Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'supper'

English Word: supper

Key Russian Translations:

• ужин [ˈuʐɨn] - [Informal, Everyday use]
• вечерний ужин [ˈvʲet͡ɕɪrnɨj ˈuʐɨn] - [Formal, when emphasizing the evening aspect]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations but not as frequent as basic words like "еда" (food))

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary, suitable for beginners as it involves basic vocabulary, but understanding inflections may require intermediate practice)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ужин: [ˈuʐɨn] (The "ж" is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the "s" in "measure", and the stress is on the first syllable)

вечерний ужин: [ˈvʲet͡ɕɪrnɨj ˈuʐɨn] (Note the soft sign "ь" in "вечерний", which softens the preceding consonant; practice the vowel shifts for natural flow)

Note on ужин: Be cautious with the "ж" sound, as it's a common difficulty for English speakers; it's softer than in English words like "vision".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Evening meal (Primary meaning, referring to a light or main meal eaten in the evening)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужин - Used in informal, everyday contexts, such as family dinners or casual meals at home.
• вечерний ужин - Applied in more formal settings, like dinner parties or when specifying the time of day.

Usage Examples:

• Я готовлю ужин для семьи. (Ya gotovlyu uzhin dlya sem'i.)

  I am preparing supper for the family. (This shows the word in a domestic, informal context with a verb like "готовлю".)

• После работы мы обычно едим ужин вместе. (Posle raboty my obychno yedim uzhin vmeste.)

  After work, we usually eat supper together. (Illustrates routine usage in a simple sentence structure.)

• В ресторане подают вкусный вечерний ужин. (V restorane podavayut vkusnyy vecherniy uzhin.)

  The restaurant serves a tasty supper. (Demonstrates formal usage in a public setting, with an adjective for description.)

• Не забудьте приготовить ужин к восьми. (Ne zabud'te prigotovit' uzhin k vos'mi.)

  Don't forget to prepare supper by eight. (Shows the word in a command or reminder, highlighting time-related contexts.)

• Ужин в нашей культуре – это время для общения. (Uzhin v nashey kulture – eto vremya dlya obshcheniya.)

  Supper in our culture is a time for communication. (Emphasizes cultural aspects in a broader sentence.)

Secondary meaning: A late-night snack or informal gathering (Less common, but possible in casual contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ужин - In informal slang, can refer to a late-evening snack among friends.

Usage Examples:

• Давай организуем ужин после фильма. (Davay organizuyem uzhin posle fil'ma.)

  Let's organize a supper after the movie. (This example shows informal planning for a social event.)

• Ужин превратился в долгую беседу. (Uzhin prevratilsya v dolgu besedu.)

  The supper turned into a long conversation. (Illustrates how the word can extend to social interactions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Ужин" is a masculine noun in the second declension. It follows standard Russian noun patterns with inflections based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key forms:

For "вечерний ужин", "вечерний" is an adjective that agrees with the noun and inflects accordingly (e.g., вечерним ужином in instrumental case). It is a regular adjective with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вечеря [vʲet͡ɕerʲa] - More formal or literary term, often used in older texts.
  • поздний прием пищи [ˈpozdnɨj prʲiˈjem pʲiˈɕi] - Descriptive phrase, emphasizing lateness; used in health or dietary contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • завтрак [zʌfˈtrak] - Breakfast, the opposite morning meal.
  • обед [ɐˈbʲed] - Lunch, the midday meal.

Related Phrases:

• Приготовить ужин [prigotovit' uzhin] - To prepare supper; used for cooking or meal planning.
• Совместный ужин [sovmestnyy uzhin] - Joint supper; refers to shared meals, often with family or friends.
• Легкий ужин [legkiy uzhin] - Light supper; implies a simple, non-heavy meal for better health.

Usage Notes:

"Ужин" directly corresponds to "supper" in English as an evening meal, but it's more commonly used for informal settings in Russian culture. Unlike English, where "supper" can vary regionally, "ужин" is neutral and fits most contexts. Be mindful of formality: use "вечерний ужин" in professional or written language. Grammatically, it requires case agreement, so pair it correctly in sentences (e.g., "на ужине" for "at supper"). When choosing between translations, opt for "ужин" for everyday talk and "вечерний ужин" for emphasis on elegance.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "ужин" with "обед" (lunch): English learners might misuse "ужин" for midday meals. Error: "Я ем ужин в полдень" (I eat supper at noon). Correct: "Я ем обед в полдень" (I eat lunch at noon). Explanation: "Ужин" specifically denotes evening, so context is key to avoid temporal mix-ups.
• Overlooking inflections: Beginners often forget to change cases, e.g., saying "Я иду на ужин" but incorrectly using it in genitive without adjustment. Error: "Я думаю об ужинов" (I think about suppers). Correct: "Я думаю об ужинах". Explanation: Always match the noun's case to the sentence structure for grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "ужин" often symbolizes family bonding and is a time for leisurely conversations, especially in traditional households. Historically, it stems from agrarian lifestyles where evening meals marked the end of the workday, contrasting with faster-paced modern habits influenced by urbanization.

Related Concepts:

• завтрак (breakfast)
• обед (lunch)
• закуска (appetizer, often served before supper)