He, she or it: 10 words we continue to be mistaken with

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Everything seems to be clear with "coffee", but what about "tsunami" and "graffiti"? Check how masterly you are at nouns.

Lifehacker has selected 10 catchy words that even connoisseurs of the Russian language stumble over. Will you stumble? Let's check. Let's start with sacramental coffee …

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1. Do you need one espresso or one espresso?

More correctly: one espresso.

In fact, this question is as slippery as the question of the genus of coffee. Everyone knows that today it is permissible to say both "my coffee" and "my coffee". But there is an important point! Yes, for almost half a century, "coffee" has been listed in dictionaries as both masculine and neuter nouns. But the neuter gender always bears the mark "colloquial." - this means that it is admissible in a colloquial form of speech. But if we talk about the literary norm, "coffee" can be exclusively masculine.

With "espresso" a similar story. Until 2005, this type of coffee drink in the dictionaries was marked "m." - that is, its use was allowed exclusively in the masculine gender. But then a new version of Lopatin's Russian Spelling Dictionary (ROS) was released, in which the word "espresso" has already acquired two possible variants - masculine and neuter. And the situation has slightly lost its clarity.

However, if you look at a source no less authoritative than the ROS, the Big Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language, then "espresso" in it still retains exclusively masculine gender. So in aggregate it will be more literate: "Give me one espresso."

2. Is she a great barista or a great barista?

That's right: a great barista.

The coffee maker is always masculine. Even if he is a gentle young lady.

3. A powerful tsunami or a powerful tsunami?

More correctly: as you like.

There is a slight confusion akin to coffee. The spelling dictionary defines "tsunami" as a neuter word ("powerful tsunami"). But the Big Explanatory Dictionary allows two options: both the neuter gender and the feminine ("powerful tsunami").

To be sure not to be mistaken, it is better to use "tsunami" in the neuter genus. But no one will beat a woman either.

4. Did he dance fiery flamenco or fiery flamenco?

That's right: incendiary flamenco.

Despite the fact that flamenco is a dance, in dictionaries this word is passed exclusively as a neuter noun.

5. Let's make delicious quinoa, delicious quinoa or delicious quinoa?

That's right: delicious quinoa.

Healthy lifestyle has recently been in vogue, and with it all sorts of curious products. For example, the same grits of quinoa (quinoa), which are increasingly found on the tables of people concerned about healthy eating. Many have learned to cook quinoa, but not to use the word in the correct way. Therefore, it is important to remember that even though it is croup, quinoa is nevertheless neuter.

6. Take a look at this awesome graffiti or this awesome graffiti?

That's right: these awesome graffiti.

Even if the graffiti is a tiny single drawing lurking somewhere in the corner of the wall, it is still “they”. Just like a lonely pair of scissors or a lost curler. These words are used exclusively in the plural form.

7. Juicy aloe or juicy aloe?

That's right: juicy aloe.

It does not matter what we are talking about: a wild perennial tropical plant, its domesticated relative that has filled the windowsills, or a preparation from its leaves. "Aloe" is always used exclusively in the neuter genus! This is not "he" and not "she" - even in spite of all the brutality and thorns.

8. An equation with one unknown or an equation with one unknown?

That's right: with one unknown.

The word "unknown" in the meaning of "sought value" is a neuter noun.

9. Delicious suluguni or tasty suluguni?

That's right: delicious suluguni.

This wonderful pickled Georgian cheese is a "boy" from the point of view of the Russian language, but not "it" at all.

10. Single malt whiskey or single malt whiskey?

More correct: single malt whiskey.

Again, we recall the story with "espresso" and "tsunami". From the point of view of the current spelling dictionary, this strong alcoholic drink can be either neuter or masculine. But the Big Explanatory Dictionary recommends using "whiskey" exclusively in the neuter genus.

To be sure not to make a mistake, it is better to say "single malt whiskey". However, in this case, everything is to your taste.