Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dough'

English Word: dough

Key Russian Translations:

• тесто [ˈtʲes.tə] - [Neutral, Common in everyday and culinary contexts]
• бабло [ˈbab.lə] - [Slang, Informal, Used in casual or colloquial speech for money]

Frequency: High for 'тесто' (commonly used in daily life, especially in cooking and baking); Medium for 'бабло' (informal slang, more prevalent in spoken language or media).

Difficulty: A1 for 'тесто' (Beginner level, basic vocabulary); B1 for 'бабло' (Intermediate, due to its slang nature and cultural nuances).

Pronunciation (Russian):

тесто: [ˈtʲes.tə]

бабло: [ˈbab.lə]

Note on тесто: The initial 'т' is palatalized (as in 't' before 'e' or 'i' in Russian), which can be tricky for beginners; pronounce it softly, almost like 'tyes-to'.

Note on бабло: The stress is on the first syllable; avoid over-emphasizing the 'л' sound, which is a soft 'l' in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients used for baking (literal sense).

Translation(s) & Context:

• тесто - Used in culinary contexts, such as recipes or everyday cooking; neutral and formal register.

Usage Examples:

• Я замесил тесто для свежего хлеба.

  I kneaded the dough for fresh bread.

• Тесто должно подниматься в теплом месте не менее часа.

  The dough should rise in a warm place for at least an hour.

• В рецепте указано добавить сахар в тесто для пирога.

  The recipe calls for adding sugar to the dough for the pie.

• Если тесто слишком жидкое, добавьте муку.

  If the dough is too liquidy, add some flour.

Meaning 2: Slang for money (informal, figurative sense).

Translation(s) & Context:

• бабло - Used in informal conversations, slang-heavy contexts like movies or youth culture; avoid in formal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он заработал кучу бабла на новой работе.

  He earned a bunch of dough on his new job.

• Не трать все бабло сразу, отложи на будущее.

  Don't spend all the dough at once; save some for the future.

• В этом бизнесе главное – бабло и связи.

  In this business, it's all about the dough and connections.

• Она тратит бабло на ненужные вещи.

  She's spending dough on unnecessary things.

• Если у тебя есть бабло, можно купить всё, что угодно.

  If you have the dough, you can buy anything you want.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'тесто' (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

Note: 'тесто' follows regular neuter noun patterns with no irregularities.

For 'бабло' (neuter noun, informal slang, often treated as indeclinable in modern usage):

It is typically indeclinable in casual speech, meaning it remains 'бабло' in most forms. However, in some contexts, it may follow basic patterns: Genitive - бабла, Dative - баблу, etc. Use with caution as it's slang and not formally inflected.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • смесь (smes' – for 'тесто', meaning mixture, often used interchangeably in recipes)
  • бабки (babki – for 'бабло', a milder slang for money, more outdated)
  • куши (kushi – for 'бабло', informal synonym for money, with a humorous connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • бедность (bednost' – poverty, contrasting with 'бабло')

Note: Synonyms for 'тесто' are context-specific; for 'бабло', differences lie in tone—e.g., 'бабки' is less vulgar.

Related Phrases:

• замесить тесто (zamesit' testo) - To knead dough; used in baking instructions.
• поднять тесто (podnyat' testo) - To let dough rise; common in recipe contexts.
• наварить бабла (navarit' babla) - To make a lot of money; slang for quick financial gain.
• тратить бабло (tratat' babla) - To spend money; informal way to discuss expenditures.

Usage Notes:

'Тесто' directly corresponds to the literal English 'dough' in culinary contexts and is neutral for everyday use. It's versatile across formal and informal settings but avoid direct translation in slang. For 'бабло', it's a slang equivalent to 'dough' as money, limited to informal conversations; use 'деньги' in formal situations. Grammatically, both are neuter nouns, so they follow standard Russian declensions. When choosing between translations, opt for 'тесто' in food-related topics and 'бабло' only in casual, youth-oriented speech to match the slang's playful, irreverent tone.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'тесто' in the wrong context, e.g., saying "Я имею тесто" to mean "I have money."
  Correct: Use 'бабло' or 'деньги' instead. Explanation: 'Тесто' is strictly for baking, mixing it up can cause confusion or humor in conversation.
• Mistake: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "Я купил бабло" but forgetting to adjust in genitive cases like "без бабла" (without money).
  Correct: Ensure proper declension if used formally, though 'бабло' is often undeclined. Explanation: Learners from non-slavic languages may overlook Russian case systems, leading to grammatical errors.
• Mistake: Overusing 'бабло' in formal writing.
  Correct: Stick to 'деньги' in professional contexts. Explanation: This slang can make the speaker seem unprofessional or immature.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'тесто' is tied to traditional baking, such as making homemade bread or pies, which holds historical significance in rural and family settings, symbolizing warmth and hospitality. Conversely, 'бабло' reflects a modern, urban slang influenced by post-Soviet economic changes, often appearing in media to denote materialism or the pursuit of wealth, highlighting cultural shifts towards consumerism.

Related Concepts:

• хлеб (hleb - bread)
• мука (muka - flour)
• деньги (den'gi - money)
• богатство (bogatstvo - wealth)