зерно́
zernóneuter
The Russian word for grain is зерно́ (zernó). Wiktionary also lists жи́то (žíto).
Meaning: harvested seeds of various grass-related food crops (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| зерно́ | zernó | neuter |
| жи́то | žíto | neuter |
зерно́ refers to the harvested seeds of various grass-related food crops. It is often used as a collective noun to refer to grain in general. While зерно́ covers the raw seeds, the related term крупа is used to mean groats or cereals, typically referring to processed grains like buckwheat, rice or oats.
Which one should you use?
зерно́ is the standard, modern word for grain used in most contexts, whereas жи́то is an archaic or poetic term for grain that is rarely used in modern everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of зерно́ is зерна́. Both зерно́ and жи́то are neuter nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
zernó
Did you know?
- In traditional Slavic customs, the first sheaf of жи́то harvested was often kept as a charm to ensure a good crop the next year.
- While English uses 'grain' for both the crop and the texture of wood, Russian uses зерно́ for the texture of wood or a photograph's 'grain'.
- In Russian folklore and old songs, жи́то often symbolizes wealth and fertility rather than just food.
Examples in context
- Мне нужно купить немного пшеничного зерна для выпечки хлеба.I need to buy some wheat grain for baking bread.
- Это качественное зерно́.Eto kachestvennoye zerno.This is high-quality grain.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are checking the harvest in a storage room.
- Александр AleksandrЕкатерина, посмотри на это зерно́.Ekaterina, posmotri na eto zerno.Ekaterina, look at this grain.
- Екатерина EkaterinaОно выглядит очень хорошо, Александр.Ono vyglyadit ochen' khorosho, Aleksandr.It looks very good, Aleksandr.
- Александр AleksandrТы веришь, что оно сухое?Ty verish', chto ono sukhoye?Do you believe it is dry?
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, это отличный урожай.Da, eto otlichnyy urozhay.Yes, it is an excellent harvest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grain” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
