хлеб
xleb[xlʲep]masculine
Bread in Russian is хлеб (xleb).
The word хлеб refers to baked dough made from cereals. If you want to refer specifically to a small bread roll, use the term булочка. For the action of coating something in breadcrumbs, use the verb панирова́ть.
Meaning: baked dough made from cereals (noun)
Which one should you use?
While хлеб is used as a direct object in the accusative case, the form хлеба is used in the genitive case, which is required for negative constructions to express the absence of any bread.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form хлеба is the genitive case, used after negation to indicate the absence of bread or to express 'any bread'. The form хлебом is the instrumental case, used to express eating or being accompanied by bread, such as in the phrase 'есть хлебом' (to eat with bread).
How do you pronounce it?
xleb
Did you know?
- In Russian culture, dropping a piece of хлеб on the floor is often seen as a sin, and it is common to pick it up and kiss it as an apology.
- The English word 'loaf' and the Russian word хлеб share a common ancestor from a long-lost Germanic root. This connects the English 'lady' and 'lord' to the concept of providing bread through the ancient term 'hlaifs'.
- In Russian culture, bread is so highly regarded that it is often used as a symbol of hospitality, such as in the traditional practice of welcoming guests with 'хлеб-соль' (bread and salt).
Examples in context
- Я хлеб не ем.I don't eat bread.This sentence is useful for expressing a general habit of not eating the word хлеб.Tatoeba #1949249 by marafon, translation #3826038 by CK
- Я хлеба не ем.I don't eat any bread.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not eat any хлеб.Tatoeba #5594975 by marafon, translation #5089891 by AlanF_US
- Я ел ваш хлеб.I was eating your bread.This sentence is useful for describing a past action involving the word хлеб.Tatoeba #12500658 by marafon, translation #13806406 by tieguy
- Мне нужен хлеб на завтрак.I need bread for breakfast.
- Купите, пожалуйста, хлеб в магазине.Please buy bread at the store.
- Сколько булок хочешь?How many bread rolls do you want?
- Пожалуйста, дайте мне одну булочку.Please give me one bread roll.
- Они выпекают самые вкусные булочки в этом районе.They bake the most delicious bread rolls in this area.
- 784 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Olga and Alexander are preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
- Ольга OlgaАлександр, купи, пожалуйста, свежий хлеб.Aleksandr, kupi, pozhaluysta, svezhiy khleb.Alexander, please buy some fresh bread.
- Александр AleksandrКонечно, какой именно хлеб тебе нужен?Konechno, kakoy imenno khleb tebe nuzhen?Of course, what kind of bread do you need?
- Ольга OlgaЯ хочу ржаной хлеб и немного масла.Ya khochu rzhanoy khleb i nemnogo masla.I want rye bread and some butter.
- Александр AleksandrХорошо, я скоро вернусь с хлебом.Khorosho, ya skoro vernus s khlebom.Alright, I'll be back with the bread soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bread” translations and entries хлеб, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries хлеб, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
