Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ferment'

English Word: ferment

Key Russian Translations:

• фермент [ˈfʲɛrmʲɪnt] - [Noun; Formal; Used in scientific contexts]
• ферментировать [fʲɪrmʲɛntʲɪrəˈvatʲ] - [Verb; Formal; Used in technical or chemical processes]
• бродить [ˈbro.dʲɪtʲ] - [Verb; Informal; Plural forms possible; Used in everyday contexts like brewing or fermentation of liquids]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, culinary, and industrial discussions, but less frequent in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'фермент' and 'ферментировать'; A2 for 'бродить', as it follows basic verb patterns in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

фермент: [ˈfʲɛrmʲɪnt] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ф' is pronounced as a soft 'f' sound)

Note on фермент: Be cautious with the soft 'р' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to a rolled 'r' in some dialects.

ферментировать: [fʲɪrmʲɛntʲɪrəˈvatʲ] (Stress on the third-to-last syllable; infinitive form shown)

бродить: [ˈbro.dʲɪtʲ] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'д' is soft and voiced)

Note on бродить: This verb has aspectual pairs; the imperfective form is used for ongoing actions, which is common in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: The process or substance causing fermentation (e.g., in chemistry, biology, or brewing).

Translation(s) & Context:

• фермент - Used in formal scientific contexts, such as biochemistry or food production.
• брожение - Informal alternative for general fermentation processes, like in winemaking.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: В лаборатории мы изучаем, как фермент ускоряет брожение.

  English: In the laboratory, we study how the enzyme accelerates fermentation.

• Русский: Этот процесс ферментации делает вино более ароматным.

  English: This fermentation process makes the wine more aromatic.

• Русский: Бактерии начинают бродить, превращая сахар в алкоголь.

  English: Bacteria begin to ferment, turning sugar into alcohol.

• Русский: Без правильного фермента тесто не поднимется должным образом.

  English: Without the proper enzyme, the dough won't rise properly.

• Русский: В природе ферментировать вещества можно с помощью естественных бактерий.

  English: In nature, substances can be fermented using natural bacteria.

As a verb: To undergo or cause fermentation (e.g., in a chemical reaction or metaphorical sense).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ферментировать - Formal, technical contexts like lab work or industrial processes.
• бродить - Informal, everyday contexts, such as describing homemade brewing.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Мы ферментируем фрукты, чтобы сделать сидр.

  English: We ferment fruits to make cider.

• Русский: В ферментерах завод ферментирует молоко для йогурта.

  English: In fermenters, the factory ferments milk for yogurt.

• Русский: Вино начинает бродить через несколько дней после сбора урожая.

  English: Wine begins to ferment a few days after the harvest.

• Русский: Если не ферментировать правильно, продукт может испортиться.

  English: If you don't ferment it properly, the product might spoil.

• Русский: Бродить зерно в домашних условиях – популярный хобби.

  English: Fermenting grain at home is a popular hobby.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'фермент' is a masculine noun (second declension) with regular inflections. It changes based on case and number.

'ферментировать' is a verb (first conjugation, imperfective aspect) with regular conjugations:

'бродить' is also a verb (imperfective, with perfective 'сбродить') and follows similar regular patterns, but it is invariant in some aspects like participles.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ферментация (for noun form; more process-oriented)
  • брожение (informal synonym for fermentation)
  • катализатор (for 'фермент' in chemical contexts; slight difference in implying catalysis)
• Antonyms:
  • замораживать (to freeze; opposite of fermentation in preservation)
  • стабилизировать (to stabilize; prevents change like fermentation)

Related Phrases:

• Ферментативный процесс - Refers to an enzymatic process in biology or chemistry.
• Брожение вина - Common phrase for wine fermentation, used in culinary contexts.
• Естественное бродить - Means natural fermentation, often in organic food production.

Usage Notes:

'Фермент' directly corresponds to the English 'ferment' as a noun in scientific contexts, but in everyday Russian, 'бродить' is preferred for verbs to convey ongoing processes. Be mindful of formal vs. informal registers: use 'ферментировать' in academic writing and 'бродить' in casual speech. Russian verbs often require aspect (imperfective for ongoing, perfective for completed), so pair 'ферментировать' with its perfective counterpart 'заферментировать' for precision. When choosing translations, opt for 'фермент' if the context is biochemical, but 'брожение' for broader applications like brewing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'фермент' (noun) with 'ферментировать' (verb) and using them interchangeably. Correct: Use 'фермент' for the substance, e.g., "фермент в еде" (ferment in food), not "ферментировать в еде". Incorrect example: "Я фермент молоко" (wrong verb form). Explanation: Russian requires proper verb conjugation; the correct verb is "я ферментирую молоко".

• Error: Forgetting inflections, e.g., using 'фермент' in all cases. Correct: In genitive, say "процесса фермента" (process of ferment). Explanation: This is a common mistake for English speakers due to English's lack of cases; always adjust for Russian grammar.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, fermentation is deeply tied to traditional foods like kvass, sauerkraut, and homemade pickles (e.g., 'соленые огурцы'), which involve 'бродить'. This reflects historical preservation methods in harsh climates, symbolizing resourcefulness and community in Russian folklore.

Related Concepts:

• Катализатор
• Биохимия
• Сброжение