Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cake'

English Word: cake

Key Russian Translations:

• торт [tort] - [Formal, Informal, Common for celebratory cakes]
• пирог [pʲɪˈrok] - [Informal, Often used for homemade or savory cakes/pies]

Frequency: High (both translations are widely used)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "торт"; A2 (Elementary) for "пирог" due to broader contextual usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

торт: [tort]

Note on торт: The stress is on the single syllable, pronounced with a rolled 'r' and a clear 'o' sound.

пирог: [pʲɪˈrok]

Note on пирог: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'и' sounds like 'i' in 'bit', and 'р' is rolled.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A sweet baked dessert, often for celebrations

Translation(s) & Context:

• торт - Typically refers to a layered, frosted cake, commonly associated with birthdays or special events.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил торт на день рождения.

  I bought a cake for the birthday.

• Этот торт очень вкусный!

  This cake is very delicious!

• Мы испекли шоколадный торт.

  We baked a chocolate cake.

2. A baked dish, often savory or sweet, resembling a pie

Translation(s) & Context:

• пирог - Refers to a pie or cake, often homemade, and can be sweet (e.g., apple pie) or savory (e.g., meat pie).

Usage Examples:

• Бабушка испекла яблочный пирог.

  Grandma baked an apple pie (cake).

• На ужин у нас был пирог с мясом.

  For dinner, we had a meat pie (cake).

• Пирог нужно остудить перед подачей.

  The pie (cake) needs to cool down before serving.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

торт (noun, masculine): Regular noun declension in Russian.

пирог (noun, masculine): Follows regular declension for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for торт:

• кекс (more informal, often refers to smaller or simpler cakes)

Note: "кекс" often implies a simpler or smaller cake, like a cupcake or loaf cake, compared to the grandeur of "торт".

Synonyms for пирог:

• запеканка (can refer to a baked casserole-like dish, overlapping with savory пирог)

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "cake" does not have a clear opposite in Russian.

Related Phrases:

• торт на заказ - Custom-made cake (often for events).
• испечь пирог - To bake a pie/cake (common in home cooking contexts).
• свадебный торт - Wedding cake (specific to weddings).

Usage Notes:

• Use "торт" when referring to a celebratory or frosted dessert cake, especially in formal or commercial contexts.
• Use "пирог" for homemade pies or cakes, which can be either sweet or savory. It carries a more traditional or rustic connotation.
• Be mindful of the context, as directly translating "cake" to "пирог" in a birthday context might confuse native speakers who expect "торт".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пирог" for a birthday cake. Wrong: "У меня есть пирог на день рождения." Correct: "У меня есть торт на день рождения." (Explanation: "пирог" suggests a pie, not a celebratory cake.)
• Error: Forgetting noun cases after prepositions or verbs. Wrong: "Я купил торт на день рождения." (Correct form uses accusative, which is fine here, but learners often struggle with other cases like genitive after "нет".)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "торт" is strongly associated with celebrations like birthdays, weddings, and holidays. Cakes are often elaborately decorated, and sharing a "торт" is a key part of many social events. On the other hand, "пирог" often evokes images of traditional home cooking, with recipes passed down through generations, especially for savory fillings like cabbage or meat.

Related Concepts:

• десерт (dessert)
• выпечка (baked goods)
• сладости (sweets)