Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bake'

English Word: bake

Key Russian Translations:

• печь [pʲetɕ] - [Informal, General Use]
• выпекать [vɨpʲɪˈkatʲ] - [Formal, Technical]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "печь"); B1 (Intermediate for "выпекать")

Pronunciation (Russian):

печь: [pʲetɕ]

Note on печь: The soft 'ч' sound is distinct in Russian; ensure the tongue touches the palate lightly.

выпекать: [vɨpʲɪˈkatʲ]

Note on выпекать: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced with the tongue pulled back.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To cook food by dry heat (e.g., in an oven)

Translation(s) & Context:

• печь - Commonly used for baking bread, pies, or cakes in everyday speech.
• выпекать - More formal or technical, often used in recipes or professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю печь хлеб по выходным.

  I love to bake bread on weekends.

• Она пекла торт всю ночь.

  She was baking a cake all night.

• В этой пекарне выпекают свежие булочки каждый день.

  In this bakery, they bake fresh buns every day.

• Мы будем печь пироги на праздник.

  We will bake pies for the holiday.

• Рецепт требует выпекать тесто при 180 градусах.

  The recipe requires baking the dough at 180 degrees.

2. To heat something intensely (figurative or literal, e.g., the sun baking the earth)

Translation(s) & Context:

• печь - Used in a figurative sense for intense heat, often with the sun or fire.

Usage Examples:

• Солнце печёт так сильно, что невозможно выйти на улицу.

  The sun is baking so intensely that it’s impossible to go outside.

• Земля пекла под ногами после жаркого дня.

  The ground was baking underfoot after a hot day.

• Огонь пёк лицо, пока мы сидели у костра.

  The fire was baking my face while we sat by the campfire.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

печь (verb, irregular): This verb has irregular conjugation in the present and past tenses. It belongs to the second conjugation group but has stem changes.

выпекать (verb, regular): This verb follows regular first conjugation patterns with the prefix "вы-".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "печь":

• выпекать (more formal)
• готовить (general "to cook", less specific)

Note: "печь" is more colloquial and widely used in everyday speech, while "выпекать" is precise and formal, often found in written recipes.

Antonyms:

• замораживать (to freeze)

Related Phrases:

• печь как на сковородке - Lit. "to bake like on a frying pan", meaning to feel very hot or uncomfortable due to heat.
• выпекать по рецепту - "to bake according to a recipe", a common phrase in cooking contexts.
• печь на открытом огне - "to bake over an open fire", often used for traditional cooking methods.

Usage Notes:

• "печь" is the more versatile and commonly used term for "bake" in Russian. It can refer to baking food or describe intense heat (e.g., the sun baking the earth).
• "выпекать" is more specific to the act of baking food in an oven and is often used in formal or technical contexts, such as recipes or professional baking.
• Be mindful of the irregular conjugation of "печь"; it’s a common source of errors for learners.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "выпекать" in casual conversation. Incorrect: "Я выпекаю хлеб каждый день." Correct: "Я пеку хлеб каждый день." (Explanation: "выпекать" sounds overly formal for everyday speech.)
• Error: Misconjugating "печь" by treating it as a regular verb. Incorrect: "Я печу." Correct: "Я пеку." (Explanation: The stem changes irregularly in the present tense.)

Cultural Notes:

Baking, especially of bread and pies, holds a significant place in Russian culture. The verb "печь" is often associated with traditional Russian ovens ("печка"), which were historically central to village life for both cooking and heating homes. Phrases involving "печь" can carry a nostalgic or rustic connotation.

Related Concepts:

• печка (traditional Russian stove)
• хлеб (bread)
• пирог (pie)