Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'beef'

English Word: beef

Key Russian Translations:

• говядина [ɡɐˈvʲadʲɪnə] - [Neutral, Commonly Used for Meat as Food]
• мясо [ˈmʲasə] - [Neutral, General Term for Meat, Less Specific]

Frequency: High (especially "говядина" in food contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "говядина"; A1 for "мясо")

Pronunciation (Russian):

говядина: [ɡɐˈvʲadʲɪnə]

Note on говядина: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "г" is pronounced as a voiced velar stop, and "я" is a palatalized vowel sound.

мясо: [ˈmʲasə]

Note on мясо: Stress on the first syllable. The "я" is soft, and the final "о" is often reduced in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Beef as Meat from Cattle

Translation(s) & Context:

• говядина - Refers specifically to beef as the meat of a cow, used in culinary and everyday contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил говядину для ужина.

  I bought beef for dinner.

• Говядина в этом магазине всегда свежая.

  The beef in this store is always fresh.

• Ты любишь жареную говядину?

  Do you like fried beef?

2. Beef as a General Term for Meat (Less Common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мясо - A broader term for meat, sometimes used when the type of meat is unspecified or in general discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Мы едим мясо каждый день.

  We eat meat every day.

• Это мясо выглядит очень аппетитно.

  This meat looks very appetizing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

говядина (feminine noun): Follows the regular declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а. Below is the declension table for singular and plural forms.

мясо (neuter noun): Follows the regular declension pattern for neuter nouns ending in -о. It is often used in the singular as it is a mass noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for говядина:

• мясо (general term for meat, less specific)

Note: "мясо" is broader and can refer to any type of meat, while "говядина" is specific to beef.

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "beef" is a specific type of meat.

Related Phrases:

• говяжий стейк - Beef steak, a popular dish.
• говяжий бульон - Beef broth, often used in soups.
• жареная говядина - Fried beef, a common preparation method.

Usage Notes:

• "говядина" is the precise translation for "beef" when referring to the meat of a cow. It is the term to use in recipes or when shopping for meat.
• "мясо" is a general term for meat and should only be used when the type of meat is unclear or irrelevant. Using "мясо" when specificity is expected may confuse listeners.
• Be aware of the context: in culinary discussions, always default to "говядина" to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "мясо" instead of "говядина" when specifically referring to beef.

• Incorrect: Я купил мясо для стейка. (I bought meat for a steak.) - This is vague and could imply any type of meat.
• Correct: Я купил говядину для стейка. (I bought beef for a steak.) - This specifies the type of meat.

Error 2: Mispronouncing "говядина" by stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., stressing the first syllable instead of the second).

• Incorrect Pronunciation: [ˈɡovʲadʲɪnə]
• Correct Pronunciation: [ɡɐˈvʲadʲɪnə]

Cultural Notes:

In Russian cuisine, beef (говядина) is widely used in traditional dishes like borscht (борщ) and beef stroganoff (бефстроганов), which originated in Russia. Beef is often associated with hearty, warming meals, reflecting the cold climate of much of the country.

Related Concepts:

• свинина (pork)
• курица (chicken)
• баранина (lamb)