вани́ль
vanílʹfeminine
The Russian word for vanilla is вани́ль (vanílʹ).
вани́ль names the flavor and the spice itself.
Meaning: flavor (noun)
Which one should you use?
The adjective вани́льный means of vanilla or vanilla flavored, as in ванильный экстракт for vanilla extract. Ванилька is an informal, affectionate word for vanilla.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
вани́ль is a feminine noun. Its genitive form вани́ли means of vanilla, and its instrumental form вани́лью means with vanilla.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as vanílʹ, with the stress on the second syllable and a soft l at the end.
Did you know?
- The word вани́ль belongs to a category of loanwords that entered Russian via French, reflecting the 18th and 19th century French influence on Russian gourmet cuisine.
- While English speakers use 'vanilla' to mean 'basic' or 'boring', calling a person ванильный in Russian suggests they are 'dreamy' or 'overly sentimental'. It describes someone who lives in a world of sweet, childish fantasies rather than someone who is simply unexciting.
- In Russian culinary history, the scent of ваниль became so iconic in Soviet-era cakes that many 'vanilla' flavors were actually created using synthetic vanillin produced in chemical plants.
Examples in context
- В этом мороженом есть вани́ль.V etom morozhenom yest' vanil'.There is vanilla in this ice cream.
- Я люблю запах, который даёт вани́ль.Ya lyublyu zapakh, kotoryy dayot vanil'.I love the scent that vanilla gives.
- Натуральная вани́ль лучше, чем искусственная.Natural'naya vanil' luchshe, chem iskusstvennaya.Natural vanilla is better than artificial.
Example conversation
Maria and Andrey are choosing ice cream flavors at a cafe.
- Мария MariaАндрей, какое мороженое ты хочешь?Andrey, kakoye morozhenoye ty khochesh?Andrey, which ice cream do you want?
- Андрей AndreyЯ возьму вани́ль, пожалуйста.Ya vozmu vanil, pozhaluysta.I'll have vanilla, please.
- Мария MariaА я выберу шоколадное.A ya vyberu shokoladnoye.And I will choose chocolate.
- Андрей AndreyХороший выбор, Мария.Khoroshiy vybor, Mariya.Good choice, Maria.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vanilla” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
