Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'suckle'

English Word: suckle

Key Russian Translations:

• сосать /sɐˈsatʲ/ - [Informal; Commonly used in everyday contexts involving nursing or feeding]

Frequency: Medium (This verb appears in discussions about childcare, animal husbandry, and health, but it's not among the most common everyday words in Russian.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 level; Learners must understand verb conjugations and aspects, which can be challenging for beginners due to irregular patterns in perfective/imperfective forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сосать: /sɐˈsatʲ/

Note on сосать: The stress falls on the second syllable, and the final 't' is palatalized, which is common in Russian verbs. Be cautious with the soft 's' sound, as it may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: To feed a baby or young animal by allowing it to suck milk from the breast or udder.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сосать - Used in informal or neutral contexts, such as describing infant nursing or animal behavior; often in family, medical, or veterinary discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Малыш сосет молоко у матери, и это помогает ему расти здоровым.

  The baby is suckling milk from its mother, and this helps it grow healthy.

• Кошка позволяет своим котятам сосать, пока они не наедятся.

  The cat allows its kittens to suckle until they are full.

• В сельской местности фермеры наблюдают, как теленок сосет у коровы.

  In rural areas, farmers watch as the calf suckles from the cow.

• Иногда дети продолжают сосать, даже когда они уже не нуждаются в молоке.

  Sometimes children continue to suckle even when they no longer need milk.

• Медсестра объясняет, как правильно сосать для лучшего питания.

  The nurse explains how to suckle properly for better nutrition.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сосать is an imperfective verb in Russian, meaning it describes ongoing or repeated actions. It follows standard first-conjugation patterns but has some irregularities in its aspects. The perfective counterpart is "пососать" (pososat'), used for completed actions.

Note: This verb does not change for gender in the infinitive form but adjusts in past tense based on the subject.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • кормить грудью (kormit' grud'yu) - More specific to breastfeeding humans; implies nurturing rather than just the action.
  • пить молоко (pit' moloko) - Less formal, used for drinking milk in general contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • отказываться от еды (otkazyvat'sya ot edy) - To refuse food, contrasting the act of suckling.

Related Phrases:

• Кормить грудью (kormit' grud'yu) - Breastfeeding; often used in parenting contexts to describe the overall process.
• Сосать палец (sosat' palets) - To suck one's thumb; a common phrase for habits in children, with implications of comfort or delay in development.
• Материнское молоко (materinskoye moloko) - Mother's milk; related to the nutritional aspect of suckling.

Usage Notes:

сосать directly corresponds to "suckle" in English, focusing on the action of sucking for nourishment. It is typically used in informal or neutral settings, such as family discussions or medical advice, but avoid it in overly formal writing where "кормить грудью" might be preferred for humans. Pay attention to verb aspects: use the imperfective сосать for ongoing actions and the perfective пососать for completed ones. For animal contexts, it's straightforward, but in human contexts, it may carry emotional connotations related to bonding.

• When choosing between translations, use сосать for the literal act and кормить грудью for a more holistic view of feeding.
• Grammar note: Always conjugate based on the subject; common errors include mixing tenses in narratives.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using сосать in formal medical reports instead of more precise terms like кормить грудью. Correct: In professional contexts, say "Ребенок кормит грудью" instead of "Ребенок сосет". Explanation: сосать sounds too casual and literal, potentially understating the nurturing aspect.
• Error: Incorrect conjugation, e.g., saying "я сосать" instead of "я сосу". Correct: "Я сосу молоко" for "I am suckling milk". Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number, which English learners often overlook.
• Error: Confusing with synonyms, e.g., using пить (to drink) for suckling. Correct: Use сосать for the specific sucking action. Explanation: пить implies general drinking, not the intimate feeding process.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, suckling and breastfeeding are often associated with strong maternal bonds and traditional family values. Historically, practices like extended breastfeeding were common in rural areas, reflecting themes in Russian literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy). However, modern influences have introduced more varied approaches, with public health campaigns promoting it as essential for child development.

Related Concepts:

• молоко (moloko) - Milk
• ребенок (rebenok) - Child
• кормление (kormleniye) - Feeding