Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Commodity'

English Word: commodity

Key Russian Translations:

• товар [tɐˈvar] - [General, Neutral]
• продукт [prɐˈdukt] - [Often used for goods or produce]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

товар: [tɐˈvar]

Note on товар: Stress is on the second syllable. The 'о' is pronounced as a reduced 'a' sound due to Russian vowel reduction.

продукт: [prɐˈdukt]

Note on продукт: Stress is on the second syllable. The 'о' is reduced to a schwa-like sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General term for goods or items for sale

Translation(s) & Context:

• товар - Commonly used for any item or product available for purchase in a store or market.

Usage Examples:

• Этот товар очень популярен среди покупателей.

  This commodity is very popular among buyers.

• Товары на полках магазина были распроданы за день.

  The commodities on the store shelves were sold out in a day.

• Качество товара соответствует цене.

  The quality of the commodity matches the price.

2. Product or produce (specific context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• продукт - Often refers to food products or specific manufactured goods.

Usage Examples:

• Этот продукт сделан из натуральных ингредиентов.

  This commodity is made from natural ingredients.

• Продукты на рынке свежие и недорогие.

  The commodities at the market are fresh and inexpensive.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

товар (Noun, Masculine):

продукт (Noun, Masculine): Follows similar declension patterns to "товар".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for товар:

• изделие (more specific to manufactured items)
• продукция (refers to production output)

Antonyms for товар:

• услуга (service, as opposed to a tangible good)

Related Phrases:

• товар на складе - "commodity in stock" (refers to goods stored in a warehouse)
• качественный товар - "quality commodity" (emphasizes the quality of the goods)
• продукт питания - "food commodity" (specifically food products)

Usage Notes:

• "Товар" is the most general and widely used term for "commodity" in Russian, applicable in most contexts involving goods for sale.
• "Продукт" is often used in specific contexts, such as food or manufactured items, and may not always fit when referring to raw materials or abstract commodities.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between "товар" and "продукт". For financial or economic discussions of commodities (e.g., oil, gold), "товар" is more appropriate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "продукт" when referring to non-food commodities in economic contexts. For example, saying "Продукт на бирже" instead of "Товар на бирже" for "commodity on the stock exchange".
  Correction: Use "товар" for abstract or economic commodities.
• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., using nominative "товар" after prepositions requiring genitive or instrumental.
  Correction: Learn the correct case forms as shown in the inflection table.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "товар" often carries a neutral or commercial connotation, and it is frequently used in everyday shopping contexts. During the Soviet era, the availability of "товары" (commodities) was often limited, leading to cultural associations with scarcity or queuing for goods, which might still resonate with older generations.

Related Concepts:

• рынок (market)
• цена (price)
• покупка (purchase)