Questions & Answers about На ужин я варю рис и курицу.
What does the phrase на ужин literally mean, and why is на used with meals?
It literally means “for dinner,” in the sense of purpose/menu. Russian often uses на + accusative to express “for (the purpose of)” with meals and set occasions:
- на завтрак = for breakfast
- на обед = for lunch
- на ужин = for dinner Think “What’s on/for dinner?” rather than “at dinner.”
Why is it на ужин (accusative) and not на ужине (prepositional)?
- на ужин (accusative) = for dinner (the menu/purpose).
- на ужине (prepositional) = at a dinner event/party. So the case changes the meaning.
Could I use за ужином or к ужину instead, and what’s the difference?
- за ужином = during dinner (time of the action), e.g., “We talk during dinner.”
- к ужину = by dinner (deadline), e.g., “I’ll have it ready by dinner.”
- на ужин = for dinner (what’s being served). Your sentence needs this one.
Why use варю and not готовлю for “cook”?