запах
zapakh
/ˈza.pəx/
Definition
A smell or scent — the quality that you sense with your nose.
Example
Запах свежего кофе наполнил всю квартиру.
Show translation
The smell of fresh coffee filled the whole apartment.
Etymology
From the prefix за- ("behind, in the direction of") + пах, related to the verb пахнуть ("to smell"), itself from Proto-Slavic *paxnǫti. The same root appears in Polish zapach and Czech zápach — all meaning "smell."
Cultural note
Russians often describe smells in evocative, emotional terms — the запах of pine forests, black bread, or rain on warm pavement is a common motif in poetry and literature. Be aware that запах can be neutral or unpleasant; if you want to specify a pleasant scent, use аромат. The verb пахнуть (to smell) takes the instrumental case: пахнет кофе — "it smells of coffee."