Russian Words: Food and Drink

Food and drink are a big part of the Russian culture, both for social reasons and for the sake of good health, which many Russians take very seriously. It is not uncommon to have several courses for lunch, which can include soup-based starters, main dishes, and desserts.

Russian family life is also centered around mealtimes and many people have a "proper" cooked breakfast every morning. Russian celebration meals are usually true feasts, which is not surprising if you consider the variety of flavors that Russia has developed due to its geographical location and historical connections.

For learners of Russian, getting the food and drink vocabulary down is essential if you want to be able to participate in Russian life. We have compiled a list of the most used words.

Breakfast Foods

Russian breakfast can be hot or cold and is usually a sandwich, fried eggs, or kasha—a type of porridge that can be made of oats, buckwheat, millet, semolina, or pearl barley, as well as other grains.

Vegetables

Russians eat a lot of pickled vegetables, a tradition that was born out of necessity from living in a cold climate where fresh vegetables were not available for months at a time.

Example: Квашеная капуста.
Pronunciation: KVAshenaya kaPOOSta.
Translation: Saurkraut.

Example: Солёный огурчик.
Pronunciation: SaLYOny aGOORchik.
Translation: Gherkin.

Fruit

Meat and Fish

Meat and fish are an important part of the traditional Russian diet. For example, pickled herring is served at any celebratory or important meal. Meat and fish are often fried.

Main Dishes

The most popular main dishes are various soups, cutlets, and fried potatoes, as well as pasta and rice dishes.

Example: Принесите, пожалуйста, отбивную.
Pronunciation: PrinySEEtye, paZHalusta, atbivNUyu.
Translation: I will have the steak, please.

Example: На обед макароны по-флотски.
Pronunciation: Na aBYED makaROny pa-FLOTsky.
Translation: Lunch is beefaroni.

Desserts

Example: Зефир в шоколаде.
Pronunciation: zyFEER fshukuLAdye.
Translation: Chocolate-covered marshmallow.

Example: Я заказала торт.
Pronunciation: Ya zakaZAla TORT.
Translation: I ordered a cake.

Drinks

Example: Кофе по-восточному, пожалуйста.
Pronunciation: KOfye pa-vasTOChnamoo, paZHAlusta.
Translation: Turkish coffee, please.