Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vegetarian'

English Word: vegetarian

Key Russian Translations:

• вегетарианец [vʲɪɡɪtəˈrjanʲɪts] - [Informal, Masculine, Noun]
• вегетарианка [vʲɪɡɪtəˈrjanʲkə] - [Informal, Feminine, Noun]
• вегетарианский [vʲɪɡɪtəˈrjansʲkʲɪj] - [Adjective, used in formal and informal contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions about diet, health, and lifestyle, especially in urban and modern settings)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it requires understanding of Russian gender agreement for nouns and adjective declensions; for beginners, focus on basic usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вегетарианец: [vʲɪɡɪtəˈrjanʲɪts]

Note on вегетарианец: The stress falls on the fourth syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'н' sound, which is common in Russian but may be tricky for English speakers.

вегетарианка: [vʲɪɡɪtəˈrjanʲkə]

Note on вегетарианка: Similar to вегетарианец, but ends with a soft 'a' sound; stress remains on the fourth syllable.

вегетарианский: [vʲɪɡɪtəˈrjansʲkʲɪj]

Note on вегетарианский: As an adjective, it may vary slightly in pronunciation based on case and agreement; the ending changes with context.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A person who abstains from eating meat (Noun form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вегетарианец - Used in everyday conversations to refer to a male vegetarian, often in informal or personal contexts.
• вегетарианка - Used similarly but for females, highlighting gender agreement in Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Мой брат — вегетарианец уже пять лет.

  My brother has been a vegetarian for five years.

• Она решила стать вегетарианкой, чтобы улучшить здоровье.

  She decided to become a vegetarian to improve her health.

• В нашей семье есть вегетарианцы, которые избегают мяса по этическим причинам.

  In our family, there are vegetarians who avoid meat for ethical reasons.

• Если вы вегетарианец, то выбирайте блюда без мяса.

  If you are a vegetarian, choose dishes without meat.

Of or relating to vegetarianism (Adjective form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вегетарианский - Applied to food, diets, or lifestyles, used in both formal (e.g., menus) and informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Это вегетарианское меню в ресторане очень разнообразное.

  This vegetarian menu at the restaurant is very diverse.

• Вегетарианский образ жизни становится популярным среди молодежи.

  The vegetarian lifestyle is becoming popular among young people.

• Я предпочитаю вегетарианские продукты для ежедневного питания.

  I prefer vegetarian products for my daily diet.

• Вегетарианский салат можно приготовить из свежих овощей.

  A vegetarian salad can be made from fresh vegetables.

• Магазин предлагает вегетарианские альтернативы мясным продуктам.

  The store offers vegetarian alternatives to meat products.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "вегетарианец" (a masculine noun), it follows the standard second declension pattern with variations for case and number. "вегетарианка" (feminine) follows a similar pattern but with feminine endings.

"вегетарианский" (adjective) changes based on gender, number, and case, as per Russian adjective declension rules.

These words are regular in their inflections, making them relatively straightforward once basic Russian grammar is understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: травояд (herbivore, more informal and biological connotation); веган (vegan, but stricter than vegetarian)
• Antonyms: мясоед (meat-eater, directly contrasting with vegetarian lifestyle)

Related Phrases:

• Вегетарианская диета - A diet that excludes meat, often adopted for health reasons.
• Быть вегетарианцем - To be a vegetarian, emphasizing personal choice in lifestyle.
• Вегетарианское питание - Vegetarian nutrition, commonly used in health discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, always match the noun gender with the subject: use "вегетарианец" for males and "вегетарианка" for females to ensure grammatical agreement. The adjective "вегетарианский" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For English speakers, note that Russian doesn't have a direct neutral form, so context is key. This term is versatile in formal writing (e.g., articles) and informal speech (e.g., conversations about food preferences).

Common Errors:

• English learners often misuse gender: e.g., saying "Она вегетарианец" (incorrect for a female). Correct: "Она вегетарианка." Explanation: Russian nouns require gender agreement, so always check the subject's gender before using the noun.

• Confusing with "веган": Learners might use "вегетарианец" when meaning "vegan," leading to "Он вегетарианец, но ест молоко" (which is accurate for vegetarian but not vegan). Correct usage: Specify if it's strictly plant-based by using "веган."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, vegetarianism has gained popularity in recent years due to global health trends, environmental concerns, and influences from Western diets. However, traditional Russian cuisine is meat-heavy, so vegetarians might face challenges in rural areas or at family gatherings, where dishes like borscht without meat are adapted versions.

Related Concepts:

• веган
• сыроед
• здоровое питание