Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'waterfowl'

English Word: waterfowl

Key Russian Translations:

• водоплавающие птицы [vɐdəpləˈvajəʂʲɪjə ptʲiˈt͡sɨ] - [Formal, General usage for water birds like ducks and geese]
• птицы водоплавающие [ptʲiˈt͡sɨ vɐdəpləˈvajəʂʲɪjə] - [Informal, Often used in everyday conversation or regional dialects]

Frequency: Medium (Common in contexts related to nature, wildlife, and hunting, but not as frequent as basic everyday vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of compound words and basic noun phrases in Russian, per CEFR standards. For 'водоплавающие птицы', it's B1; for 'птицы водоплавающие', it's slightly easier at A2 due to simpler structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

водоплавающие птицы: [vɐdəpləˈvajəʂʲɪjə ptʲiˈt͡sɨ]

птицы водоплавающие: [ptʲiˈt͡sɨ vɐdəpləˈvajəʂʲɪjə]

Note on водоплавающие птицы: The stress falls on the third syllable of 'водоплавающие' (va-do-PLA-va-yu-shchie), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'ш' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Birds that inhabit or frequent water bodies, such as ducks, geese, and swans, often in the context of wildlife or ornithology.

Translation(s) & Context:

• водоплавающие птицы - Used in formal or scientific contexts, such as environmental reports or wildlife discussions.
• птицы водоплавающие - Applied in informal settings, like casual conversations about nature or hobbies like birdwatching.

Usage Examples:

• В озере обитают различные водоплавающие птицы, такие как утки и гуси.

  In the lake, various waterfowl live, such as ducks and geese. (This example shows the term in a descriptive, natural setting.)

• Охотники часто наблюдают за птицами водоплавающими в реке.

  Hunters often observe waterfowl in the river. (Illustrates usage in a recreational or practical context.)

• Водоплавающие птицы мигрируют на юг зимой, чтобы избежать холода.

  Waterfowl migrate south in winter to escape the cold. (Demonstrates the term with verbs and seasonal contexts.)

• Птицы водоплавающие в парке привлекают туристов своей красотой.

  Waterfowl in the park attract tourists with their beauty. (Shows the term in a tourism or aesthetic context.)

• Исследования водоплавающих птиц помогают понять экосистему озера.

  Studies of waterfowl help understand the lake's ecosystem. (Highlights scientific or educational usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Водоплавающие птицы' is a noun phrase where 'водоплавающие' is an adjective and 'птицы' is a plural noun. Russian adjectives and nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. 'Водоплавающие' agrees with 'птицы' in gender (feminine plural) and changes accordingly.

For 'птицы' (birds, feminine plural noun):

'Водоплавающие' inflects as an adjective: e.g., Genitive plural: водоплавающих птиц. It follows regular adjective patterns. 'Птицы водоплавающие' has similar inflections but is less common and may not change as flexibly in informal use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • утки (ducks) - More specific, often used interchangeably in casual contexts.
  • гуси (geese) - Refers to a subset, with a focus on larger birds.
  • птицы водные (water birds) - A broader but less precise alternative, suitable for general descriptions.
• Antonyms:
  • птицы наземные (land birds) - Refers to birds that primarily live on land, contrasting with aquatic habitats.
  • хищные птицы (birds of prey) - Implies predatory birds, which are not typically waterfowl.

Related Phrases:

• Охота на водоплавающих птиц - Hunting waterfowl; commonly used in discussions about recreational hunting or wildlife management.
• Миграция водоплавающих птиц - Migration of waterfowl; refers to seasonal bird movements, often in ecological contexts.
• Гнездование птиц водоплавающих - Nesting of waterfowl; describes breeding behaviors in wetland areas.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'водоплавающие птицы' directly corresponds to 'waterfowl' as a collective term, emphasizing birds adapted to aquatic environments. It is typically used in formal or technical contexts, while 'птицы водоплавающие' is more flexible for informal speech. Be mindful of word order in Russian, as adjectives often follow the noun in less formal phrases. When choosing between translations, opt for 'водоплавающие птицы' in written or scientific English-to-Russian conversions to maintain precision. Grammatically, ensure agreement in case and number, e.g., in genitive constructions like 'охота на водоплавающих птиц'.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the singular form 'водоплавающая птица' when referring to a group, which can sound unnatural. Correct: 'Водоплавающие птицы' for plural. Explanation: Russian nouns require plural forms for groups, unlike English where 'waterfowl' can be singular or plural.

• Error: Misplacing the adjective, e.g., saying 'птицы водоплавающие' in formal writing where 'водоплавающие птицы' is standard. Correct: Stick to 'водоплавающие птицы' for consistency. Explanation: Word order affects formality and clarity in Russian sentences.

• Error: Confusing with 'водные птицы' (water birds), which is broader. Correct: Use 'водоплавающие птицы' for specific waterfowl. Explanation: 'Водные птицы' includes non-swimming birds near water, leading to imprecise meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, waterfowl like ducks and geese hold significance in folklore and traditions, such as in hunting customs or folk tales. For instance, they symbolize migration and seasonal changes, reflecting Russia's vast wetlands and rivers. This cultural connotation can add depth to literature or environmental discussions, where waterfowl often represent resilience in harsh climates.

Related Concepts:

• утки (ducks)
• гуси (geese)
• птицы хищные (birds of prey)
• миграция (migration)