Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'litre'

English Word: litre

Key Russian Translations:

• литр /ˈlʲitr/ - [Masculine noun; Used in everyday measurements, formal and informal contexts]

Frequency: High (This word is commonly used in daily life, scientific contexts, and commerce in Russian-speaking regions.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; As a basic unit of measurement, it is straightforward for English learners to grasp, with minimal grammatical complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

литр: /ˈlʲitr/

Note on литр: The initial "л" is palatalized (soft), which is common in Russian and may sound like "ly" to English speakers. Stress is on the first syllable. Practice with native speakers for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A unit of volume equal to one cubic decimeter, used for measuring liquids or gases.

Translation(s) & Context:

• литр - Used in general contexts for volume measurements, such as in recipes, fuel, or beverages. Common in both formal (e.g., scientific reports) and informal (e.g., everyday shopping) settings.

Usage Examples:

• В бутылке два литра молока. (V butylke dva lita moloka.)

  In the bottle, there are two liters of milk. (This example shows the noun in a nominative plural context, common in describing quantities.)

• Машина расходует десять литров бензина на сто километров. (Mashina rashoduyet desyat' litrov benzina na sto kilometrov.)

  The car consumes ten liters of gasoline per one hundred kilometers. (Illustrates use in technical or vehicular contexts, with genitive case for the object.)

• Купите литр сока в магазине. (Kupite litr soka v magazine.)

  Buy a liter of juice at the store. (Demonstrates accusative case in imperative sentences, typical for shopping instructions.)

• Его рецепт требует ровно один литр воды. (Yego retsept trebuet rovno odin litr vody.)

  His recipe requires exactly one liter of water. (Shows singular nominative in precise, recipe-based contexts.)

• В России часто измеряют молоко в литрах. (V Rossii chasto izmerayut moloko v litrakh.)

  In Russia, milk is often measured in liters. (Highlights cultural usage in prepositional phrases, emphasizing regional measurement preferences.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Литр" is a masculine noun in Russian and follows the standard third declension pattern for most inanimate nouns. It has regular inflections based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key forms:

Note: The plural forms are used for quantities greater than one, and the word does not have irregular variations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: миллилитр (milliliter; for smaller volumes), литровая мера (liter measure; more descriptive in formal contexts)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "литр" is a specific unit; however, contrasting units like грамм (gram; for weight) may be used in comparisons.

Related Phrases:

• Один литр воды (Odin litr vody) - One liter of water; Used for basic quantity descriptions in daily life.
• Литровая бутылка (Litrovaya butylka) - A one-liter bottle; Common in packaging and retail contexts.
• Измерить в литрах (Izmerit' v litrakh) - To measure in liters; Often appears in scientific or cooking instructions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "литр" directly corresponds to the English "litre" (or "liter" in American English) as a metric unit of volume. It is neutral in terms of formality and can be used across various contexts, from casual conversations to technical documents. Always pay attention to case endings based on the sentence structure— for example, use genitive for possession or measurement (e.g., "два литра"). If multiple translations exist, "литр" is the standard choice for this exact unit, but learners should note that Russian uses the metric system extensively, making it more prevalent than imperial units like pints.

• Grammar tip: As a masculine noun, it agrees with adjectives and verbs in gender, number, and case.
• Context guidance: In informal speech, it's often abbreviated as "л." in writing, similar to English.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "литр" with weight-based units like "килограмм" (kilogram), leading to incorrect measurements. For example:

• Error: Saying "Я купил килограмм молока" (Ya kupil kilogramm moloka) instead of "Я купил литр молока" (Ya kupil litr moloka), implying weight rather than volume.
• Correct: Use "литр" for liquids or volumes. Explanation: Russian distinguishes clearly between mass and volume, so always check the context to avoid mixing units.
• Another common mistake: Incorrect declension, e.g., using "литр" in genitive as "литра" but forgetting in a sentence like "Налейте литра" (wrong) vs. "Налейте литр" (correct for accusative).

Cultural Notes:

In Russia and other Russian-speaking countries, the metric system—including "литр"—is the standard for measurements, reflecting the country's adoption of the International System of Units (SI) during the Soviet era. This contrasts with some English-speaking regions that use imperial units, so "литр" embodies a broader cultural emphasis on standardization in science and everyday life, often seen in recipes or fuel efficiency discussions.

Related Concepts:

• миллилитр (milliliter)
• килограмм (kilogram)
• метр (meter)
• градус (degree, as in temperature)