чёрный кофе
chyornyy kofe
In Russian, the English phrase "black coffee" is translated as чёрный кофе (chyornyy kofe).
The phrase is used to describe coffee that is served without any milk or cream.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun кофе is masculine, which requires the adjective to be in the masculine form чёрный. When using the phrase in the genitive case, such as after the preposition for "without" (без), the phrase changes to чёрного кофе.
How do you pronounce it?
chyornyy kofe
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the feminine form чёрная кофе. While English speakers might perceive coffee as a feminine concept, the word кофе is grammatically masculine in Russian.
When do people say it?
In the Caucasus region, it is customary to serve black coffee in small cups accompanied by a glass of water.
Did you know?
- In some traditional Russian settings, adding a pinch of salt to чёрный кофе is a known trick to reduce bitterness without adding sugar.
- The Russian word чёрный is a distant relative of the Sanskrit word kṛṣṇa, which is the name of the dark-skinned Hindu deity Krishna.
- While кофе is strictly masculine in formal grammar, many native speakers colloquially use it as a neuter noun in casual conversation.
Examples in context
- Вы пьёте чёрный кофе?Do you drink black coffee?Tatoeba #4180062 by odexed, translation #1764981 by CK
- Он всегда пьёт чёрный кофе.He always drinks black coffee.Tatoeba #5500881 by odexed, translation #4092046 by andymakespasta
- Я часто добавляю в чёрный кофе немного мёда.I often drink black coffee with a little honey.Tatoeba #12063852 by marafon, translation #12063835 by CK
- Дай мне, пожалуйста, кофе без сахара.Give me coffee without sugar, please.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andrei and Olga are at a small cafe.
- Андрей AndreyЧто ты будешь заказывать?Chto ty budesh zakazyvat'?What are you going to order?
- Ольга OlgaЯ возьму один чёрный кофе.Ya voz'mu odin chyornyy kofe.I'll have one black coffee.
- Андрей AndreyБез сахара и молока?Bez sakhara i moloka?Without sugar and milk?
- Ольга OlgaДа, я люблю именно чёрный кофе.Da, ya lyublyu imenno chyornyy kofe.Yes, I like black coffee specifically.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries кофе, чёрный, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
