Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pot'

English Word: pot

Key Russian Translations:

• кастрюля [kɐˈstruʐə] - [Common for cooking; Informal]
• горшок [ˈɡorʂək] - [Used for flower pots or small containers; Neutral]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday contexts like cooking or household discussions)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner for "кастрюля"; A2 for "горшок" due to slight contextual variations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кастрюля: [kɐˈstruʐə]

Note on кастрюля: The 'р' is rolled, and the 'ю' sound is a soft palatal approximant; common in casual speech with stress on the second syllable.

горшок: [ˈɡorʂək]

Note on горшок: The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative; pronunciation remains consistent across contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A container used for cooking food.

Translation(s) & Context:

• кастрюля - Used in everyday kitchen scenarios, especially for boiling or stewing; Informal, domestic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я поставил кастрюлю на плиту, чтобы сварить суп.

  I put the pot on the stove to cook soup.

• В этой кастрюле можно приготовить обед для всей семьи.

  In this pot, you can cook a meal for the whole family.

• Не забудьте накрыть кастрюлю крышкой, чтобы вода не выкипела.

  Don't forget to cover the pot with a lid so the water doesn't boil away.

• Кастрюля из нержавеющей стали идеальна для ежедневного использования.

  A stainless steel pot is ideal for everyday use.

• После готовки я всегда мою кастрюлю сразу, чтобы избежать пригорания.

  After cooking, I always wash the pot immediately to avoid burning.

Meaning 2: A small container for plants, like a flower pot.

Translation(s) & Context:

• горшок - Applied in gardening or decorative contexts; Neutral, often in informal or hobbyist settings.

Usage Examples:

• Я посадил цветок в новый горшок на подоконнике.

  I planted a flower in a new pot on the windowsill.

• Этот горшок сделан из глины и идеально подходит для室内 растений.

  This pot is made of clay and is perfect for indoor plants.

• В саду у нас много горшков с разными травами.

  In the garden, we have many pots with different herbs.

• Горшок сломался, и мне пришлось заменить его на больший.

  The pot broke, and I had to replace it with a larger one.

• Дети любят украшать горшок яркими наклейками.

  Children love to decorate the pot with bright stickers.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "кастрюля" (feminine noun, 1st declension), it follows standard Russian noun inflections. It changes based on case and number.

For "горшок" (masculine noun, 2nd declension), it is mostly regular but has variations in plural forms.

Both words do not change in gender but follow standard patterns; no irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • посуда (general dishware; broader term than кастрюля)
  • кашер (less common, specific to certain regional dialects for cooking vessels)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as these are concrete nouns without clear opposites.

Related Phrases:

• В кастрюле варить суп (In the pot, cook soup) - A common phrase for describing cooking processes.
• Горшок с цветами (Pot with flowers) - Refers to decorative planting; used in gardening contexts.
• Новая кастрюля для кухни (New pot for the kitchen) - Phrase for shopping or household discussions.

Usage Notes:

"Кастрюля" directly corresponds to the cooking sense of "pot" in English and is preferred in informal, everyday Russian speech. Use it in domestic or culinary contexts to avoid confusion with "горшок," which is better for plant-related meanings. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences (e.g., feminine adjectives with кастрюля). For learners, choose "кастрюля" for general cooking scenarios and "горшок" for non-food containers to match precise contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кастрюля" interchangeably with "горшок" in plant contexts. Incorrect: "Я посадил цветок в кастрюлю." Correct: "Я посадил цветок в горшок." Explanation: This mixes cooking and gardening meanings, leading to confusion; always select based on context.
• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying "в кастрюля" instead of "в кастрюле." Incorrect: "Суп в кастрюля." Correct: "Суп в кастрюле." Explanation: Russian requires proper prepositional case; practice with tables to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "кастрюля" is a staple in traditional cooking, often associated with home-made soups and stews during family gatherings or holidays like Maslenitsa. It symbolizes warmth and hospitality in domestic settings, reflecting the importance of communal meals in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• сковорода (frying pan)
• чайник (kettle)
• тарелка (plate)