ма́сло
másloneuter
The Russian word for oil is ма́сло (máslo).
ма́сло refers to liquid fat. In a culinary context, ма́сло can refer to vegetable oil or butter depending on the context.
Meaning: liquid fat (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word ма́сло is used for both liquid oil and solid butter.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
ма́сло is a neuter noun. The adjective form of ма́сло is ма́сляный. If you need to describe the action of lubricating something with oil, you can use the verbs сма́зывать or сма́зать.
How do you pronounce it?
máslo
Did you know?
- The Russian expression ма́сло ма́сляное is used to describe a tautology, where someone repeats the same idea using different words. It literally translates to 'butter butter'.
- While ма́сло refers to edible fats, the Russian word for crude oil used as fuel is нефть. The two words are entirely different and not interchangeable.
- Russian uses the adjective ма́сляный to describe 'oil paintings' (масляная краска). The word for the medium of fine art is the same as the word for butter.
Examples in context
- Масло используется в различных отраслях промышленности.Oil is used in various industries.
- Просим вас произвести замену моторного масла.We kindly request that you change the motor oil.
- Оливковое ма́сло очень полезно.Olivkovoye maslo ochen' polezno.Olive oil is very healthy.
Example conversation
Olga and Dmitry are preparing dinner together in the kitchen.
- Ольга OlgaДмитрий, где у нас стоит ма́сло?Dmitriy, gde u nas stoit maslo?Dmitry, where is our oil?
- Дмитрий DmitryОно стоит в шкафу справа.Ono stoit v shkafu sprava.It is in the cabinet on the right.
- Ольга OlgaЯ не вижу его там.Ya ne vizhu yego tam.I don't see it there.
- Дмитрий DmitryПосмотри за солью, оно там.Posmotri za sol'yu, ono tam.Look behind the salt, it's there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oil” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
