сыр
syr[sɨr]masculine
The English word cheese is translated into Russian as сыр (syr) or творог depending on the type of dairy product. Wiktionary also lists творо́г (tvoróg) and тво́рог (tvórog).
Meaning: dairy product (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| сыр | syr | [sɨr] (narrow) | masculine |
| творо́г | tvoróg | masculine | |
| тво́рог | tvórog | masculine |
Russian uses different words to distinguish between types of cheese. сыр refers to hard or semi-hard cheese, while творог refers to curd cheese, cottage cheese or quark.
Which one should you use?
Use сыр for standard hard or semi-hard cheese. Use творог or творо́г specifically for curd-based dairy products like cottage cheese or quark.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both сыр and творог are masculine nouns. The word сыр can also be used as an interjection when someone is being photographed.
How do you pronounce it?
syr
When do people say it?
When someone is having their photo taken, you can say сыр to make them smile, similar to saying 'cheese' in English.
Did you know?
- The Russian word for cheese, сыр, shares an ancient root with the English word 'sour', reflecting the fermented nature of the product.
- There is a traditional Russian dish called сырники that consists of fried curd cheese patties, despite the root word сыр referring to hard cheese.
- While English speakers say 'cheese' for photos, Russians may also use the word улыбочку which translates to 'a little smile'.
Examples in context
- Я не ем сыр.I don't eat cheese.The first sentence is useful for expressing that you do not eat сыр.Tatoeba #8281243 by marafon, translation #8215858 by CK
- Я не люблю сыр.I don't like cheese.The second sentence is useful for expressing that you do not like сыр.Tatoeba #2528287 by marafon, translation #3196474 by Theocracy
- Он не любит сыр.He doesn't like cheese.The third sentence is useful for expressing that someone else does not like сыр.Tatoeba #2528293 by marafon, translation #8179468 by Amastan
- Мне нравится голубой сырI like blue cheese
- 297 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia and Sergey are preparing a snack in the kitchen.
- Анастасия AnastasiaГде у нас сыр?Gde u nas syr?Where is our cheese?
- Сергей SergeyСыр лежит в холодильнике.Syr lezhit v kholodil'nike.The cheese is in the fridge.
- Анастасия AnastasiaТы купил дорогой сыр?Ty kupil dorogoy syr?Did you buy expensive cheese?
- Сергей SergeyДа, этот сыр очень вкусный.Da, etot syr ochen' vkusnyy.Yes, this cheese is very tasty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheese” translations and entries сыр, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries сыр, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
