kutya A ceremonial dish most commonly served at funerals along with other delicacies.
pancakes A translator today would use the Russian word blintzes, which is now a familiar part of English cooking terminology and belongs both to the Russian and the Yiddish cultures.
samovar A metal urn with a spigot and an internal tube for heating water in making tea: used esp. in Russia.
"en toutes lettres" "[printed] in all capital letters." Katerina Ivanovna is proud of her schooling with a certificate that has her name printed in large letters. [French]
"Geld" "Money"; the rent money has not been paid.
"Gott der Barmherzige!" A cry of exasperation that has no exact English translation: the closest would be "Oh, merciful God." The point is that Amalia Ivanovna, when provoked, curses in German not Russian.
