Animals in Russian: Vocabulary Quiz

Study Notes

Animals in Russian

Russian has a unique system of word formation, which makes translations from English to Russian particularly interesting. Unlike English, Russian is an inflected language, which means that the endings of words change depending on the part of speech they play in a sentence. This system, combined with the Russian language's rich vocabulary, allows for a wide variety of translations for different animals.

Mammals

Mammals are a class of animals that have mammary glands and produce milk to feed their young. In Russian, mammals are referred to as "млекопитающие," which translates to "milk-producing animals." Some common mammals in Russian include:

Барсук (barsuk): European badger
Браконьер (brasioner): poacher
Валериан (valerian): red fox
Волк (volk): wolf
Голубь (golub'): pigeon
Долгоносик (dolgonosik): mole
Жираф (zhiraf): giraffe
Животные (zhivotnye): animals, specifically mammals
Играйка (igrayka): badger
Кролик (krolik): rabbit
Лось (los'): elk, moose
Медведь (medved'): bear
Носорог (nosorog): rhinoceros
Орёл (orol'): eagle
Пеликан (pelikan): pelican
Ракушка (rakushka): snail
Слон (slon'): elephant
Тигр (tigr'): tiger
Утка (utka): duck
Форель (forel'): trout
Хомячок (khomyachok): hamster
Чепряга (chepragha): hedgehog
Шершень (shershen'): stallion

Birds

Birds are a class of animals that have feathers, lay hard-shelled eggs, and are warm-blooded. In Russian, birds are referred to as "птицы," which translates to "birds." Some common birds in Russian include:

Аист (aist): heron
Балобан (baloban): ostrich
Гагара (gagara): cormorant
Дрозд (drozd): thrush
Жаворонок (zhavoronok): sparrow
Иволга (ivolga): chaffinch
Какга (kakga): crow
Лисица (lisica): lynx
Малаха (malaha): magpie
Орел (orol'): eagle
Пикулы (pikuly): chicks
Ракетка (raketka): stork
Соловьё (soloveryo): nightingale
Тараканы (tarakany): ants
Утки (utki): ducks
Фазан (fazan): pheasant
Хохла (khokhla): owl
Шпион (shpion): spy
Эмка (emka): hen
Ястреб (yastreb): hawk

Reptiles

Reptiles are a class of animals that have scales, lay soft-shelled eggs, and are cold-blooded. In Russian, reptiles are referred to as "пресмыкающиеся," which translates to "crawling creatures." Some common reptiles in Russian include:

Ящер (yacher): lizard
Ведмедица (vedmitsa): viper
Гекон (gekon): gecko
Желтая змея (zheltaya zmeya): yellow viper
Игуана (iguan): iguana
Комодский варан (komodskiy varan): komodo dragon
Лазая ящерица (lazaya yachertica): skink
Настоящий гадюка (nastoyashchiy gadyuk): real adder
Обыкновенная ядовитая змея (obiknovennaya yadovitaia zmeya): common venomous snake
Питон (piton): python
Рогатая ящерица (rogataia yachertica): horned lizard
Саламандра (salamandra): salamander
Трионикс (trioniks): monitor lizard
Ужевид (uzhevid): snake
Хохлатая ящерица (khokhataya yachertica): chameleon
Эластичный уж (elastichnyy uzh): rubber snake
Ядовитый уж (yadovityy uzh): venomous snake

Fish

Fish are a group of animals that live in the water. In Russian, fish are referred to as "рыбы," which translates to "fish." Some common fish in Russian include:

Акула (akula): shark
Бабушка (babushka): grandmother
Восьмоморочка (vosmomorochka): cuttlefish
Голубяк (golubyak): anchovy
Дельфин (delfin): dolphin
Железко (zhelisko): perch
Карась (karas): carp
Лопастик (lopastik): whale
Малютка (malyutka): baby
Настя (n