Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'refrigerate'

English Word: refrigerate

Key Russian Translations:

• охлаждать /ɐxlɐˈʐdatʲ/ - [Formal, commonly used in scientific or everyday contexts]
• хранить в холодильнике /xraˈnʲitʲ v xlaˈdʲilʲnʲikʲe/ - [Informal, idiomatic expression for food storage]

Frequency: Medium - The verb is commonly encountered in daily life, especially in contexts related to food preservation, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "eat" or "drink".

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Involves understanding verb conjugations and noun phrases; for "охлаждать", it's straightforward for intermediate learners, while "хранить в холодильнике" requires grasp of prepositional phrases.

Pronunciation (Russian):

охлаждать: /ɐxlɐˈʐdatʲ/

Note on охладить: The stress falls on the second syllable, and the 'zh' sound (/ʐ/) can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 's' in "measure". Variations in informal speech may soften the consonants.

хранить в холодильнике: /xraˈnʲitʲ v xlaˈdʲilʲnʲikʲe/

Note on хранить в холодильнике: The phrase includes a soft sign ('ь') in "хранить", which affects pronunciation by palatalizing the preceding consonant; practice with native audio for accurate intonation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To cool or preserve something at a low temperature, often in a refrigerator.

Translation(s) & Context:

• охлаждать - Used in general contexts for cooling objects or liquids, such as in scientific experiments or daily cooling processes.
• хранить в холодильнике - Applied specifically to food storage, emphasizing preservation rather than just cooling.

Usage Examples:

• Я охлаждаю напитки перед вечеринкой. (Ya okhlazhdayu napitki pered vecherinkoy.)

  I refrigerate drinks before the party. (This example shows the verb in present tense for ongoing actions.)

• Мы всегда храним молоко в холодильнике, чтобы оно не испортилось. (My vsegda khranim moloko v kholodil'nike, chtoby ono ne isportilos'.)

  We always refrigerate milk so it doesn't spoil. (Illustrates the phrase in a habitual context with a purpose clause.)

• Охлади фрукты перед подачей на стол. (Okhla-di frukty pered podachey na stol.)

  Refrigerate the fruits before serving them. (Demonstrates the imperative form for instructions.)

• В лаборатории мы охлаждаем образцы для анализа. (V laboratorii my okhlazhdayem obraztsy dlya analiza.)

  In the lab, we refrigerate samples for analysis. (Shows usage in a professional or scientific setting.)

• Не забудь хранить в холодильнике свежие продукты. (Ne zabud' khranit' v kholodil'nike svezhie produkty.)

  Don't forget to refrigerate fresh products. (Emphasizes the phrase in an advisory context with negation.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "охлаждать" (a first-conjugation verb), it follows regular patterns with variations based on tense, aspect, and person. It is imperfective, meaning it describes ongoing actions. Below is a table of key inflections:

For "хранить в холодильнике", this is a phrase rather than a single inflected word. "Хранить" is also a first-conjugation verb with similar inflections, but the full phrase remains stable. It does not change form but can be conjugated as needed, e.g., "хранили в холодильнике" (we stored in the refrigerator).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: замораживать (zamorazhivat' - to freeze, but implies lower temperatures); охлаждать (okhlazhdat' - overlapping with the main term, but more general)
• Note: "Замораживать" is often used interchangeably but specifically for freezing, which is a subset of refrigerating.
• Antonyms: нагревать (nagrevat' - to heat); разогревать (razogrevat' - to warm up)

Related Phrases:

• Положить в холодильник (Polozhit' v kholodil'nik) - To put in the refrigerator; used for immediate actions in food storage.
• Хранить при низкой температуре (Khranit' pri nizkoy temperature) - To store at a low temperature; a more formal way to express refrigeration in scientific contexts.
• Охлаждение продуктов (Okhlazhdeniye produktov) - Cooling of products; refers to the process in a broader sense.

Usage Notes:

"Охлаждать" directly corresponds to the cooling aspect of "refrigerate" and is preferred in formal or technical contexts, while "хранить в холодильнике" is more idiomatic for everyday food preservation. English speakers should note that Russian often requires specifying the object explicitly, e.g., "охлаждать пиво" (to refrigerate beer). Be cautious with aspect: use imperfective "охлаждать" for ongoing actions and perfective "охладить" for completed ones. In informal speech, phrases like "в холодильник" are common shortcuts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "охлаждать" interchangeably with "замораживать" without considering temperature differences. Incorrect: "Я замораживаю молоко" (implying freezing milk, which might spoil it). Correct: "Я охлаждаю молоко" (for simple refrigeration). Explanation: "Замораживать" suggests freezing, which is not always appropriate for "refrigerate".
• Error: Forgetting verb conjugations, e.g., saying "я охлаждать" instead of "я охлаждаю". Incorrect: "Я охлаждать еду". Correct: "Я охлаждаю еду". Explanation: Russian verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, refrigeration is particularly emphasized in daily life due to the country's cold climate and traditional food preservation methods, such as pickling or storing in cellars. Phrases like "хранить в холодильнике" reflect a practical approach to food safety, influenced by historical winters and the importance of self-sufficiency in rural areas.

Related Concepts:

• холодильник (kholodil'nik - refrigerator)
• заморозка (zamorozka - freezing)
• температура (temperatura - temperature)