Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'butter'

English Word: butter

Key Russian Translations:

• масло [ˈmaslə] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• сливочное масло [slʲɪˈvoʃnəjə ˈmaslə] - [Formal, Specific to Butter from Cream]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "масло"; A2 (Elementary) for "сливочное масло"

Pronunciation (Russian):

масло: [ˈmaslə]

Note on масло: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "о" at the end is pronounced as a reduced schwa sound in unstressed position.

сливочное масло: [slʲɪˈvoʃnəjə ˈmaslə]

Note on сливочное масло: Stress is on the second syllable of "сливочное" and first syllable of "масло". The "ч" is palatalized, sounding like "ch" in "cheese".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Butter as a Food Product

Translation(s) & Context:

• масло - Commonly used in everyday speech to refer to butter.
• сливочное масло - More precise, used in formal contexts or to distinguish from other types of oil.

Usage Examples:

• Я намазал масло на хлеб.

  I spread butter on the bread.

• В этом рецепте нужно сливочное масло, а не маргарин.

  This recipe calls for butter, not margarine.

• Масло растаяло на сковороде.

  The butter melted in the pan.

• Купи, пожалуйста, пачку сливочного масла.

  Please buy a pack of butter.

• Масло добавляет блюду насыщенный вкус.

  Butter adds a rich flavor to the dish.

2. Butter as a Metaphorical or Figurative Use (e.g., to "butter someone up")

Translation(s) & Context:

• масло - Rarely used metaphorically; usually requires idiomatic translation unrelated to "butter".

Usage Examples:

• Он пытается подлизаться к начальнику.

  He is trying to butter up the boss. (Note: Direct translation of "butter" is not used here.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

масло (neuter noun):

сливочное масло follows the same declension pattern as "масло" for the noun part, while "сливочное" (adjective) agrees in case, number, and gender with "масло".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• сливочное масло (more specific)

Note: Synonyms are limited as "масло" is the primary term, though it can also mean "oil" in other contexts.

Antonyms:

• маргарин (margarine)

Related Phrases:

• хлеб с маслом - "bread with butter", a common snack or breakfast item.
• растопить масло - "to melt butter", often used in cooking contexts.
• масло в огонь подливать - "to pour oil on the fire", an idiom meaning to worsen a situation (not directly related to butter but to "масло" as oil).

Usage Notes:

• "Масло" is the general and most frequently used term for butter in Russian. However, it can also mean "oil" (e.g., engine oil or vegetable oil), so context is key.
• Use "сливочное масло" when you need to specify dairy butter, especially in formal or culinary contexts.
• In metaphorical expressions like "butter someone up", there is no direct equivalent involving "масло". Instead, idiomatic expressions like "подлизаться" are used.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "масло" to refer exclusively to butter without considering context. For example, saying "масло для машины" might be understood as "butter for the car" instead of "oil for the car".
  Correction: Use "моторное масло" for engine oil to avoid ambiguity.
• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., "Я купил масло" (correct) vs. *"Я купил маслом" (wrong case).
  Correction: Learn the accusative case for direct objects after verbs like "купить" (to buy).

Cultural Notes:

Butter holds a significant place in Russian cuisine, often used in baking and cooking for its rich flavor. Traditional Russian dishes like "блины" (pancakes) are frequently served with butter or sour cream. Additionally, "масло" as a term reflects the linguistic overlap between butter and oil, which may confuse learners but is rooted in historical usage where distinctions were less rigid.

Related Concepts:

• маргарин (margarine)
• сметана (sour cream)
• растительное масло (vegetable oil)