Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dine'

English Word: dine

Key Russian Translations:

• обедать [ˈobʲɪdətʲ] - [Formal, Used for lunch or midday meal]
• ужинать [ˈuʐɪnətʲ] - [Formal/Informal, Used for dinner or evening meal]
• есть [ˈjestʲ] - [Informal, General term for eating]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like meals)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate, varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обедать: [ˈobʲɪdətʲ]

Note on обедать: Stress falls on the first syllable, and the soft 'b' sound is typical in Russian.

ужинать: [ˈuʐɪnətʲ]

Note on ужинать: The 'zh' sound is like the 's' in 'measure', and stress is on the first syllable.

есть: [ˈjestʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To eat a meal (midday or formal lunch):

Translation(s) & Context:

• обедать - Used specifically for lunch or a midday meal, often in formal or planned settings.

Usage Examples:

• Мы будем обедать в ресторане в час дня.

  We will dine at the restaurant at one o'clock.

• Они любят обедать всей семьей.

  They like to dine together as a family.

• Где вы обычно обедаете?

  Where do you usually dine for lunch?

2. To eat a meal (evening or dinner):

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужинать - Refers to dining in the evening or having dinner, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Мы собираемся ужинать в семь вечера.

  We are going to dine at seven in the evening.

• Давай ужинать вместе сегодня.

  Let's dine together tonight.

• Она ужинает поздно из-за работы.

  She dines late because of work.

3. To eat (general, informal):

Translation(s) & Context:

• есть - A general term for eating, less specific to a particular meal or formality.

Usage Examples:

• Я хочу есть прямо сейчас.

  I want to eat right now.

• Ты уже ел сегодня?

  Have you eaten today?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обедать (verb, imperfective aspect):

Note: Similar conjugation patterns apply to ужинать.

есть (verb, imperfective aspect): Irregular verb with unique forms like "ем" (I eat), "ешь" (you eat), etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for обедать/ужинать:

• кушать (more informal or polite)
• трапезничать (archaic, formal)

Note: "кушать" is often used in polite invitations or with children, while "трапезничать" is rare and very formal.

Antonyms:

• голодать (to starve)
• поститься (to fast)

Related Phrases:

• обедать на скорую руку - to have a quick lunch (lit. to dine in a hurry)
• ужинать при свечах - to dine by candlelight (romantic context)
• есть с аппетитом - to eat with appetite (to enjoy eating)

Usage Notes:

• "обедать" is specifically tied to midday meals and often implies a formal or structured setting, unlike the more general "dine".
• "ужинать" aligns with evening meals and can be used in both casual and formal contexts, making it closer to "dine" for dinner.
• "есть" is a broad term for eating and lacks the nuance of "dine" as it doesn't imply a specific meal or formality.
• When choosing between translations, consider the time of day and formality of the dining context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "есть" in formal dining contexts. Incorrect: "Мы будем есть в ресторане." (too informal for a planned dining event). Correct: "Мы будем ужинать в ресторане." (appropriate for dining at a restaurant).
• Error: Mixing up "обедать" and "ужинать" based on time. Incorrect: "Я буду обедать в 8 вечера." (wrong time for lunch). Correct: "Я буду ужинать в 8 вечера." (correct for evening).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, dining, especially "обедать" (lunch), often holds a significant place in daily routines, historically being the main meal of the day. "Ужинать" (dinner) might be lighter but can be formal in social or family settings. Invitations to dine are often polite and structured, reflecting hospitality.

Related Concepts:

• завтракать (to have breakfast)
• перекусывать (to snack)
• ресторан (restaurant)