Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Boil'

English Word: boil

Key Russian Translations:

• кипеть [kʲɪˈpʲetʲ] - [Informal, Used for liquids boiling]
• вскипеть [fskʲɪˈpʲetʲ] - [Informal, Often implies starting to boil]
• варить [vɐˈrʲitʲ] - [Neutral, Used for cooking by boiling]

Frequency: High (especially "кипеть" and "варить")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and verb conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кипеть: [kʲɪˈpʲetʲ]

Note on кипеть: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'п' sound is a common challenge for non-native speakers.

вскипеть: [fskʲɪˈpʲetʲ]

Note on вскипеть: The prefix 'вс-' can be tricky; ensure a clear 'v' sound before the 's'.

варить: [vɐˈrʲitʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To heat a liquid until it bubbles (e.g., water boiling)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кипеть - Used for liquids reaching boiling point, often in a general or ongoing sense (e.g., water is boiling).
• вскипеть - Often used for the moment a liquid starts to boil (e.g., the water just boiled).

Usage Examples:

• Вода кипит на плите.

  The water is boiling on the stove.

• Чайник вскипел, можно заваривать чай.

  The kettle has boiled, you can make tea now.

• Молоко начало кипеть, убавь огонь.

  The milk started boiling, turn down the heat.

2. To cook something in boiling liquid (e.g., boiling potatoes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• варить - Used specifically for cooking food by boiling (e.g., boiling vegetables or meat).

Usage Examples:

• Я варю картошку для супа.

  I’m boiling potatoes for soup.

• Сколько минут нужно варить яйца?

  How many minutes should I boil the eggs?

• Она варит мясо на медленном огне.

  She is boiling the meat on low heat.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кипеть (to boil, of liquids - imperfective verb):

Note: "кипеть" is an imperfective verb; for perfective actions (e.g., starting to boil), use "вскипеть".

варить (to boil, to cook - imperfective verb): Follows regular conjugation patterns for -ить verbs. Perfective form is "сварить" (to finish boiling/cooking).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for кипеть (boiling of liquids):

• бурлить (to bubble, often more intense)
• клокотать (to gurgle, often used for boiling sounds)

Note: "бурлить" often implies a stronger, more turbulent boiling than "кипеть".

Antonyms for кипеть:

• остывать (to cool down)
• замерзать (to freeze)

Related Phrases:

• вскипятить воду - To boil water (often for tea or coffee).
• варить на медленном огне - To simmer (literally, to boil on low heat).
• кипеть от злости - To boil with anger (figurative usage of "кипеть").

Usage Notes:

• "кипеть" is generally used for liquids boiling and can also be used metaphorically (e.g., boiling with anger), while "варить" is strictly for cooking food by boiling.
• "вскипеть" is a perfective verb, often indicating the start or completion of boiling, whereas "кипеть" describes an ongoing process.
• Pay attention to verb aspects (imperfective vs. perfective) as they are crucial in Russian for expressing whether the action is ongoing or completed.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "варить" for boiling water without cooking food (e.g., *Я варю воду - incorrect). Correct: Use "кипятить" or "вскипятить" (e.g., Я вскипятил воду).
• Error: Ignoring verb aspect, such as using "кипеть" when referring to a completed action. Correct: Use "вскипеть" for completed boiling (e.g., Вода вскипела).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, boiling water (вскипятить воду) is a common daily activity, especially for making tea, which holds significant cultural importance. The samovar, a traditional Russian tea urn, is often associated with boiling water and hospitality.

Related Concepts:

• кипяток (boiling water)
• чайник (kettle)
• самовар (samovar, traditional tea urn)