Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gourmet'

English Word: gourmet

Key Russian Translations:

• гурман [ɡʊrˈman] - [Informal; used in everyday discussions about food enthusiasts]
• гастроном [ɡɐsˈtronəm] - [Formal; often refers to a connoisseur of fine foods or a gourmet shop, but less direct for the personal sense]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in contexts like food criticism, travel, and cultural discussions, but not in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; as a borrowed word, it's straightforward for learners with basic vocabulary, but nuances in usage may require intermediate understanding. For 'гастроном', it might be B2 due to its dual meanings.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гурман: [ɡʊrˈman]

гастроном: [ɡɐsˈtronəm]

Note on гурман: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the 'r' sound, which is trilled in Russian. Variations in informal speech might soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who appreciates and has expert knowledge of fine food and drink

Translation(s) & Context:

• гурман - Used in informal or cultural contexts, such as describing someone with refined tastes in dining or wine.
• гастроном - Applied in more formal or commercial settings, like referring to a gourmet expert in a professional capacity, but less personal.

Usage Examples:

• Он гурман и всегда экспериментирует с новыми рецептами.

  He is a gourmet and always experiments with new recipes.

• Эта ресторан для гурманов, где подают экзотические блюда.

  This restaurant is for gourmets, where they serve exotic dishes.

• Как гурман, она предпочитает французские вина другим.

  As a gourmet, she prefers French wines to others.

• Гастроном в этом магазине знает всё о редких ингредиентах.

  The gourmet at this store knows everything about rare ingredients.

• Мой друг гурман организовал дегустацию сыров из разных стран.

  My friend, a gourmet, organized a cheese tasting from different countries.

Meaning 2: Pertaining to high-quality or refined food (adjectival sense in English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гурманский - Used to describe something related to gourmet tastes, in contexts like menus or reviews.

Usage Examples:

• Гурманский ужин включал устриц и трюфели.

  The gourmet dinner included oysters and truffles.

• Этот магазин предлагает гурманские продукты для discerning клиентов.

  This store offers gourmet products for discerning customers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Гурман' is a masculine noun (from French via English) and follows standard Russian third-declension patterns for borrowed words. It inflects by case and number. 'Гастроном' is also a masculine noun with similar inflection rules.

Note: These words do not have irregular inflections but may vary in plural forms based on context. Adjectival forms like 'гурманский' follow standard adjective declensions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эпикур [ɛpʲɪˈkur] (Epikur) - Similar but implies a more hedonistic enjoyment of pleasures.
  • любитель вкусной еды (lyubitel vkusnoy edy) - A more descriptive phrase for someone who enjoys tasty food, less formal.
• Antonyms:
  • не гурман (ne gurman) - Simply meaning "not a gourmet," implying indifference to fine food.
  • асетик (asetik) - Referring to someone ascetic or abstemious about food.

Related Phrases:

• гурманский вкус - A refined or gourmet taste; used to describe sophisticated preferences in food.
• для гурманов - For gourmets; common in restaurant marketing to attract food enthusiasts.
• гурманское удовольствие - Gourmet pleasure; refers to the joy derived from high-quality dining experiences.

Usage Notes:

'Гурман' directly corresponds to the English 'gourmet' as a noun for a food connoisseur, but it's more informal in Russian and often used in cultural or social contexts. Unlike English, where 'gourmet' can be adjectival, Russian typically uses 'гурманский' for that purpose. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, 'гастроном' might be preferred for professional settings. When choosing between translations, opt for 'гурман' in everyday speech and 'гастроном' when discussing culinary expertise or stores.

• Grammar note: Always ensure agreement in gender, number, and case, as Russian nouns inflect.
• Regional variations: In some Slavic regions, 'гурман' might carry a slightly playful connotation.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'гурман' with 'гастроном', thinking they are interchangeable. For example, incorrectly using 'гастроном' to mean a person who enjoys food (error: "Он гастроном и любит вино") when it more accurately refers to a food expert or shop. Correct usage: "Он гурман и любит вино." Explanation: 'Гастроном' can mean a grocery store, so context is key to avoid ambiguity. Another error is forgetting inflections, like saying "для гурман" instead of "для гурмана" in the genitive case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'гурман' often evokes images of intellectual enjoyment of food, tied to literary traditions like those in Tolstoy's works, where fine dining symbolizes social status. It's linked to the historical influence of French cuisine on Russian aristocracy, making it a word with connotations of elegance and refinement rather than mere gluttony.

Related Concepts:

• кулинар (culinary expert or cook)
• дегустация (tasting or sampling)
• эпикуризм (epicureanism, philosophy of pleasure)