Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meal'

English Word: meal

Key Russian Translations:

• еда [ˈedə] - [Informal, Everyday]
• трапеза [trɐˈpʲezə] - [Formal, Literary or Religious Context]
• прием пищи [ˈprʲijɛm ˈpʲiʂʲi] - [Neutral, Medical or Descriptive]

Frequency: High (Common in daily conversations and texts)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; basic vocabulary for everyday use)

Pronunciation (Russian):

еда: [ˈedə]

Note on еда: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'e' is pronounced like the 'e' in "bed." Be cautious with the soft 'd' sound, which is common in Russian.

трапеза: [trɐˈpʲezə]

Note on трапеза: Stress on the second syllable; the 'р' is rolled, and the 'п' is followed by a palatalized 'е' sound, which may be challenging for beginners.

прием пищи: [ˈprʲijɛm ˈpʲiʂʲi]

Note on прием пищи: This phrase has two stressed syllables; 'прием' stresses the first, and 'пищи' stresses the first as well. The 'щ' in 'пищи' is a soft, hissing sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A quantity of food eaten at one time (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Translation(s) & Context:

• еда - Used in casual, everyday situations, such as discussing daily routines.
• трапеза - Applied in formal or ceremonial contexts, like religious meals or feasts.
• прием пищи - Often used in health-related or scientific discussions, emphasizing the act of eating.

Usage Examples:

• Я готовлю вкусную еду для семьи. (Ya gotovlyu vkusnuyu yedu dlya semyi.)

  I am preparing a tasty meal for the family. (Shows everyday domestic use.)

• После работы мы устраиваем большую трапезу. (Posle raboty my ustraivaem bolshuyu trapezhu.)

  After work, we have a big meal. (Illustrates a formal or celebratory context.)

• Врачи рекомендуют регулярный прием пищи. (Vrachi rekomenduyut regulyarnyy priyem pishi.)

  Doctors recommend regular meals. (Demonstrates use in a health or routine context.)

• Эта еда слишком жирная, лучше выбрать что-то легкое. (Eta yeda slishkom zhirnaya, luchshe vybrat chto-to lyogkoye.)

  This meal is too fatty; it's better to choose something light. (Highlights dietary preferences.)

Meaning 2: A specific type of food or course (e.g., a main meal).

Translation(s) & Context:

• еда - In contexts referring to the main dish or overall food intake.
• трапеза - For elaborate or traditional meals, like in cultural events.

Usage Examples:

• Обед — это основная еда дня. (Obed — eto osnovnaya yeda dnya.)

  Lunch is the main meal of the day. (Emphasizes routine meal structure.)

• На празднике подают богатую трапезу. (Na prazdnike podavayut bogatuyu trapezhu.)

  At the holiday, they serve a rich meal. (Shows festive or cultural usage.)

• Прием пищи должен быть сбалансированным. (Priyem pishi dolzhen byt sbalansirovannym.)

  A meal should be balanced. (Focuses on nutritional aspects.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'еда' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Note: 'еда' is invariant in some contexts but follows standard feminine patterns. For 'трапеза' (also feminine), it follows similar inflections. 'прием пищи' is a phrase and does not inflect as a single word; 'прием' is masculine and inflects regularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: пища (pishcha) - More formal, emphasizing nourishment; блюдо (blyudo) - Refers to a dish or course.
• Antonyms: голод (golod) - Hunger; пост (post) - Fasting, implying absence of food.

Related Phrases:

• Вкусная еда (Vkusnaya yeda) - Tasty meal; often used to describe enjoyable food.
• Домашняя трапеза (Domashnyaya trapeza) - Home-cooked meal; implies comfort and tradition.
• Легкий прием пищи (Lyogkiy priyem pishi) - Light meal; common in dietary advice.

Usage Notes:

'Еда' is the most versatile translation for 'meal' in informal settings, directly corresponding to everyday English usage. However, 'трапеза' should be reserved for formal or cultural contexts to avoid sounding archaic. When choosing between translations, consider the audience: use 'прием пищи' in professional or medical discussions. Grammatically, these nouns require appropriate case agreements in sentences, e.g., with adjectives or prepositions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'еда' in formal writing where 'трапеза' is more appropriate. Correct: "Мы наслаждались трапезой" instead of "Мы наслаждались едой." Explanation: 'Еда' can sound too casual.
• Mistake: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying "Я ем еда" instead of "Я ем еду." Correct: "Я ем еду" (accusative case). Explanation: Russian requires nouns to change based on their role in the sentence.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, meals like 'трапеза' often carry social significance, such as during family gatherings or religious holidays (e.g., Easter feasts). This reflects the communal aspect of eating, contrasting with more individualistic meal habits in some English-speaking cultures.

Related Concepts:

• завтрак (zavtrak) - Breakfast
• обед (obed) - Lunch
• ужин (uzhin) - Dinner