Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cheese'

English Word: cheese

Key Russian Translations:

• сыр [sɨr] - [General, Most Common]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сыр: [sɨr]

Note on сыр: The vowel sound [ɨ] is unique to Russian and may be challenging for English speakers. It is pronounced as a central, unrounded vowel, somewhat between 'i' and 'u'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Dairy Product (Literal Meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сыр - Used to refer to cheese as a food item in all contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил сыр в магазине.

  I bought cheese at the store.

• Ты любишь сыр с плесенью?

  Do you like blue cheese?

• На завтрак у нас бутерброды с сыром.

  For breakfast, we have sandwiches with cheese.

• Этот сыр очень твёрдый.

  This cheese is very hard.

• Сыр хорошо сочетается с вином.

  Cheese pairs well with wine.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сыр is a masculine noun. It follows the regular declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• нет точных синонимов (No direct synonyms, but specific types like "творог" [cottage cheese] may be related)

Antonyms:

• нет прямых антонимов (No direct antonyms)

Related Phrases:

• сыр с плесенью - Blue cheese (literally "cheese with mold")
• плавленый сыр - Processed cheese
• твёрдый сыр - Hard cheese
• бесплатный сыр только в мышеловке - "Free cheese is only in a mousetrap" (a Russian proverb meaning "there's no such thing as a free lunch")

Usage Notes:

• The word "сыр" is the universal term for cheese in Russian and is used in all contexts, whether referring to specific types or cheese in general.
• Unlike English, Russian does not typically use "cheese" metaphorically (e.g., "say cheese" for photos). Such expressions would need to be adapted or translated differently.
• When specifying types of cheese, adjectives or additional descriptors are often added (e.g., "голландский сыр" for "Dutch cheese").

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing "сыр" as [sir] instead of [sɨr]. Explanation: The Russian vowel [ɨ] is distinct and not equivalent to the English 'i'. Practice this sound to avoid confusion.
• Error: Using incorrect case endings, e.g., saying "Я купил сыр" as "Я купил сыра". Explanation: "Сыр" in the accusative case remains "сыр" (same as nominative) because it is an inanimate masculine noun. Review case rules for accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, cheese is a common food item, often eaten with bread or as part of appetizers. However, the variety of cheeses available in Russia may differ from Western countries due to historical and economic factors, including sanctions affecting imports. Traditional Russian cheeses like "творог" (a type of curd cheese) are widely used in cooking, especially in desserts and pastries.

Related Concepts:

• творог (cottage cheese/curd cheese)
• молоко (milk)
• масло (butter)