Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tame'

English Word: tame

Key Russian Translations:

• Приручить [prʲɪˈrut͡ɕɪtʲ] - [Formal, Verb]
• Ручной [ˈrut͡ɕnəj] - [Informal, Adjective, Used in everyday contexts like describing pets]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and wildlife discussions, but not in casual everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and adjective agreements, varying by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Приручить: [prʲɪˈrut͡ɕɪtʲ]

Note on Приручить: The stress is on the third syllable; the 'ч' sound is a soft palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers—similar to the 'ch' in 'loch' but softer.

Ручной: [ˈrut͡ɕnəj]

Note on Ручной: The 'ч' sound here is also soft; it ends with a soft 'й' sound, which may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To domesticate or make less wild (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Приручить - Used in contexts involving animals or abstract concepts like taming emotions, often in formal or narrative settings.

Usage Examples:

• В зоопарке они приручили дикого волка, чтобы он стал частью выставки.

  In the zoo, they tamed the wild wolf so it could become part of the exhibit.

• Ему удалось приручить свой страх перед высотой с помощью терапии.

  He managed to tame his fear of heights with therapy.

• Природа иногда приручает даже самых опасных зверей, если они растут в неволе.

  Nature sometimes tames even the most dangerous animals if they grow up in captivity.

• Дети часто пытаются приручить бездомных кошек в парке.

  Children often try to tame stray cats in the park.

Meaning 2: Domesticated or not wild (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Ручной - Applied to animals or objects that are gentle and accustomed to human interaction, in informal daily conversations.

Usage Examples:

• Эта ручная кошка любит играть с детьми и не боится шума.

  This tame cat loves playing with children and isn't afraid of noise.

• В цирке выступают ручные тигры, которых дрессировщики научили трюкам.

  In the circus, tame tigers perform tricks that trainers have taught them.

• Ручной попугай может повторять слова, если его правильно воспитать.

  A tame parrot can repeat words if it's raised properly.

• Не все ручные животные подходят для домашнего содержания из-за их размеров.

  Not all tame animals are suitable for home keeping due to their size.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Приручить" (verb, perfective): This is a first-conjugation verb with regular inflections. It follows standard patterns for Russian verbs.

For "Ручной" (adjective): This is a regular adjective that agrees in gender, number, and case. It has no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• Одушевить (to animate or make lively, with a more poetic connotation)
• Привить (to instill or acclimate, often for habits)

Antonyms:

• Одичаеть (to become wild)
• Дикий (wild)

Related Phrases:

• Приручить зверя - To tame an animal; Used in stories or wildlife contexts to describe domestication efforts.
• Ручной питомец - A tame pet; Common in everyday discussions about household animals.
• Приручение природы - Taming of nature; Refers to human efforts to control or domesticate natural elements, with environmental implications.

Usage Notes:

"Приручить" is a perfective verb, ideal for completed actions, while its imperfective counterpart "приручивать" suits ongoing processes. For "tame" as an adjective, "ручной" directly corresponds but requires agreement with the noun it modifies. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives change form based on gender and case, which "tame" does not. Choose "приручить" for formal or literary contexts and "ручной" for casual descriptions; avoid mixing with unrelated words like "укротить" (to subdue), which implies force.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "приручить" without proper verb conjugation, e.g., saying "Я приручить" instead of "Я приручу".

  Correct: "Я приручу волка" (I will tame the wolf). Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with subject in person and number.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "ручной волк" for a feminine noun.

  Correct: Use "ручая волчица" for a female wolf. Explanation: Adjectives in Russian must match the noun's gender, number, and case to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of taming (e.g., "приручить") often appears in folklore and literature, such as in stories by Leo Tolstoy or in fairy tales where animals are tamed to symbolize human mastery over nature. It can carry connotations of harmony with the wild, influenced by Russia's vast wilderness, rather than pure domination as in some Western narratives.

Related Concepts:

• Дикий
• Охотничий
• Домашний