Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Beet'

English Word: Beet

Key Russian Translations:

• свёкла [ˈsvʲɵklə] - [Common, General Use]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

свёкла: [ˈsvʲɵklə]

Note on свёкла: The stress falls on the first syllable. The "ё" is always stressed and pronounced distinctly as "yo".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Beet as a Vegetable (Root Crop)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свёкла - Refers to the root vegetable, commonly used in cooking (e.g., in borscht).

Usage Examples:

• Свёкла — основной ингредиент борща.

  Beet is the main ingredient in borscht.

• Я купил свежую свёклу на рынке.

  I bought fresh beets at the market.

• Свёкла очень полезна для здоровья.

  Beets are very good for your health.

• Мы готовим салат из варёной свёклы.

  We are making a salad from boiled beets.

• Свёкла растёт в нашем огороде.

  Beets grow in our garden.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The word свёкла is a feminine noun in Russian. It follows the standard declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• буряк (regional, less common, used in some Slavic regions)

Note: "Буряк" is more dialectal and less frequent in standard Russian; it is mostly used in Ukraine or southern Russia.

Antonyms:

• None directly applicable for a vegetable term.

Related Phrases:

• варёная свёкла - Boiled beet, often used in salads.
• свёкла для борща - Beet for borscht, referring to its common culinary use.
• сахарная свёкла - Sugar beet, a specific type grown for sugar production.

Usage Notes:

• The Russian word "свёкла" exclusively refers to the beetroot vegetable and is not used metaphorically in common speech as "beet" might occasionally be in English.
• It is a staple in Russian cuisine, especially in dishes like borscht and vinegret (a beet-based salad).
• Be mindful of the stress on "ё" as misplacing stress can lead to misunderstanding.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing "свёкла" by stressing the second syllable (e.g., свеклА instead of свЁкла).
  Correction: Always stress the first syllable: свЁкла. Misstress can confuse native speakers as it might sound like a different word.
• Error: Using "свёкла" in plural form incorrectly.
  Correction: The plural nominative is "свёклы", not "свёклы" with a different stress or form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, beets (свёкла) are deeply associated with traditional cuisine, particularly borscht, a beet-based soup that is iconic in Slavic countries. Beets are also symbolic of hearty, rustic meals and are often featured in holiday dishes and everyday cooking.

Related Concepts:

• борщ (borscht)
• винегрет (vinegret, a beet salad)
• овощи (vegetables)