственных бассейнах для коммерческого использования.

  English: Fishermen spawn fry in artificial ponds for commercial purposes.

Meaning 2: Offspring or products resulting from generation (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• потомство - Used in formal contexts to refer to descendants or progeny, often in biological or historical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Потомство этой породы рыб быстро адаптируется к новым условиям.

  English: The spawn of this fish breed quickly adapts to new conditions.

• Русский: В зоопарке изучают потомство редких видов для сохранения биоразнообразия.

  English: In the zoo, they study the spawn of rare species to preserve biodiversity.

• Русский: Потомство морских обитателей часто подвержено угрозам от загрязнения.

  English: The spawn of marine creatures is often threatened by pollution.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "порождать" (a verb of the first conjugation), it follows regular patterns but has irregularities in perfective aspects. Here's a breakdown:

For "потомство" (a neuter noun, third declension), it is indeclinable in most cases due to its ending, meaning it doesn't change form in different cases: Nominative: потомство; Genitive: потомства; etc. "Разводить" (verb) follows first conjugation patterns similar to "порождать."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: производить (to produce, more general); выводить (to breed, often for animals)
• Antonyms: уничтожать (to destroy); подавлять (to suppress, in metaphorical contexts)

Related Phrases:

• Порождать потомство - Refers to generating offspring; used in biological contexts.
• Разводить рыбу - Means breeding or spawning fish; common in aquaculture.
• Молодое потомство - Describes young spawn or offspring; often in wildlife discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Порождать" is a more formal equivalent to "spawn" as a verb and is preferred in scientific writing, while "разводить" suits everyday or practical scenarios. Be cautious with context: in Russian, these words often imply intentional breeding rather than natural processes. For nouns like "потомство," it's neuter and typically plural, so use with appropriate adjectives (e.g., "молодое потомство"). When choosing between translations, opt for "разводить" in informal speech to match the English word's versatility.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "порождать" with "производить" and using it incorrectly in non-biological contexts. Correct: Use "производить" for manufacturing. Example of error: *Я порождаю машину* (wrong); Correct: Я производю машину.

• Error: Failing to decline nouns properly, e.g., using "потомство" without considering its case. Correct: In genitive, say "потомства" as in "изучение потомства." This often happens because English learners overlook Russian's case system.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "потомство" carry historical connotations related to lineage and heritage, often seen in literature (e.g., in Tolstoy's works discussing family dynasties). "Spawn" in gaming contexts (e.g., "спавн" borrowed from English) reflects modern influences, highlighting Russia's adoption of Western pop culture in technology and entertainment.

Related Concepts:

• производство
• выводок
• размножение