Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'delicious'

English Word: delicious

Key Russian Translations:

• вкусный [ˈvkusnɨj] - [Informal, General Use]
• аппетитный [ɐpʲɪˈtʲitnɨj] - [Descriptive, Often for Appearance of Food]
• лакомый [ˈlakəmɨj] - [Formal, Often for Treats or Delicacies]

Frequency: High (especially "вкусный")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "вкусный"); B1 (Intermediate for "аппетитный" and "лакомый")

Pronunciation (Russian):

вкусный: [ˈvkusnɨj]

Note on вкусный: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ы" sound is unique to Russian and may be challenging for English speakers; it’s a vowel sound between "i" and "u".

аппетитный: [ɐpʲɪˈtʲitnɨj]

Note on аппетитный: Stress on the third syllable. The soft "т" (palatalized) requires a slight "y" sound before the consonant.

лакомый: [ˈlakəmɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Tasty (General Description of Food)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вкусный - Commonly used to describe food that tastes good in everyday speech.

Usage Examples:

• Этот суп очень вкусный!

  This soup is very delicious!

• У тебя всегда такие вкусные пироги.

  Your pies are always so delicious.

• Я попробовал вкусный десерт в кафе.

  I tried a delicious dessert at the café.

2. Appetizing (Focus on Appearance or Appeal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• аппетитный - Used to describe food that looks or smells appealing, often before tasting.

Usage Examples:

• На столе стоит аппетитный пирог.

  There’s an appetizing pie on the table.

• Запах аппетитного ужина наполнил дом.

  The smell of an appetizing dinner filled the house.

3. Delicious as a Treat (Special or Rare Food)

Translation(s) & Context:

• лакомый - Refers to something particularly delightful, often a treat or delicacy, with a slightly formal tone.

Usage Examples:

• Это лакомый кусочек для гурманов.

  This is a delicious treat for foodies.

• Дети любят лакомые сладости.

  Children love delicious sweets.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вкусный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case in Russian grammar.

Case	Masculine (Sg)	Feminine (Sg)	Neuter (Sg)	Plural
Nominative	вкусный	вкусная	вкусное	вкусные
Genitive	вкусного	вкусной	вкусного	вкусных
Accusative	вкусный/вкусного	вкусную	вкусное	вкусные/вкусных

Note: Only key cases shown; full declension includes Dative, Instrumental, and Prepositional cases.

аппетитный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "вкусный".

лакомый (Adjective): Also declines like other adjectives, with similar gender/number/case variations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "вкусный":

• смачный (strong, hearty taste)
• приятный (pleasant, often for subtle flavors)

Antonyms for "вкусный":

• невкусный (not tasty)
• противный (disgusting)

Related Phrases:

• вкусный обед - A delicious lunch.
• аппетитный вид - An appetizing appearance (of food).
• лакомый кусок - A tasty morsel (often figurative, e.g., something desirable).

Usage Notes:

• "вкусный" is the most versatile and commonly used term for "delicious" in everyday Russian. It’s safe to use in most contexts when describing food.
• "аппетитный" emphasizes the visual or sensory appeal of food rather than just taste. It’s often used before eating.
• "лакомый" is less common and carries a connotation of something special or indulgent, often used for treats or delicacies. It can also be used figuratively (e.g., "лакомый кусок" for something desirable).

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "аппетитный" to describe taste after eating. Incorrect: "Этот суп был аппетитный." Correct: "Этот суп был вкусный." (Explanation: "аппетитный" focuses on appearance or anticipation, not the actual taste experience.)

Error 2: Overusing "лакомый" in casual speech. Incorrect: "Этот хлеб лакомый." Correct: "Этот хлеб вкусный." (Explanation: "лакомый" is reserved for special treats, not everyday food.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, describing food as "вкусный" is a common way to compliment a host or chef. It’s polite to express appreciation for meals, especially during family gatherings or holidays like New Year or Easter, where food plays a central role.

Related Concepts:

• еда (food)
• вкус (taste)
• аппетит (appetite)