Russian

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Etymology

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Inherited from Old East Slavic кушати (kušati), from Proto-Slavic *kušati. Cognate with Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (kausjan, to taste, to sample).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈkuʂətʲ]
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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ку́шать (kúšatʹimpf (perfective поку́шать or ску́шать)

  1. (of a guest, woman or child) to eat, to have (a meal)
    Synonym: есть (jestʹ)

Usage notes

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Traditionally the word кушать is used in polite invitations to eat when speaking to a woman, a child, or especially to a guest. For other occasions the word есть (jestʹ) is used. In colloquial speech, however, the word кушать is often used instead of есть.

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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