Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cigarette'

English Word: Cigarette

Key Russian Translations:

• сигарета [sʲɪɡɐˈrʲetə] - [Informal, Most Common]
• папироса [pəpʲɪˈrosə] - [Formal, Less Common, Often Refers to Older-Style Cigarettes]

Frequency: High (especially for "сигарета")

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "сигарета"; B1 (Intermediate) for "папироса" due to cultural and historical context

Pronunciation (Russian):

сигарета: [sʲɪɡɐˈrʲetə]

Note on сигарета: Stress falls on the third syllable. The 'r' is rolled slightly, typical of Russian pronunciation.

папироса: [pəpʲɪˈrosə]

Note on папироса: Stress on the third syllable. The initial 'p' is soft due to the following 'я'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Term for Cigarette (Modern Usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сигарета - Commonly used in everyday speech to refer to any cigarette, especially modern filtered ones.

Usage Examples:

• У тебя есть сигарета?

  Do you have a cigarette?

• Я бросил курить сигареты.

  I quit smoking cigarettes.

• Она купила пачку сигарет.

  She bought a pack of cigarettes.

2. Traditional or Historical Cigarette (Often Unfiltered)

Translation(s) & Context:

• папироса - Refers to a specific type of cigarette, often unfiltered, associated with older generations or Soviet-era contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Мой дедушка курил папиросы.

  My grandfather smoked papirosy (traditional cigarettes).

• Папиросы были популярны в прошлом веке.

  Papirosy were popular in the last century.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сигарета (Feminine Noun): Follows the regular feminine declension pattern in Russian (ending in -а).

папироса (Feminine Noun): Also follows the regular feminine declension pattern, similar to "сигарета".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сигарета:

• сигарка (colloquial, less common)
• табачок (slang, refers to tobacco or cigarette in a casual way)

Note: "сигарка" is more informal and regional, while "табачок" often implies a playful tone.

Antonyms: None directly applicable for "cigarette" in Russian.

Related Phrases:

• закурить сигарету - to light a cigarette
• пачка сигарет - a pack of cigarettes
• бросить курить сигареты - to quit smoking cigarettes

Usage Notes:

• "сигарета" is the go-to term for most modern contexts and is understood universally among Russian speakers. It directly corresponds to the English "cigarette".
• "папироса" is less common today and often carries a nostalgic or historical connotation. It might confuse younger speakers if used in modern contexts.
• Be mindful of the verb "курить" (to smoke) when using these nouns in sentences, as it governs the accusative case for direct objects like "сигарету".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "папироса" in modern contexts.
  Incorrect: Я купил папиросу в магазине.
  Correct: Я купил сигарету в магазине.
  Explanation: "папироса" is outdated for most cigarette references today; "сигарета" is the appropriate choice.
• Error: Incorrect case usage after verbs like "курить".
  Incorrect: Я курю сигарета.
  Correct: Я курю сигарету.
  Explanation: The verb "курить" requires the accusative case, so "сигарета" changes to "сигарету".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, smoking has historically been widespread, and cigarettes like "папироса" are often associated with Soviet-era imagery, including wartime or working-class contexts. Modern "сигарета" usage reflects global cigarette branding and habits. Be aware that smoking is a sensitive topic in public health discussions in Russia today, and attitudes toward it vary widely.

Related Concepts:

• курить (to smoke)
• табак (tobacco)
• сигара (cigar)
• зажигалка (lighter)