Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sprinkle'

English Word: sprinkle

Key Russian Translations:

• посыпать [pɐˈsɨpətʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for scattering particles like sugar or salt]
• посыпка [pɐˈsɨpkə] - [Noun, Feminine, Singular, Refers to a light covering or scattering]
• брызгать [brɨzˈɡatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for sprinkling liquids, e.g., water]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like cooking or descriptions, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'eat').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and noun declensions, suitable for learners with basic Russian grammar knowledge).

Pronunciation (Russian):

посыпать: [pɐˈsɨpətʲ]

посыпка: [pɐˈsɨpkə]

брызгать: [brɨzˈɡatʲ]

Note on посыпать: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on брызгать: This word has a harder 'г' sound; practice it in rapid speech as it often appears in dynamic contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a verb: To scatter or sprinkle something in small particles or drops.

Translation(s) & Context:

• посыпать - Used in contexts involving dry substances, such as food preparation (e.g., sprinkling salt on a dish). Informal and everyday.
• брызгать - Used for liquids, like sprinkling water, in playful or practical scenarios (e.g., watering plants). Informal and action-oriented.

Usage Examples:

• Я посыпал сахаром торт. (Ya posypal sakharom tort.)

  I sprinkled sugar on the cake. (Demonstrates basic verb usage in a culinary context.)

• Дети брызгали водой в парке. (Deti bryzgali vodoy v parke.)

  The children were sprinkling water in the park. (Shows the verb in a playful, outdoor setting with plural subjects.)

• Она посыпает специи на салат каждый вечер. (Ona posypayet spetsii na salat kazhdyy vecher.)

  She sprinkles spices on the salad every evening. (Illustrates habitual action in a routine context.)

• Брызгай водой на цветы, чтобы они не вяли. (Bryzgay vodoy na tsvety, chtoby oni ne vyaly.)

  Sprinkle water on the flowers so they don't wilt. (Emphasizes imperative form for instructions.)

• Ветер посыпал листьями дорожку. (Veter posypal listyami dorozhku.)

  The wind sprinkled leaves on the path. (Depicts natural, metaphorical usage.)

As a noun: A small amount or light scattering of something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• посыпка - Refers to the act or result of sprinkling, often in cooking or decoration contexts. Can be formal or informal.

Usage Examples:

• Добавьте немного посыпки для вкуса. (Dobavte nemnogo posypki dlya vkusa.)

  Add a little sprinkle for flavor. (Shows noun in a recipe context.)

• Посыпка снега сделала пейзаж magicalным. (Posypka snega sdelala peyzazh magicheskim.)

  The sprinkle of snow made the landscape magical. (Illustrates poetic or descriptive use.)

• В рецепте указано: 'посыпка соли по вкусу'. (V retsepte ukazano: 'posypka soli po vkusu'.)

  The recipe says: 'a sprinkle of salt to taste'. (Demonstrates practical, instructional usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'посыпать' (verb, imperfective): This is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns. It changes based on tense, aspect, and person. Below is a conjugation table for the present tense:

Note: It has a perfective counterpart 'посыпать' can pair with 'посыпать' in some contexts, but it's often used alone.

For 'посыпка' (noun, feminine): This is a first-declension noun. It declines regularly as follows:

For 'брызгать' (verb): Similar to 'посыпать', it's a first-conjugation verb and follows regular patterns without significant irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • посыпать - посыпать can be synonymous with 'присыпать' (prisypat') in cooking contexts, but 'присыпать' implies a lighter touch.
  • брызгать - 'покапать' (pokapat'), which is used for dripping liquids.
• Antonyms:
  • собрать (sobrati) - To gather or collect, opposite of scattering.
  • высушить (vysushit') - To dry, contrasting with sprinkling liquids.

Related Phrases:

• Посыпать солью (Posypat' sol'yu) - To sprinkle with salt; a common cooking phrase meaning adding a light seasoning.
• Брызги дождя (Bryzzgi dozhdya) - Sprinkles of rain; refers to light, scattered raindrops in weather descriptions.
• Легкая посыпка снега (Legkaya posypka snega) - A light sprinkle of snow; used in poetic or meteorological contexts to describe weather.

Usage Notes:

'Sprinkle' as 'посыпать' directly corresponds to actions involving dry particles and is versatile in informal speech, but in formal writing, opt for more precise terms. For liquids, 'брызгать' is preferred. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective for ongoing actions. When choosing between translations, consider the substance—dry vs. liquid—to avoid confusion.

• In cooking, 'посыпка' is often used as a noun for toppings.
• Grammar note: Verbs like these require agreement with the object in case and number.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'посыпать' with 'брызгать' by using the wrong verb for the substance, e.g., saying 'посыпать водой' (incorrect for liquids) instead of 'брызгать водой'. Correct usage: 'Брызгать водой' means 'to sprinkle water'. Another error is improper conjugation, like saying 'посыпать' in the wrong tense; for example, 'Я посыпал' (past) instead of 'Я посыпаю' (present) in ongoing contexts. Explanation: Russian verbs must match the tense and aspect precisely to convey the intended meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like 'посыпка снега' (a sprinkle of snow) often evoke romantic or nostalgic imagery in literature and poetry, such as in works by Pushkin, symbolizing the beauty of winter. This reflects Russia's harsh climate, where light snowfalls are celebrated in art and daily life, contrasting with more practical uses in cooking.

Related Concepts:

• присыпать (prisypat')
• брызги (bryzzgi)
• снегопад (snegopad)