сова

Russian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *sova.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [sɐˈva]

• audio

  (file)

Noun

сова́ • (sová) f anim (genitive совы́, nominative plural со́вы, genitive plural сов)

1. owl

   бе́лая сова́ ― bélaja sová ― (Bubo scandiacus, syn. Nyctea scandiaca) snowy owl

   уша́стая сова́ ― ušástaja sová ― (Asio otus) horned owl

   Он сиди́т, как сова́ на забо́ре

   On sidít, kak sová na zabóre

   He doesn’t pay attention to anything (half blind and absent-minded).

2. night person, night owl

Usage notes

In Russian culture, owls are not known for their wisdom; rather, they symbolize daytime blindness and absent-mindedness.

Declension

Declension of сова́ (anim fem-form hard-stem accent-d) 

	singular	plural
nominative	сова́ sová	со́вы sóvy
genitive	совы́ sový	со́в sóv
dative	сове́ sové	со́вам sóvam
accusative	сову́ sovú	со́в sóv
instrumental	сово́й, сово́ю sovój, sovóju	со́вами sóvami
prepositional	сове́ sové	со́вах sóvax

See also

• сыч (syč)
• фи́лин (fílin)

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Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *sova.

Noun

со́ва f (Latin spelling sóva)

1. owl

Declension

Declension of сова

	singular	plural
nominative	сова	сове
genitive	сове	сова
dative	сови	совама
accusative	сову	сове
vocative	сово	сове
locative	сови	совама
instrumental	совом	совама

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Ukrainian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *sova.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

сова́ • (sová) f anim (genitive сови́, nominative plural со́ви)

1. owl

Declension

Declension of сова́

	singular	plural
nominative	сова́ sová	со́ви sóvy
genitive	сови́ sový	сов sov
dative	сові́ soví	со́вам sóvam
accusative	сову́ sovú	со́ви, сов sóvy, sov
instrumental	сово́ю sovóju	со́вами sóvamy
locative	сові́ soví	со́вах sóvax
vocative	со́во sóvo	со́ви sóvy

References

• Bilodid I. K., editor (1970–1980), “сова”, in Slovnyk ukrajinsʹkoji movy, Kiev: Naukova Dumka