птичка
ptichka
The English phrase "little bird" is translated into Russian as птичка (ptichka).
птичка is used to refer to a small bird.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a diminutive form of птица (bird), where the suffix '-чка' is used to create a sense of smallness or endearment.
Which one should you use?
While птичка specifically refers to a small bird, the standard word for any bird regardless of size is птица.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of птичка is птички. If the little bird is the direct object of a verb, such as in the sentence "I see a little bird", the form changes to птичку.
How do you pronounce it?
ptichka
Did you know?
- In a digital context, if you want to say you 'checked' a box or a checkbox, you might use the word птичка to refer to the 'checkmark' symbol.
- In some contexts, птичка is used as slang for a small aircraft or a glider, treating the plane as a bird.
- Russian allows for 'nested' diminutives, so you can turn птичка into птичечка to make the bird sound even smaller and cuter.
Examples in context
- Он ест как птичка.He eats like a little bird.This sentence shows how to use птичка in a comparison.Tatoeba #827515 by ae5s, translation #12654815 by rul
- Мне птичка на крыльях принесла.A little bird told me.This sentence illustrates the English idiom "A little bird told me" using птичка.Tatoeba #2455247 by odexed, translation #327991 by CM
- У меня в окне маленькая птичка.There's a little bird in my window.This sentence shows how to describe a small bird located at a window.Tatoeba #12000297 by marafon, translation #11965415 by puppetshow
- На ветке сидит маленькая птичка.A little bird is sitting on the branch.
- Летит красивая пташка.A beautiful little bird is flying.
Example conversation
Olga and Andrey are sitting in a park near a tree.
- Ольга OlgaСмотри, какая красивая птичка на ветке!Smotri, kakaya krasivaya ptichka na vetke!Look, what a beautiful little bird on the branch!
- Андрей AndreyДа, эта птичка очень маленькая.Da, eta ptichka ochen' malen'kaya.Yes, this little bird is very small.
- Ольга OlgaАндрей, ты слышишь, как она поёт?Andrey, ty slyshish', kak ona poyot?Andrey, do you hear how she sings?
- Андрей AndreyДа, эта птичка поёт чудесно.Da, eta ptichka poyot chudesno.Yes, this little bird sings wonderfully.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
