Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stew'

English Word: stew

Key Russian Translations:

• рагу [ˈraɡu] - [Informal, Common in everyday cooking]
• тушеное мясо [tuˈʂɛnəje ˈmʲaso] - [Formal, Literal translation for stewed meat dishes]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are commonly encountered in discussions about food and recipes, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections and food-related vocabulary. For 'рагу', it's straightforward; for 'тушеное мясо', it involves compound words, which may add slight complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

рагу: [ˈraɡu]

тушеное мясо: [tuˈʂɛnəje ˈmʲaso]

Note on рагу: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers used to a harder 'g' sound.

Note on тушеное мясо: Pay attention to the soft sign 'e' in 'тушеное', which affects vowel pronunciation; it's a common pattern in Russian adjectives.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The main meaning: A dish made by slowly cooking meat, vegetables, and other ingredients in liquid.

Translation(s) & Context:

• рагу - Used in casual, everyday contexts, such as home cooking or restaurant menus, to refer to a hearty stew.
• тушеное мясо - Applied in more formal or descriptive settings, like recipes or nutritional discussions, emphasizing the stewing process.

Usage Examples:

• Я приготовил вкусное рагу из говядины и овощей на ужин.

  I made a tasty beef stew with vegetables for dinner. (This example shows 'рагу' in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting everyday meal preparation.)

• В ресторане подают тушеное мясо с картофелем и травами.

  The restaurant serves stewed meat with potatoes and herbs. (Here, 'тушеное мясо' is used in a formal context, such as describing a menu item.)

• Моя бабушка всегда делает рагу в глиняном горшке для семейных обедов.

  My grandmother always makes stew in a clay pot for family dinners. (This illustrates 'рагу' in a cultural or familial setting, with a focus on traditional methods.)

• Тушеное мясо — это идеальный вариант для зимних дней, когда хочется чего-то сытного.

  Stewed meat is the perfect option for winter days when you want something hearty. (This example uses 'тушеное мясо' in a general advisory context, emphasizing seasonal usage.)

• Рецепт рагу включает медленное тушение ингредиентов для лучшего вкуса.

  The stew recipe involves slowly stewing the ingredients for better flavor. (This demonstrates 'рагу' in a procedural or instructional context, linking back to the cooking process.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'рагу' is a neuter noun in Russian, which follows standard second-declension patterns. It has regular inflections based on case and number. 'тушеное мясо' is a phrase where 'тушеное' is an adjective agreeing with 'мясо' (neuter noun).

Note: 'рагу' is often invariant and doesn't change in most cases, making it simpler for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гуляш [ɡuˈlʲaʂ] - Similar to stew but often implies a thicker, Hungarian-influenced dish; used in casual contexts.
  • жаркое [ʐarˈkəje] - Refers to roasted or braised meat, with subtle differences in preparation method.
• Antonyms:
  • сырое мясо [ˈsɨrəje ˈmʲaso] - Raw meat, contrasting with the cooked nature of stew.

Related Phrases:

• овощное рагу - Vegetable stew; a lighter, vegetarian version of the dish.
• тушеное мясо с грибами - Stewed meat with mushrooms; a common hearty variation in Russian cuisine.
• домашнее рагу - Homemade stew; emphasizes the comforting, family-style preparation.

Usage Notes:

In English, 'stew' directly corresponds to 'рагу' in informal contexts and 'тушеное мясо' in more precise or formal ones. Choose 'рагу' for everyday conversations about food, as it's shorter and more idiomatic. Be mindful of context: in Russian, these words often imply a slow-cooking method, which aligns with English usage. Grammatically, ensure adjectives like 'тушеное' agree in gender, number, and case with the noun. For learners, start with 'рагу' due to its simplicity, and use 'тушеное мясо' when describing recipes to highlight the process.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'рагу' as if it's always plural or confusing it with 'суп' (soup). Correct: 'рагу' is singular and refers specifically to stew, not soup. Example of error: "Я ем рагуs" (incorrect pluralization). Correct usage: "Я ем рагу" – I eat stew.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement in 'тушеное мясо'. Correct: In genitive case, it should be 'тушеного мяса', not 'тушеное мяса'. This error often stems from direct word-for-word translation from English.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, dishes like 'рагу' or 'тушеное мясо' are staples in traditional cuisine, often associated with family gatherings and winter meals. They reflect the historical influence of peasant cooking, where slow-stewing preserved ingredients during harsh seasons. For instance, variations of stew appear in festivals like Maslenitsa, symbolizing warmth and community.

Related Concepts:

• суп
• борщ
• жульен