Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'foodstuff'

English Word: foodstuff

Key Russian Translations:

• продукт питания /prʊˈdʊkt pɪˈtaːnʲɪjə/ - [Formal, Singular]
• продукты питания /prʊˈdʊktɨ pɪˈtaːnʲɪjə/ - [Formal, Plural]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like shopping or nutrition discussions, but not as frequent as basic food-related terms like "еда").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun cases and compound phrases, though basic forms are accessible to learners at A2 level).

Pronunciation (Russian):

продукт питания: /prʊˈdʊkt pɪˈtaːnʲɪjə/

продукты питания: /prʊˈdʊktɨ pɪˈtaːnʲɪjə/

Note on продукт питания: The stress falls on the second syllable of "продукт" (/prʊ́ˈdʊkt/), and the word "питания" has a soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalization. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: General term for food items or raw materials used in food production.

Translation(s) & Context:

• продукт питания - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as labeling or health regulations, to refer to a single item of foodstuff.
• продукты питания - Applied in plural forms for multiple items, common in everyday shopping or dietary discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В магазине я купил свежий продукт питания для салата.

  In the store, I bought fresh foodstuff for the salad.

• Эти продукты питания содержат много витаминов и минералов.

  These foodstuffs contain many vitamins and minerals.

• Производство продуктов питания должно соответствовать санитарным нормам.

  The production of foodstuffs must comply with sanitary standards.

• В рационе ребенка должны быть разнообразные продукты питания.

  A child's diet should include a variety of foodstuffs.

• Импорт продуктов питания из-за границы вырос в прошлом году.

  The import of foodstuffs from abroad increased last year.

Secondary Meaning: In a broader sense, materials or substances used in food processing.

Translation(s) & Context:

• продукт питания - In industrial contexts, referring to processed or raw materials for food.

Usage Examples:

• Фабрика производит продукт питания из натуральных ингредиентов.

  The factory produces foodstuff from natural ingredients.

• Этот продукт питания используется в кондитерской промышленности.

  This foodstuff is used in the confectionery industry.

• Проверка продукта питания на качество обязательна.

  Quality checking of foodstuff is mandatory.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "продукт питания" and "продукты питания" are noun phrases. "Продукт" is a masculine noun, and "питания" is the genitive form of "питание" (nutrition). They follow standard Russian inflection patterns for nouns.

Note: The phrase is invariable in terms of agreement but changes based on the case of "продукт(ы)". It does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • еда (eda) - More general, everyday term for food; less formal than продукт питания.
  • продовольствие (prodovol'stviye) - Similar, often used in official or military contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • непродовольственные товары (neprodovol'stvennyye tovary) - Non-food items.

Related Phrases:

• Продукты питания первой необходимости - Essential foodstuffs; refers to basic items needed for survival.
• Свежие продукты питания - Fresh foodstuffs; commonly used in markets or health contexts.
• Импорт продуктов питания - Import of foodstuffs; used in economic discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "продукт питания" is a precise equivalent to "foodstuff" in formal English, emphasizing processed or raw materials rather than prepared meals. It is typically used in singular for a specific item and plural for categories. English learners should note the genitive construction ("питания" as a modifier), which is common in Russian compound nouns. Choose "продукт питания" for technical writing and "продукты питания" for general lists. Be mindful of context: in informal speech, simpler terms like "еда" might be preferred.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "продукт питания" in plural without changing to "продукты питания". For example, learners might say "Я купил продукты питания, но это продукт питания был плохой" (incorrect).

  Correct: "Я купил продукты питания, но этот продукт питания был плохой." Explanation: Ensure agreement in number; mix-ups often stem from English's lack of cases.

• Error: Omitting the genitive form, e.g., saying "продукт питание" instead of "продукт питания".

  Correct: "продукт питания". Explanation: The genitive "питания" is essential for the phrase to make sense, as it specifies the type of product.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions around "продукты питания" often tie into national traditions, such as the emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients in home cooking or the historical importance of self-sufficiency in food production during Soviet times. This term reflects a practical approach to nutrition, influenced by Russia's vast agricultural heritage.

Related Concepts:

• еда
• питание
• продукты