Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pizza'

English Word: pizza

Key Russian Translations:

• пицца [pʲɪˈtsːa] - [Informal, Common, Used in everyday contexts for food]

Frequency: High (This word is widely used in modern Russian, especially in urban and casual settings due to the popularity of Italian cuisine.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; it's a straightforward loanword with simple pronunciation and no complex grammar rules.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пицца: [pʲɪˈtsːa]

Note on пицца: The stress falls on the second syllable ("tsːa"). As a loanword from Italian, it retains a soft 'p' sound (palatalized), which may be challenging for beginners but is pronounced similarly to English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A flat, round bread topped with cheese, tomato, and other ingredients (the primary meaning of 'pizza').

Translation(s) & Context:

• пицца - Used in casual, everyday conversations about food, such as ordering at a restaurant or discussing meals. This is the standard term in both formal and informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я заказал пиццу на ужин с друзьями.

  I ordered pizza for dinner with friends. (This example shows the word in a social context, highlighting casual meal planning.)

• Эта пицца из пекарни очень вкусная и свежая.

  This pizza from the bakery is very tasty and fresh. (Demonstrates use in describing quality, with an adjective modifier.)

• Мы часто едим пиццу по выходным.

  We often eat pizza on weekends. (Illustrates habitual actions in a temporal context.)

• Пицца с морепродуктами — мой любимый вариант.

  Pizza with seafood is my favorite option. (Shows the word in a phrase with specifications, common in menu discussions.)

• В ресторане подают разную пиццу, включая вегетарианскую.

  The restaurant serves various pizzas, including vegetarian ones. (Highlights plural use and variety in a service industry context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Пицца" is a feminine noun of the first declension in Russian. It follows regular patterns for most cases but is invariant in plural forms due to its status as a loanword. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The plural forms are less commonly used, as "пицца" often refers to individual items, but they apply in contexts like "various pizzas."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: итальянская лепешка (Italian flatbread) - Used in more descriptive or formal contexts to emphasize origin; пицца с начинкой (pizza with filling) - Specifies type but is not a direct synonym.
• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "пицца" is a specific food item without a clear opposite in Russian vocabulary.

Related Phrases:

• Заказать пиццу - To order pizza (Common in delivery or restaurant scenarios; implies action of purchasing.)
• Домашняя пицца - Homemade pizza (Refers to pizza made at home, contrasting with store-bought.)
• Пицца на вынос - Pizza to go (Used for takeout services, highlighting convenience.)

Usage Notes:

"Пицца" directly corresponds to the English "pizza" as a loanword, making it an easy term for English speakers to adopt. It is neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both casual conversations and formal writing. Be mindful of declensions when using it in sentences; for example, in the accusative case (пиццу), it's used for direct objects. When multiple translations exist, "пицца" is the most straightforward choice for general contexts, but regional variations might include descriptors like "американская пицца" for American-style pizza.

Common Errors:

• Mispronouncing the word: English learners often stress the first syllable (e.g., saying [ˈpɪtsə] instead of [pʲɪˈtsːa]). Correct usage: Always stress the second syllable to sound natural. Error example: "Я ем ПИЦЦА" (incorrect stress), Correct: "Я ем пиццу" (with proper stress and case).
• Overlooking declensions: Beginners might use the nominative form everywhere, e.g., "Я люблю ПИЦЦА" instead of "Я люблю пиццу" (accusative). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so adjust based on sentence structure to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, "пицца" has become a staple of fast food culture since the 1990s, influenced by Western imports. It's often associated with globalization and modern urban life, appearing in chain restaurants like Dodo Pizza. However, traditional Russian cuisine rarely features pizza, so it symbolizes contemporary tastes rather than historical roots.

Related Concepts:

• бургер (burger)
• суши (sushi)
• фастфуд (fast food)