Questions & Answers about Закуска — это рыба и овощи.
Why is there a long dash after Закуска instead of a verb for "is"?
In Russian, the present tense of the verb "to be" (is, am, are) is almost always skipped. When you connect two nouns to say "Noun A is Noun B", Russian uses a dash to show that relationship. Here, it links Закуска (starter) to the foods that make it up.
What is the word это doing here if the dash already stands in for "is"?
In sentences where you equate two nouns, it is very common to add это right after the dash. It acts as a pointer, like saying "A starter — this is fish and vegetables." It emphasizes the definition and makes the sentence flow naturally.
Why is рыба (fish) singular here, but овощи (vegetables) is plural?
Just like in English, Russian treats fish as a general, uncountable mass noun when talking about it as food. Vegetables, on the other hand, are countable items. Since a meal contains multiple pieces of vegetables, we use the plural form овощи rather than the singular овощ.
Does закуска only mean a "starter" in a restaurant?
Not exactly. While it translates to "starter" or "appetizer" on a menu, it also broadly means "snack." In Russian culture, закуска (often in the plural, закуски) famously refers to the traditional cold plates of food, like fish, pickles, and cold cuts, served to accompany drinks.