Russian

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

Declension

Usage notes

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

See also

• сыч ‎(syč)
• фи́лин ‎(fílin)

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *sova.

Noun

со́ва f ‎(Latin spelling sóva)

1. owl

Declension

Ukrainian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *sova.

Pronunciation

Noun

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

1. owl

Declension

References

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