Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vulture'

English Word: vulture

Key Russian Translations:

• стервятник [ˈstʲɪrvʲætnʲik] - [Formal, used in scientific or natural contexts]
• гриф [ɡrʲif] - [Informal, often in everyday or metaphorical speech]

Frequency: Medium - This word is not extremely common in daily conversation but appears frequently in discussions about wildlife, ecology, or metaphorical expressions in media and literature.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level should grasp it with basic knowledge of Russian nouns and vocabulary; however, for metaphorical uses, it may vary to B2 depending on context.

Pronunciation (Russian):

стервятник: [ˈstʲɪrvʲætnʲik]

гриф: [ɡrʲif]

Note on стервятник: The stress falls on the first syllable, and the 'т' sound can be softened in fast speech, which is common in Russian phonetics for words with palatalized consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A large bird of prey that feeds on carrion

Translation(s) & Context:

• стервятник - Used in formal, scientific, or descriptive contexts, such as wildlife documentaries or biology texts.
• гриф - Applied in more casual or general discussions, often interchangeably but with a slightly less precise connotation.

Usage Examples:

• В пустыне Африки стервятники кружат над тушами животных.

  In the African desert, vultures circle over animal carcasses.

• Грифы — это важные птицы в экосистеме, очищающие окружающую среду.

  Vultures are important birds in the ecosystem, cleaning up the environment.

• Во время сафари мы наблюдали, как стервятник спускается за добычей.

  During the safari, we watched as the vulture descended for its prey.

• Гриф часто ассоциируется с выносливостью в природе.

  The vulture is often associated with resilience in nature.

2. Metaphorical use: A person who exploits others or seeks profit from misfortune

Translation(s) & Context:

• стервятник - Used in figurative language, especially in journalism or literature to describe greedy individuals, often with a negative connotation.
• гриф - Less common in metaphors but can be used informally in similar contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В бизнесе иногда встречаются стервятники, готовые воспользоваться чужими неудачами.

  In business, you sometimes encounter vultures ready to exploit others' misfortunes.

• Эти стервятники СМИ всегда ищут сенсации в чужих бедах.

  These media vultures are always looking for sensations in others' troubles.

• Грифы финансового мира кружат вокруг умирающих компаний.

  Financial vultures circle around dying companies.

• Не будь стервятником; помоги коллегам, а не используй их слабости.

  Don't be a vulture; help your colleagues instead of exploiting their weaknesses.

• В политике стервятники часто появляются после скандалов.

  In politics, vultures often appear after scandals.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "стервятник" and "гриф" are masculine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard masculine declension patterns. "Стервятник" is a common noun with regular inflections, while "гриф" is also regular but simpler.

Note: These are regular patterns, so no irregularities; however, in metaphorical uses, the noun remains unchanged in form but context-driven.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • падальщик (padal'shchik) - A less common synonym, often used in poetic or archaic contexts.
  • хищник (khishchnik) - More general, implying any predator, with a slight difference in specificity.
• Antonyms:
  • добытчик (dobytchik) - Refers to a provider or hunter, contrasting the scavenging nature.
  • защитник (zashchitnik) - Implies a protector, opposite in metaphorical contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Стервятник кружит (Stervjatnik kruzhit) - Meaning: The vulture is circling; used metaphorically for opportunists waiting to strike.
• Гриф в небе (Grif v nebe) - Meaning: Vulture in the sky; often in wildlife descriptions or as a symbol of impending doom.
• Стервятники войны (Stervjatniki voiny) - Meaning: War vultures; refers to profiteers in conflict zones.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "стервятник" directly corresponds to the literal English "vulture" and is preferred in formal or educational contexts, while "гриф" might be chosen for simplicity in casual speech. Be mindful of the metaphorical extension, which carries a strong negative connotation similar to English. Grammatically, always decline these nouns according to Russian case rules to avoid errors. When choosing between translations, use "стервятник" for precision in nature-related topics and "гриф" for broader or informal metaphors.

Common Errors:

• Confusing gender: Learners often treat "стервятник" as neuter, but it's masculine. Error: "Это стервятникО" (incorrect). Correct: "Это стервятник" (nominative). Explanation: Russian nouns have grammatical gender, which affects adjectives and verbs.

• Overusing in metaphors: Beginners might apply "стервятник" too literally in figurative speech. Error: Saying "Он стервятник в офисе" without context. Correct: Add details like "Он стервятник, ждущий чужих ошибок." Explanation: Provide context to avoid ambiguity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, vultures like "стервятник" often symbolize death and opportunism in literature and folklore, such as in stories by writers like Tolstoy, where they represent the harsh realities of life. This reflects broader Slavic themes of nature's brutality, helping users understand the word's deeper, more ominous connotations beyond its biological meaning.

Related Concepts:

• хищная птица (khishnaya ptitsa)
• падаль (padal')
• экосистема (ekosistema)