совок
sovok
The Russian word for the amount held by a scoop is совок (sovok).
Meaning: amount held by a scoop (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
sovok
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be careful using the word совок to mean a scoop, as it is also a derogatory slang term for something being 'Soviet' or 'uncool' in a way that implies backwardness.
Did you know?
- In Russian, the diminutive suffix -ок in совок usually implies something small or cute, but in this specific case, it has evolved into a tool for political mockery.
- The word совок is built from the verb сова́ть, which means 'to poke' or 'to slip something in'.
- An English speaker might use 'scoop' to mean a news story, but in Russian, using совок in a similar context would likely result in a confusing or offensive misunderstanding regarding the Soviet era.
Example conversation
Anastasia and Andrey are making ice cream at home.
- Анастасия AnastasiaАндрей, положи один совок мороженого в вазу.Andrey, polozhi odin sovok morozhenogo v vazu.Andrey, put one scoop of ice cream in the bowl.
- Андрей AndreyТолько один совок? Это мало.Tol'ko odin sovok? Eto malo.Only one scoop? That's not much.
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, мы же ещё добавим ягоды.Da, my zhe yeshchë dobavim yagody.Yes, we are still going to add berries.
- Андрей AndreyХорошо, кладу один совок.Khorosho, kladu odin sovok.Okay, I'm putting in one scoop.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries совок, CC BY-SA 4.0.
