Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vestigial'

English Word: vestigial

Key Russian Translations:

• рудиментарный [ru.dʲɪ.mʲɪn.ˈtar.nɨj] - [Formal, Scientific]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in scientific and academic contexts, less so in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires familiarity with biological terminology and Russian adjective declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рудиментарный: [ru.dʲɪ.mʲɪn.ˈtar.nɨj]

Note on рудиментарный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('tar'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants (e.g., 'dʲ' and 'mʲ'). Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Remaining as a vestige, particularly in a biological or evolutionary context, referring to structures that have lost most or all of their original function.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рудиментарный - Used in formal, scientific discussions to describe evolutionary remnants, such as organs in humans or animals that no longer serve a primary purpose.

Usage Examples:

• В эволюции человека аппендикс стал рудиментарным органом.

  In human evolution, the appendix has become a vestigial organ.

• Рудиментарные структуры в животных часто изучаются для понимания эволюционных процессов.

  Vestigial structures in animals are often studied to understand evolutionary processes.

• Этот хвост у эмбрионов млекопитающих является рудиментарным и исчезает по ходу развития.

  This tail in mammalian embryos is vestigial and disappears as development progresses.

• Биологи рассматривают рудиментарные черты как доказательство общего происхождения видов.

  Biologists view vestigial features as evidence of the common ancestry of species.

• В современной медицине рудиментарные органы, такие как копчик, редко вызывают проблемы.

  In modern medicine, vestigial organs like the coccyx rarely cause issues.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Рудиментарный" is an adjective in Russian, which means it inflects based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ый/-ий. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward once the basic patterns are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • атавистический (atavisticheskij) - Often used interchangeably in evolutionary contexts, but implies a reversion to ancestral traits.
  • рудиментный (rudimentnyj) - A more direct variant, emphasizing rudimentary nature.
• Antonyms:
  • развитый (razvityj) - Indicates fully developed or advanced features.
  • функциональный (funktsionalnyj) - Refers to structures that are actively functional.

Related Phrases:

• Рудиментарные органы - Vestigial organs; commonly used in biology to discuss evolutionary remnants.
• Рудиментарные структуры - Vestigial structures; refers to non-functional anatomical features in organisms.
• Эволюционные рудименты - Evolutionary vestiges; a phrase highlighting remnants from past adaptations.

Usage Notes:

"Рудиментарный" directly corresponds to "vestigial" in English, especially in scientific contexts, but it is more commonly used in formal writing or academic discussions in Russian. Be mindful of its adjective inflections based on gender, number, and case, which differ from English. For instance, when describing a feminine noun like "структура" (structure), use "рудиментарная". In everyday Russian, this term is rare outside of educational or professional settings, so learners should prioritize contexts like biology textbooks. If multiple translations exist, choose "рудиментарный" for precision in evolutionary topics, but verify the grammatical agreement for natural usage.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "рудиментарный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "рудиментарный орган" for a feminine noun when it should be "рудиментарная структура".

  Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's gender and case, as in "рудиментарная структура". This mistake arises from English's lack of declensions, leading to awkward phrasing.

• Error: Confusing it with "атавистический", which implies a throwback to ancient traits rather than simple remnants.

  Correct: Use "рудиментарный" for general vestigial features; for example, say "аппендикс рудиментарный" instead of "аппендикс атавистический" unless discussing genetic reversion.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and science, terms like "рудиментарный" are heavily influenced by Darwinian evolution theory, which was widely adopted in Soviet biology. This reflects Russia's strong tradition in natural sciences, where such concepts are used to explain human anatomy in educational contexts, often linking to broader philosophical discussions about human origins and adaptation.

Related Concepts:

• эволюция (evolution)
• адаптация (adaptation)
• атавизм (atavism)