"bear"

Translation: медведь

[TomYurkovic]

When it's a female voice pronouncing it, it sounds fine. However, when it's the male's voice, it sounds almost like, "Medovich". Is anyone else hearing this?

[JaredCrivello]

I've always been told that bear is мишка. When I look for a translation online, it says медведь. Is there something special going on here?

[deactivated user]

Медве́дь is the usual word for 'bear', ми́шка is a diminutive/endearment form, meaning some small or cute bear.

Most words in Russian can have a diminutive version, usually with a -к- suffix: змея́ 'snake' — зме́йка 'little/cute snake', соба́ка 'dog' — соба́чка 'doggie', кот 'cat' — ко́тик 'small/cute cat', сто́л 'table' — сто́лик 'small table', etc.

[Muddle_Jumper]

Just for the sake of curiosity: does the surname Medvedev mean son of the bear?

[deactivated user]

«Bear's», to be exact, «son» is implied. «Медве́дев» used to be a possessive adjective.

[va-diim]

Thank you, now I understand. The proper noun Bear--his son, not the animal bear's son.

[fraspig]

И Маша ;)

[killacami]

Is it just me or is there only one answer available??

[Jedrek369]

Why is "ь" at the end. Is it audible or I have to just remember that?

[va-diim]

Yes, it's audible. "д" sounds differently than "дь."