Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nibble'

English Word: nibble

Key Russian Translations:

• покусывать [pɐˈkusɨvətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in everyday conversation for gentle biting]
• кусочек [ˈkusətɕɪk] - [Neutral, Noun, Often used for food-related contexts]
• грызть [ˈɡrɨzʲtʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Implies more persistent biting, but can be used lightly]

Frequency: Medium (Common in casual speech and literature, but not as frequent as basic verbs)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations for 'покусывать' and noun declensions for 'кусочек')

Pronunciation (Russian):

покусывать: [pɐˈkusɨvətʲ]

кусочек: [ˈkusətɕɪk]

грызть: [ˈɡrɨzʲtʲ]

Note on покусывать: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To bite gently or take small bites (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• покусывать - Used in informal settings, such as describing animals or eating snacks casually.
• грызть - Applied in contexts involving more habitual or playful biting, like a child with a toy.

Usage Examples:

• Котик покусывает мою руку, но не больно.

  The kitten is nibbling my hand, but it doesn't hurt.

• Она покусывала яблоко, чтобы не есть его целиком.

  She was nibbling the apple to avoid eating it all at once.

• Дети грызут орехи по вечерам, как маленькие белки.

  The children are nibbling nuts in the evenings, like little squirrels.

• В парке собака покусывала кость, развлекааясь.

  In the park, the dog was nibbling on a bone, having fun.

Meaning 2: A small bite or piece (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кусочек - Common in food-related contexts, such as describing a small portion.

Usage Examples:

• Возьми кусочек шоколада, чтобы попробовать.

  Take a nibble of chocolate to try it.

• Этот кусочек сыра идеален для закуски.

  This nibble of cheese is perfect for a snack.

• На вечеринке подают маленькие кусочки фруктов.

  At the party, they serve small nibbles of fruit.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'покусывать' (verb, imperfective aspect), it follows standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. It is an imperfective verb and can be conjugated based on tense, person, and number.

For 'кусочек' (noun, masculine, 2nd declension), it declines regularly as follows:

'грызть' is a verb and conjugates similarly to 'покусывать', with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • погрызть (similar to nibble but implies completion)
  • жевать (chew, for eating contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • проглотить (swallow whole, opposite of nibbling)
  • отпустить (release, in biting contexts)

Note: 'погрызть' is often interchangeable with 'покусывать' in informal settings but may suggest a slightly more intense action.

Related Phrases:

• покусывать ногти - Nibbling nails (a habit, often in stressful situations)
• кусочек пирога - A nibble of pie (referring to a small piece of food)
• грызть карандаш - Nibbling a pencil (indicating absent-minded behavior)

Usage Notes:

'покусывать' is the most direct translation for the verb 'nibble' and is best used in informal or descriptive contexts, such as in literature or everyday speech. Avoid it in formal writing; opt for 'грызть' if a stronger connotation is needed. For the noun form, 'кусочек' aligns closely with 'nibble' when referring to food, but remember Russian nouns must agree in case, number, and gender. When choosing between translations, consider the context: 'покусывать' for actions involving animals or light eating, and 'кусочек' for tangible items.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'покусывать' with 'грызть' and use 'грызть' for gentle actions, which can make the description sound more aggressive. Correct: Use 'покусывать' for light nibbling. Example of error: "Кот грызет руку" (implies harsh biting); Correct: "Кот покусывает руку" (gentle nibbling).

• Misdeclining 'кусочек' in sentences, e.g., using the wrong case. Error: "Я ем кусочек" in genitive context; Correct: "Я ем кусочек" should be "Я ем кусочек" in nominative, but adjust to "Я ем кусочек от пирога" with proper genitive if needed.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'покусывать ногти' (nibbling nails) are often associated with nervousness or deep thought, similar to English idioms. It's commonly depicted in literature, such as in Chekhov's works, to show character traits, reflecting a cultural emphasis on subtle behavioral observations.

Related Concepts:

• жвачка (chewing gum)
• пережевывать (to chew over, metaphorically)
• укус (bite)