Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| холоди́льник | xolodílʹnik | masculine |
| рефрижера́тор | refrižerátor | masculine |
The term refers to an appliance used for keeping food and drinks cold.
What does it mean word for word?
The word холоди́льник is derived from the root холод, which means cold.
Which one should you use?
холоди́льник is the standard term for a household refrigerator. While рефрижера́тор is a cognate of the English word 'refrigerator', it is used for industrial refrigeration units or refrigerated transport vehicles rather than a kitchen appliance.
How does it change in a sentence?
холоди́льник is a masculine noun. It changes its ending depending on its grammatical role in a sentence. For example, the genitive form "of the refrigerator" is холоди́льника.
How do you pronounce it?
xolodílʹnik
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use рефрижера́тор to refer to a kitchen appliance, as this sounds unnatural and implies you are talking about an industrial machine.
Did you know?
- The Russian language uses the root холод to describe both the physical appliance холоди́льник and the emotional feeling of 'coldness' or 'detachment' in a person.
- In Russian, a freezer is called морози́льник, which comes from the word мороз meaning 'frost'.
- In some rural contexts, a 'root cellar' used for cooling is sometimes colloquially referred to as a погре́б, but its function is that of a natural холоди́льник.
Examples in context
- Пожалуйста, поставьте молоко в холодильник.Please put the milk in the refrigerator.
- Поставь молоко в холодильник.Put the milk in the refrigerator.
- Этот холоди́льник очень старый.Etot kholodil'nik ochen' staryy.This refrigerator is very old.
- Новый холоди́льник стоит в кухне.Novyy kholodil'nik stoit v kukhne.The new refrigerator is in the kitchen.
- Нам нужен большой холоди́льник.Nam nuzhen bol'shoy kholodil'nik.We need a big refrigerator.
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Alexander are in the kitchen.
- Екатерина EkaterinaАлександр, в холоди́льнике есть сок?Aleksandr, v kholodil'nike yest' sok?Alexander, is there any juice in the refrigerator?
- Александр AleksandrДа, посмотри на верхней полке.Da, posmotri na verkhney polke.Yes, look on the top shelf.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ не вижу его здесь.Ya ne vizhu yego zdes'I don't see it here.
- Александр AleksandrОй, я забыл его купить.Oy, ya zabyl yego kupit'.Oh, I forgot to buy it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “refrigerator” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
