Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Detergent'

English Word: Detergent

Key Russian Translations:

• моющее средство [ˈmojʊʂːeje ˈsrʲetstvə] - [Neutral, General Use]
• стиральный порошок [stʲɪˈralʲnɨj pɐˈroʂək] - [Specific, Laundry Use]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in household contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

моющее средство: [ˈmojʊʂːeje ˈsrʲetstvə]

Note on моющее средство: Pay attention to the stress on the first syllable of "моющее" and the soft 'с' sound in "средство".

стиральный порошок: [stʲɪˈralʲnɨj pɐˈroʂək]

Note on стиральный порошок: Stress falls on the second syllable of "стиральный" and the first of "порошок".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Cleaning Substance

Translation(s) & Context:

• моющее средство - Used for any type of cleaning agent, including dishwashing liquid or general-purpose cleaners.

Usage Examples:

• Мне нужно купить моющее средство для посуды.

  I need to buy detergent for dishes.

• Это моющее средство безопасно для рук.

  This detergent is safe for hands.

• Какое моющее средство лучше для кухни?

  Which detergent is best for the kitchen?

2. Laundry Detergent

Translation(s) & Context:

• стиральный порошок - Specifically refers to powdered or liquid detergent for washing clothes.

Usage Examples:

• У нас закончился стиральный порошок.

  We’ve run out of laundry detergent.

• Этот стиральный порошок подходит для цветного белья.

  This laundry detergent is suitable for colored clothes.

• Сколько стирального порошка нужно для одной стирки?

  How much laundry detergent is needed for one wash?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

моющее средство (Neuter Noun): Declines according to the second declension pattern for neuter nouns.

стиральный порошок (Masculine Noun): Compound phrase where "порошок" declines as a masculine noun.

Note: "стиральный" is an adjective that agrees with "порошок" in case, number, and gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for моющее средство:

• чистящее средство (general cleaning agent)
• детергент (borrowed term, less common)

Note: "чистящее средство" may imply a stronger or abrasive cleaner compared to "моющее средство".

Synonyms for стиральный порошок:

• средство для стирки (laundry product, more general)

Antonyms: None directly applicable as "detergent" lacks a clear opposite in this context.

Related Phrases:

• моющее средство для посуды - Dishwashing detergent
• стиральный порошок для белого - Detergent for whites
• экологичное моющее средство - Eco-friendly detergent

Usage Notes:

• "моющее средство" is the broader term and can refer to any cleaning agent, while "стиральный порошок" is specific to laundry products, often implying powdered form.
• In casual speech, Russians might simply say "порошок" (powder) when context clearly implies laundry detergent.
• Be aware of the context when choosing between the translations, as using "стиральный порошок" for dishwashing would be incorrect.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Incorrect Word Choice

English learners often use "стиральный порошок" for all detergents. This is wrong; it only applies to laundry. For dishwashing or general cleaning, use "моющее средство".

Incorrect: Я купил стиральный порошок для посуды. (I bought laundry detergent for dishes.)

Correct: Я купил моющее средство для посуды. (I bought dishwashing detergent.)

Error 2: Mispronunciation

Learners often misplace stress in "моющее средство". Stress is on "мо-" and "сред-", not elsewhere.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, laundry detergent ("стиральный порошок") is often sold in large packs, and many households still distinguish between products for handwashing and machine washing, a nuance that might not exist in English-speaking countries. Additionally, eco-friendly detergents ("экологичные средства") are gaining popularity in urban areas.

Related Concepts:

• мыло (soap)
• чистящее средство (cleaning agent)
• отбеливатель (bleach)