Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lime'

English Word: lime

Key Russian Translations:

• лайм [laɪm] - [Informal, commonly used for the fruit or color]
• лимон [lʲɪˈmon] - [Formal or general, often for citrus fruits like lime in broader contexts]
• известь [ɪzˈvʲesʲtʲ] - [Technical, used in chemical or construction contexts]

Frequency: High for 'лайм' and 'лимон' in everyday language; Medium for 'известь' in specialized fields.

Difficulty: A1 for 'лайм' (Beginner, as it's a basic loanword); B1 for 'лимон' (Intermediate, due to its common usage in food contexts); B2 for 'известь' (Upper Intermediate, as it involves technical vocabulary).

Pronunciation (Russian):

лайм: [laɪm]

Note on лайм: The pronunciation is straightforward, similar to the English word, but stress on the first syllable; common in casual speech.

лимон: [lʲɪˈmon]

Note on лимон: The 'л' is palatalized (soft), which is a key feature of Russian phonetics; stress on the second syllable.

известь: [ɪzˈvʲesʲtʲ]

Note on известь: Features palatalized consonants; the 'в' and 'с' are softened, which can be tricky for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Lime as a citrus fruit

Translation(s) & Context:

• лайм - Used in casual, modern contexts, especially in culinary or beverage discussions (e.g., in cocktails or salads).
• лимон - Used more generally for citrus fruits, but can imply lime in recipes where specificity isn't required.

Usage Examples:

• Я добавляю лайм в свой коктейль для свежести.

  I add lime to my cocktail for freshness.

• Лимон – это отличный источник витамина C, особенно в виде лайма.

  Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C, especially in the form of lime.

• В салате из авокадо и лайма вкус становится более тропическим.

  In the avocado and lime salad, the flavor becomes more tropical.

• Свежий лайм лучше всего подходит для летних напитков.

  Fresh lime is best for summer drinks.

• Я предпочитаю лайм вместо лимона в моем чае.

  I prefer lime over lemon in my tea.

Meaning 2: Lime as a color

Translation(s) & Context:

• лайм - Predominantly used for the bright green color, in fashion, design, or descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Её платье яркого лаймового цвета.

  Her dress is a bright lime color.

• Лаймовый оттенок очень популярен в этом сезоне.

  The lime shade is very popular this season.

• Я покрасил стены в лайм, чтобы сделать комнату более живой.

  I painted the walls lime to make the room more vibrant.

Meaning 3: Lime as in chemical or building material

Translation(s) & Context:

• известь - Used in scientific, industrial, or construction contexts, referring to calcium-based substances.

Usage Examples:

• Известь используется для нейтрализации кислот в почве.

  Lime is used to neutralize acids in the soil.

• В строительстве известь добавляют в раствор для прочности.

  In construction, lime is added to mortar for strength.

• Химическая известь необходима в производстве удобрений.

  Chemical lime is necessary in fertilizer production.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'лайм' (noun, masculine): This is a loanword and does not inflect regularly in modern Russian. It remains mostly unchanged in nominative form but can take standard endings in other cases.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	лайм	лаймы
Genitive	лайма	лаймов
Dative	лайму	лаймам
Accusative	лайм	лаймы
Instrumental	лаймом	лаймами
Prepositional	о лайме	о лаймах

For 'лимон' (noun, masculine): Follows standard first-declension patterns with regular inflections.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	лимон	лиманы
Genitive	лимона	лимонов

For 'известь' (noun, feminine): No significant inflections beyond standard feminine patterns; remains stable in most forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for лайм: цитрус (citrus - for fruit context), зеленый (green - for color)
• Synonyms for лимон: кислый фрукт (sour fruit)
• Synonyms for известь: гашеная известь (slaked lime)
• Antonyms for лайм (color): синий (blue)
• Antonyms for известь: кислота (acid)

Related Phrases:

• Лаймовый сок - Lime juice; used in beverages and cooking for added zest.
• Свежий лайм - Fresh lime; common in salad preparations.
• Известь для почвы - Lime for soil; refers to agricultural applications.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'лайм' is a direct borrowing from English and is preferred in modern, urban contexts for the fruit or color, while 'лимон' serves as a more traditional equivalent but can be less precise. Choose 'известь' only for non-food related meanings to avoid confusion. Be mindful of gender agreements in sentences, as 'лайм' is masculine. For learners, note that Russian nouns require case endings, which can alter the word in context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'лайм' interchangeably with 'лимон' without context, e.g., saying "Я ем лимон" when meaning lime fruit. Correct: Use 'лайм' for specific lime varieties. Explanation: This confuses similar citrus fruits; always specify based on context to avoid ambiguity.
• Error: Mispronouncing 'известь' as [izvest] without palatalization. Correct: [ɪzˈvʲesʲtʲ] with soft consonants. Explanation: Palatalization is crucial in Russian; incorrect pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings in technical discussions.

Cultural Notes:

'Лайм' as a fruit has gained popularity in Russian culture through global influences, especially in cocktails like the Moscow Mule, reflecting Russia's openness to Western trends. Historically, 'известь' has been used in Russian architecture, such as in the Kremlin, symbolizing endurance and traditional building techniques.

Related Concepts:

• цитрус
• зеленый
• гашеная известь