са́хар
sáxarmasculine
The Russian word for sugar is са́хар (sáxar).
The noun са́хар refers to sucrose used to sweeten food and drink. In a typical sentence, if you want to say you want something "with sugar," such as tea, you use the preposition с followed by the instrumental case form са́харом (e.g., чай с са́харом).
Meaning: sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drink (noun)
Which one should you use?
While са́хар is the standard term, the diminutive сахарок can be used to refer to a small amount of sugar or when speaking to children. The plural form са́хара is specifically used when referring to different types of sugar or when discussing sugar content in a medical or nutritional context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
са́хар is a masculine noun. When you use it after the preposition с to mean "with sugar," the form changes to the instrumental case, са́харом. For medical or nutritional contexts involving types of sugar, the plural form са́хара is used.
How do you pronounce it?
sáxar
Did you know?
- Historically, in Imperial Russia, са́хар was sold in large, hard cones called 'sugar heads' that had to be broken with specjalized nippers.
- While in English 'sugar' is a common term of endearment, calling a person са́хар in Russian would sound strange and does not carry the same romantic connotation.
- The word са́хар is used in the idiomatic expression са́харно, which describes something that is not just sweet in taste, but overly sentimental or cloying.
Examples in context
- Пожалуйста, принесите мне сахар.Please bring me sugar.
- Сколько сахара вы хотите в свой чай?How much sugar do you want in your tea?
- Дай мне сахарика, пожалуйста.Give me some sugar, please.
- Добавь в кофе немного са́хара.Dobav' v kofe nemnogo sakhara.Add a little sugar to the coffee.
Example conversation
Sergey and Olga are having coffee in the kitchen.
- Сергей SergeyОльга, ты хочешь са́хар в кофе?Olga, ty khochesh sakhar v kofe?Olga, do you want sugar in your coffee?
- Ольга OlgaДа, пожалуйста, одну ложку.Da, pozhaluysta, odnu lozhku.Yes, please, one spoon.
- Сергей SergeyВот, держи свою чашку.Vot, derzhi svoyu chashku.Here, take your cup.
- Ольга OlgaСпасибо, Сергей!Spasibo, Sergey!Thank you, Sergey!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sugar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
