Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Coffee'

English Word: Coffee

Key Russian Translations:

• кофе [ˈkofʲe] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кофе: [ˈkofʲe]

Note on кофе: The stress falls on the first syllable. The 'e' at the end is pronounced as a soft 'ye' sound, which is typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A Hot Beverage Made from Roasted Coffee Beans

Translation(s) & Context:

• кофе - Used to refer to the drink itself or the concept of coffee in general.

Usage Examples:

• Я пью кофе каждое утро.

  I drink coffee every morning.

• Ты хочешь кофе с молоком?

  Do you want coffee with milk?

• В этом кафе подают отличный кофе.

  This café serves excellent coffee.

• У нас закончился кофе, нужно купить.

  We’ve run out of coffee; we need to buy some.

• Кофе помогает мне проснуться.

  Coffee helps me wake up.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кофе is a neuter noun in Russian (though historically treated as masculine in some contexts). It is an indeclinable noun, meaning it does not change its form across cases or numbers. It remains "кофе" in all grammatical contexts.

Note: While "кофе" is officially neuter, many native speakers colloquially use it as a masculine noun, which can lead to variations in agreement with adjectives or verbs in informal speech (e.g., "мой кофе" instead of "моё кофе").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• нет (No direct synonyms, as "кофе" is specific to the beverage)

Note: While there are no direct synonyms, terms like "напиток" (drink) might be used in broader contexts but lack specificity.

Antonyms:

• чай (tea) - Often contrasted with coffee in beverage choice contexts.

Related Phrases:

• кофе с молоком - Coffee with milk.
• чёрный кофе - Black coffee (without milk or sugar).
• кофе по-турецки - Turkish coffee (a specific preparation style).
• растворимый кофе - Instant coffee.
• выпить кофе - To have a coffee (used colloquially to mean meeting for coffee).

Usage Notes:

• The word "кофе" directly corresponds to the English "coffee" and is used in nearly all contexts where "coffee" would be used, whether referring to the drink, the beans, or the concept.
• In formal Russian, "кофе" is a neuter noun, so adjectives or pronouns should agree accordingly (e.g., "моё кофе"). However, in everyday speech, many Russians treat it as masculine (e.g., "мой кофе"), which is widely accepted in informal settings.
• Unlike in English, "кофе" does not change form for plural usage; it remains "кофе" even when referring to multiple cups or types.

Common Errors:

• Error: Incorrect gender agreement. English speakers may struggle with the gender of "кофе" and use incorrect adjective forms (e.g., saying "моя кофе" instead of "моё кофе" or "мой кофе").
  Correction: Use "моё кофе" for formal contexts or "мой кофе" for informal speech.
• Error: Attempting to pluralize "кофе" by adding endings (e.g., "кофес").
  Correction: "кофе" is indeclinable and does not change in plural contexts; simply use "кофе" (e.g., "два кофе" for "two coffees").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, coffee has become increasingly popular in urban areas, especially with the rise of coffee shops. However, tea ("чай") historically holds a more central place in Russian beverage culture. Offering coffee or tea is a common gesture of hospitality, and "выпить кофе" (to have coffee) often implies a casual social meeting, similar to English usage.

Related Concepts:

• чай (tea)
• напиток (beverage)
• кофейня (coffee shop)
• утро (morning - often associated with coffee)