Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mash'

English Word: mash

Key Russian Translations:

• разминать [rɐzˈmʲinətʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts like cooking]
• толочь [tɐˈlotɕ] - [Verb, Formal, Used for pounding or crushing in traditional or industrial settings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in culinary and everyday language, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugation and context, though basic forms are accessible to learners at A2 level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

разминать: [rɐzˈmʲinətʲ]

Note on разминать: The stress falls on the second syllable ("mʲinətʲ"). Be mindful of the palatalized 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

толочь: [tɐˈlotɕ]

Note on толочь: The final 'ч' is a soft, palatal fricative; it may vary slightly in rapid speech. Avoid over-emphasizing the 'т'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To crush or mash something, especially in cooking (e.g., mashing potatoes).

Translation(s) & Context:

• разминать - Typically used in informal, domestic contexts like preparing food.
• толочь - Often applied in more formal or traditional settings, such as mortar and pestle use.

Usage Examples:

• Я разминаю картофель для приготовления пюре.

  I am mashing the potatoes to make puree. (Shows verb in present tense, everyday cooking context.)

• Она всегда толчет чеснок в ступке перед добавлением в суп.

  She always mashes the garlic in a mortar before adding it to the soup. (Illustrates use with tools in a recipe.)

• Мы разминаем фрукты, чтобы сделать домашнее варенье.

  We mash the fruits to make homemade jam. (Demonstrates plural object and collaborative action.)

• В ресторане повар толчет специи для специального блюда.

  In the restaurant, the chef mashes spices for a special dish. (Context in professional setting.)

Meaning 2: A mixture or mash, as in brewing or informal mixtures (e.g., a mash in beer-making).

Translation(s) & Context:

• затир - Used specifically in brewing or industrial contexts, often as a noun.

Usage Examples:

• Затир из зерна важен для процесса пивоварения.

  The mash from grains is important in the beer-making process. (Noun usage in a technical context.)

• Они готовят затир для нового сорта пива.

  They are preparing the mash for a new type of beer. (Shows noun in a production scenario.)

• В затире смешиваются разные ингредиенты для ферментации.

  In the mash, various ingredients are mixed for fermentation. (Emphasizes mixture aspect.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "разминать" (a first-conjugation verb), it follows regular patterns with infinitive, past, present, and future forms. It is imperfective, meaning it describes ongoing actions.

For "толочь" (also imperfective), it has similar conjugation but with irregularities in some forms due to its root. "затир" is a masculine noun that declines as follows:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: мять (to knead or squeeze, often for dough); давить (to press or crush, with a connotation of force)
• Antonyms: оставлять целым (to leave whole, not mash); резать (to cut, as an alternative preparation method)

Related Phrases:

• разминать тесто - Kneading dough (Common in baking contexts).
• толочь в ступке - Pounding in a mortar (Traditional method for herbs or spices).
• затир для пива - Mash for beer (Specific to brewing terminology).

Usage Notes:

"Mash" translates variably in Russian based on context: "разминать" is ideal for soft, manual crushing like in cooking, while "толочь" suits harder materials. Choose based on formality—use "разминать" in casual speech and "толочь" in descriptive or professional settings. Grammatically, these are imperfective verbs, so they pair well with ongoing actions. For nouns like "затир", ensure correct case agreement in sentences.

• Tip: In Russian, verbs like these often require prepositions, e.g., "разминать в миске" (mash in a bowl), to specify tools or containers.
• Comparison: Unlike English "mash," Russian equivalents may imply more physical effort, so context is key for accurate translation.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "разминать" with "мять," using the latter incorrectly for food preparation. Error: Saying "Я мяту картофель" (incorrect, as "мять" is better for fabrics). Correct: "Я разминаю картофель." Explanation: "Мять" implies squeezing without breaking down, while "разминать" specifically means to mash into a pulp—always check the object's nature.

Another common mistake is forgetting verb conjugation: Error: "Он разминаетс" (incorrect form). Correct: "Он разминает." Explanation: Ensure proper ending based on person and number to avoid sounding ungrammatical.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like "толочь" evoke traditional practices, such as using a wooden mortar in rural kitchens, symbolizing homemade and authentic preparation. This ties into broader themes of self-sufficiency in Russian folklore, where mashing ingredients by hand represents resourcefulness and connection to the land.

Related Concepts:

• пюре (puree)
• ферментация (fermentation)
• измельчать (to grind)