Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'thresher'

English Word: thresher

Key Russian Translations:

• молотилка [mɐlɐˈtʲilkə] - [Informal, Used in agricultural contexts]
• акула-молот [ɐˈkulə mɐˈlot] - [Formal, Used in zoological or marine contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation; more relevant in specialized fields like agriculture or marine biology.)

Difficulty: B1 for 'молотилка' (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun declensions); B2 for 'акула-молот' (Upper-Intermediate, due to compound word structure and specific vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

молотилка: [mɐlɐˈtʲilkə]

Note on молотилка: The stress is on the third syllable ('tilkə'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 't' sound. Pronounce it with a soft 'l' as in 'million'.

акула-молот: [ɐˈkulə mɐˈlot]

Note on акула-молот: This is a compound noun; stress the first syllable of each word. The 'o' in 'молот' is pronounced like the 'o' in 'not'. Common variations in casual speech may soften the 'l'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A machine used in agriculture to separate grain from stalks (e.g., a thresher machine)

Translation(s) & Context:

• молотилка - Used in informal or rural settings to describe a simple grain-separating device; common in historical or traditional farming discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Фермеры используют молотилку для обработки урожая осенью. (Farmers use the thresher to process the harvest in the autumn.)

  English Translation: Farmers use the thresher to process the harvest in the autumn.

• Эта старая молотилка все еще работает, несмотря на свой возраст. (This old thresher is still functioning despite its age.)

  English Translation: This old thresher is still functioning despite its age. (Shows the noun in a nominative context with adjectives.)

• В музее есть экспонат молотилки из XIX века. (In the museum, there's an exhibit of a thresher from the 19th century.)

  English Translation: In the museum, there's an exhibit of a thresher from the 19th century. (Demonstrates use in a historical context.)

• Молотилка сломалась во время уборки, и нам пришлось вызвать мастера. (The thresher broke down during the harvest, and we had to call a repairman.)

  English Translation: The thresher broke down during the harvest, and we had to call a repairman. (Illustrates the noun in an accusative case with verbs.)

Meaning 2: A type of shark with a long tail (e.g., thresher shark)

Translation(s) & Context:

• акула-молот - Used in formal, scientific, or educational contexts to describe the species; often in wildlife documentaries or biology texts.

Usage Examples:

• Акула-молот обитает в теплых океанах и известна своим длинным хвостом. (The thresher shark inhabits warm oceans and is known for its long tail.)

  English Translation: The thresher shark inhabits warm oceans and is known for its long tail. (Basic descriptive use.)

• Во время дайвинга мы увидели акулу-молот вблизи. (During diving, we saw a thresher shark up close.)

  English Translation: During diving, we saw a thresher shark up close. (Contextual use in adventure narratives.)

• Акула-молот питается мелкой рыбой, используя хвост как оружие. (The thresher shark feeds on small fish, using its tail as a weapon.)

  English Translation: The thresher shark feeds on small fish, using its tail as a weapon. (Explains behavior in an informative context.)

• Исследователи изучают популяцию акул-молот в Тихом океане. (Researchers are studying the population of thresher sharks in the Pacific Ocean.)

  English Translation: Researchers are studying the population of thresher sharks in the Pacific Ocean. (Scientific application.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns, but they follow different inflection patterns in Russian. 'Молотилка' is a feminine noun (3rd declension), while 'Акула-молот' is a compound noun treated as feminine.

Note: These nouns do not change for gender but follow standard Russian declension rules. 'Молотилка' is invariable in plural forms in some dialects.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Молотилка: сепаратор (separator) - More technical term for agricultural machinery.
  • Акула-молот: хвостовая акула (tail shark) - Informal synonym in marine biology.
• Antonyms:
  • For молотилка: None directly, as it's a specific tool; conceptually, ручной труд (manual labor) as an opposite method.
  • For акула-молот: Тихая рыба (quiet fish) - Not a direct antonym, but used to contrast aggressive species.

Related Phrases:

• Молотилка для зерна - (Thresher for grain; refers to a specific type of agricultural equipment.)
• Атака акулы-молот - (Attack of the thresher shark; used in wildlife or adventure contexts to describe behavior.)
• Ремонт молотилки в поле - (Repairing the thresher in the field; common phrase in rural settings.)

Usage Notes:

'Молотилка' directly corresponds to the agricultural meaning of 'thresher' and is best used in informal or historical contexts, avoiding formal writing. 'Акула-молот' matches the marine meaning and is preferred in scientific discussions. Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences (e.g., adjectives must agree with the feminine noun). When choosing between translations, select based on context: agricultural vs. biological. English speakers often confuse 'thresher' with similar tools, so clarify the exact usage to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'молотилка' in a plural form incorrectly, e.g., saying "молотилкас" instead of "молотилки".
  Correct: Молотилки (plural nominative). Explanation: Russian nouns follow specific declension patterns; always check the case for accuracy.
• Error: Mispronouncing 'акула-молот' by stressing the wrong syllable, leading to confusion with other shark types.
  Correct: Stress on 'ку' in акула. Explanation: Incorrect stress can alter perceived meaning in Russian, so practice with native audio.
• Error: Failing to decline the noun in sentences, e.g., using nominative in all cases.
  Correct: Adjust for case, like "о молотилке" (about the thresher). Explanation: This is a common mistake for English learners due to English's lack of cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'молотилка' evokes images of traditional farming life, often romanticized in literature like Tolstoy's works, symbolizing rural hardship and innovation. 'Акула-молот' appears in folklore and modern media as a symbol of ocean mysteries, reflecting Russia's vast maritime heritage and environmental concerns in the Arctic and Pacific regions.

Related Concepts:

• Комбайн (Combine harvester)
• Акула (Shark)
• Сельскохозяйственная техника (Agricultural machinery)