Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cracker'

English Word: cracker

Key Russian Translations:

• крекер [ˈkrʲekʲɪr] - [Neutral, Commonly used for food item]
• сухое печенье [sʊˈxoje pʲɪˈtʃenʲje] - [Formal, Descriptive term for dry biscuit/cracker]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

крекер: [ˈkrʲekʲɪr]

Note on крекер: The stress falls on the first syllable. The 'r' sounds are rolled slightly, typical of Russian phonetics.

сухое печенье: [sʊˈxoje pʲɪˈtʃenʲje]

Note on сухое печенье: Stress is on the second syllable of both words. The 'e' in 'печенье' is pronounced as 'ye'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A thin, crisp biscuit (food item)

Translation(s) & Context:

• крекер - Commonly used to refer to a cracker as a snack, often paired with cheese or spreads.
• сухое печенье - A more descriptive and formal term, often used in written contexts or menus to denote a dry biscuit.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил крекеры к чаю.

  I bought crackers for tea.

• На столе лежат крекеры с сыром.

  There are crackers with cheese on the table.

• В меню указано сухое печенье с кофе.

  The menu lists dry biscuits with coffee.

• Дети любят хрустящие крекеры.

  Children love crunchy crackers.

• Сухое печенье идеально для перекуса.

  Dry biscuits are perfect for a snack.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

крекер (noun, masculine):

сухое печенье (compound noun, neuter):

The adjective 'сухое' (dry) agrees with 'печенье' (biscuit) in gender, number, and case. 'печенье' is a collective noun and typically used in singular form, though it can take plural forms in specific contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for крекер:

• галета (galette, a type of dry biscuit, often used in military or travel contexts)
• сухарик (small dry bread or cracker, often homemade)

Note: 'галета' often implies a harder, longer-lasting biscuit, while 'сухарик' can refer to small dried bread pieces.

Antonyms:

• мягкий хлеб (soft bread)

Related Phrases:

• крекеры с сыром - Crackers with cheese, a common snack pairing.
• хрустящие крекеры - Crunchy crackers, emphasizing texture.
• сухое печенье к чаю - Dry biscuits for tea, a typical context for serving.

Usage Notes:

• 'крекер' is the more common and direct translation for 'cracker,' widely understood in everyday speech, especially in urban areas.
• 'сухое печенье' is more formal and descriptive, often used in written contexts or when specificity is needed (e.g., distinguishing from other baked goods).
• Be mindful of the context; 'крекер' is almost exclusively used for the food item, while in English, 'cracker' can have other meanings (e.g., firecracker or slang). For non-food contexts, entirely different Russian terms would apply.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'крекер' for non-food contexts like 'firecracker.'
  Correct Usage: For 'firecracker,' use 'петарда' [pʲɪˈtarda].
  Incorrect Example: Я купил крекер на Новый Год. (Intended: I bought a firecracker for New Year.)
  Correct Example: Я купил петарду на Новый Год.
• Error: Incorrect case usage for 'крекер,' e.g., using nominative instead of accusative.
  Correct Usage: Ensure proper case endings based on sentence structure.
  Incorrect Example: Я ем крекеры каждый день. (Incorrect accusative form.)
  Correct Example: Я ем крекеры каждый день. (Correct form, coincidentally same as nominative in this instance.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, crackers or dry biscuits like 'крекеры' are often associated with tea-drinking traditions, a central part of social gatherings. They are commonly served as a light snack alongside tea or coffee, sometimes with toppings like cheese or caviar during festive occasions.

Related Concepts:

• чай (tea)
• перекус (snack)
• сухари (rusks, dried bread)