The word "sputnik" is a noun.
The phonetic transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /ˈsputɪŋk/.
The word "sputnik" translates to "satellite", specifically in the context of artificial satellites, often referencing the Soviet satellites launched during the Cold War.
In the Spanish language, "sputnik" is often used contextually to refer to the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. The term can be used in both written and oral contexts, but it is often found in discussions related to space exploration, history, and science. Its frequency of use has diminished since the initial excitement of the space race, but it still holds historical significance.
Example Sentences:
- En 1957, la Unión Soviética lanzó el primer sputnik.
(In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first Sputnik.)
- El sputnik marcó el inicio de la carrera espacial entre Estados Unidos y la Unión Soviética.
(The Sputnik marked the beginning of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.)
While "sputnik" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions, it is tied to certain historical phrases or contexts relating to the Cold War and the space race. Here are a couple of derived expressions:
Este descubrimiento fue el sputnik de la historia de la medicina.
(This discovery was the Sputnik of the history of medicine.)
"Los sputniks de la tecnología"
(The Sputniks of technology) - Refers to groundbreaking technologies that revolutionize their fields.
The term "sputnik" originates from the Russian word "спутник" (pronounced "sputnik"), which means "satellite" or "companion." It combines "спут" (sput), which relates to companionship or following, and "ник" (nik), a common suffix in Russian.
Synonyms:
- Satélite (satellite)
- Orbital (orbital)
- Nave espacial (spacecraft)
Antonyms:
- Tierra (land/earth)
- Contaminación (pollution, referring to man-made objects not in orbit)
In summary, "sputnik" holds a significant historical and scientific place in both the Spanish language and broader discourse about space exploration and technological advancement.