Learn Russian

Russian internet-speak

2008-07-19T15:02:54Z

I haven't seen this posted here, so if it has, please direct me to to correct place and I'll happily delete this post.

I'm trying to figure out what are some common internet-isms that are good to know when chatting online with Russian speakers. An internetism would be language you would /only/ use online.

For example))))))))) (smiles)

I'm not so much trying to find the Russian equivalent of AOL speak (u want 2 chat?), but more common abbreviations. Things that would be handy to know. I'm asking because I do chat in Russian, and I just want to be aware.

Examples of internetisms I have given my Ukrainian friends: lol, brb, btw, wtf, lmao etc))) I also tell my friends that my ^_^ is :) and my ^_~ is ;).

Thanks again for your help!

[edited to add: This has become a well put together list. Yes, there is a lot of offensive language in the comments, but that's part of The Internet, and it's good to simply be aware of such things! Thanks everyone for contributing!]

The "would you rather" game

2008-07-19T12:41:23Z

can you please tell me how I would say the following:

Would you rather VERB or VERB? I assume in this construction you would use two present tense verbs.

or

Would you prefer X or Y? Is it the same if followed by a verb or by a noun? If a noun, in the nominative case?

Thank you for all your collective insights.

[edited to add:] Thank you, everyone. A common mistake which language learners make (and I provided a STUNNING example) is the desire to exactly translate a phrase, instead of reaching for one that is simpler and expresses the same idea.

That idea: Что лучше - X или Y?

Great Russian websites!

2008-07-19T10:47:31Z

I have profiles on these sites, and I've found that they've really helped my passive vocabulary. They use consistent wording, and they're similar enough to English sites that you can make good guesses.

1. www.vkontakte.ru It's basically Facebook in Russian.
2. www.rambler.ru It has a dating section (www.love.rambler.ru), similar to any site like Okcupid (turn ons, who you want to meet, etc). I like it because it also has a (crappy) chat program, so people are available to chat with me. I use it, not for dating, but for meeting people online.

If you have more, you should add them in the comments!

a grammar explanation, please: то

2008-07-19T10:42:14Z

My tutor and I have an awesome system. We have dialogue journals. We each have a journal, and we write to the other person. We exchange them every time we have a lesson, so it reinforces reading and writing. I love it. I find that I learn new words because I have something I want to say. I also use Abby Lingvo for when I don't understand a word, but it doesn't do so great on grammar explanations.

My tutor wrote:

Когда я хожу в университет, то я просыпаюсь утром в 6:30!

What is the function of "TO" there? I understand it has something to do with linking independent clauses. Is it because the word Когда was used? Or can it be used to link other independent clauses? Does it imply a conditional result? Can it be left off, the way "that" can often be left off (I know THAT I don't know)?

I'd just love a great explanation if you have one!

спасибо!

Question about Cyrillic from a newbie

2008-07-17T11:13:28Z

Hello! I have recently began the study of Russian. I bought two books and I am teaching myself, so it is really slow going and I found I have already run into a problem. It is a very basic question, so I am hoping someone will be able to help me.

My problem is this: the two books I have disagree on the pronunciation of 'е.' One book says it is pronounced like 'e' as in 'tempo.' The other book says it is pronounced like 'ye' as in 'yet.' And I have seen it used both ways as well. нет uses the 'ye' sound, but Павлюченко uses the 'e' sound (or is it pronounced with the 'ye' sound?). And when they are transliterated into English they differ with the 'e' and 'ye' spelling as well.

So which is right? Or is this a situation in which they can both be right? I am worried to study further until I figure this out because I worry it could ruin all the pronunciation and spelling I try to learn if I am saying/spelling it wrong.

Also, is there a program out there to download so I can type in Cyrillic using my normal English keyboard? I always have to search and then cut and paste a word if I want it to show up in Cyrillic.

Sorry for how basic my questions are. Thanks for any help I can get!

Ukranians, Banyas, and Onion Domesq

2008-07-16T02:38:46Z

Well, this question is about Russian and Ukranian language, so bear with me.

I was discussing my love of banyas with a fellow American, and he asked, "Isn't that what they call the onion domes, too?"

No, I said. He was surely mistaken. But google did pull up sites referencing them as church domes -- but only for Ukranian churches.

What is the Russian name for the domes on the churches?

Is the Ukranian word for the domes, spelled the same as the Russian баня ?
Does the Ukranian word ALSO mean the wooden cabin full of hot steam and naked people?
If not, what is that called?

Thank you all for your help; I'm finding this question really intriguing.

learn_russian @ 2008-07-15T20:57:00

2008-07-16T00:58:31Z

Can someone give me a quick explanation of the word чтобы? Does it have any particular case governance? Need to begin a clause?

thanks

Another newspaper question

2008-07-14T21:35:50Z

Hi guys,

As per my post a few weeks ago, I am doing an extended translation consisting of newspaper articles on the Yukos affair and wondered if you could tell me your views on Vremya Novosti, mainly how pro-government is it, socialist, liberal, high quality etc

thanks a lot

learn_russian @ 2008-07-15T01:14:00

2008-07-14T18:17:07Z

Again, over time I've accumulated several questions. I appreciate your help with any of them:

1. In conversation, very often situations arise when someone asks a question and you want to answer "Well it depends on the [some thing -- person/car/situation/city]..." In the past I always said this in the following way:

-Там холодно?
-Ну, зависит от штата

But I noticed that Russians seem to express this more often with the phrase смотря на [thing]. Is this a more natural phrase to use? And can you use it in almost any situation? For instance
-Там холодно?
-Ну, смотря на штат..

-Тебе нравится русский рок?
-Смотря на группу

2. I've noticed that there are a few newer and probably slang ways to express displeasure with a situation. Кошмар is a fairly traditional way. There is also жуть and жесть. Are there any other popular variants like these? Are жуть and жесть the same?

3. What is the difference between "что-то" and "нечто"? Is it just that нечто is more literary?

4. In general is it always fairly safe to use кое-... instead of ...-то? For instance, кое-как, кое-кто, кое-что instead of как-то, кто-то, что-то? Is it simply a more literary way of saying it? Or is there some other nuance in the meaning?

5. When are казалось and показалось used? Are they just a standard imperfective / perfective pair? What's the difference for instance between

Мне показалось, что ей понравился он.
Мне казалось, что ей понравился он.

RUSSIAN SONG

2008-07-14T11:01:47Z

Thanks a lot for all your advices! They helped a lot.
Funny thing - I offered a choice of songs for my lovely Koreans, they seemed not to be excited and made their own suggestions - just look! - Kukushka (Zemfira's variant) and - Millions alyh roz (!!!!!!) :)))))) That was cute to hear! :)))
Finaly they liked the lyrics of ПЕСЕНКА СТУДЕНТА (THE SONG OF A STUDENT) - ...предстоит учиться мне в университете.... если насмерть не убьюсь на хмельной пирушке... не помру от своей латыни..... (I am going to study in the University... if I only don't die on a party... if I only don't die because of learning Latin...)
We'll try to cope with the text... I'll share the link to the recording :)))

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYBODY!

Pimsleur/Learning strategies

2008-07-12T14:55:05Z

So I decided to go through the Pimsleur audios after hearing all the discussions about them here. I'm in Peace Corps, and have been in Ukraine for 10 months, and went through the three month language training they give, as well as have been working with a tutor twice a week.

PC tested me as "high intermediate", and while I have some of the skills required for that level, I feel like there are essential building blocks missing. I can talk around words I don't know, and I can in general elicit the answers to what I'm looking for, I can call a cab and can ask for specialty items in the stores, I can carry on conversations, etc. And yet I'm missing essentials, like all the word forms for Пить and Есть.

So I've been trying to go back and pick up those things that we glossed over. And I understand why I glossed over them. In my daily life talking with Ukrainians, I don't know that I have ever said "They eat" or "We eat", but I need to know how to say "Where can I buy matches" or ask when the train will be coming to my town.

One way I decided to do that is to start from the beginning of the Pimsleur series. I figure if anything, it will help with some of my pronunciation, as well as let me listen to mini-dialogues. Plus, I don't always get a chance to hear "чистый" Russian. Yes, there are some words I have *never* heard Ukrainians say (господин), and with those, I check with my tutor to find out if I should bother learning it.

It's interesting learning in country, because you do realize that to be understood, you don't have to have a huge grasp of the grammar. But it does catch up with you.

I am a TESOL professional, and I remember back in the states I had Saudi Arabian students. Some of them were so advanced--they could talk about scientific advances, about social problems, but those same students couldn't master "I was/I am".

So I wonder what strategies people here are using when you find you have basic gaps. My problem is that I'm way more advanced than beginning, but I need some of those basics, and it's hard to go back through them and not feel bored. So I wonder what you can suggest.

Thanks for listening to me ramble!

learn_russian @ 2008-07-12T12:33:00

2008-07-12T05:36:34Z

I am learning to play the song "Vosmiklassnitsa" by Kino and I'm wondering what a line means...

И светят фонари давно
Ты говоришь: "Пойдём в кино"
А я тебя зову в кабак, конечно.

Does the last line mean "But I ask you to the tavern / bar, of course" ?

RUSSIAN SONG

2008-07-08T16:45:36Z

We are preparing a final performance after a 4-weeks beginnig course (Korean students). We want to choose a Russian song to sing. I am thinking of sth melodic (Koreans sing really well)... And they want sth up-to-date, maybe rock or pop-rock... Zemfira?..
What would you recommend?

Hi there

2008-07-06T13:55:14Z

I am trying to learn fluent russian. Mostly by talking to my russian friends and ... er..boyfriends. Well, in lj I'm managing well, I can easily read and comment, and slang isn't a problem. But this left me completely spechless. I don't understand a word. Though it is russian. Could you please help me out there!

Proficiency Exam?

2008-07-06T13:37:50Z

I was hoping some of the more advanced non-native speakers can answer a few questions for me (or at least one major one).

I've taken 3 years worth of university-level Russian and lived in St. Petersburg for about 2 months. I know I'm definitely nowhere near fluent, but I'm also not a beginner. I'm also learning Chinese (currently in Beijing) so I don't have very much access to Russian things here.

My major questions (despite that lead in) is what exam (if any) foreigners are expected to take if applying to work/whatever in Russia. Most American universities require foreigners to take the TOEFL, for example. I would like to know what the Russian equivalent is.

What I'd really, REALLY like is access to a "practice" version online. I don't want or need to take the actual exam now, but I'd like to be able to see where I would place on it if I took it today without studying (and then maybe in a few months after I review a little more again).

The main reason is this: I'm entering Junior year at school next year and want to spend the spring abroad but haven't chosen a location yet. I'm leaning towards Russia of course, but my school has this silly rule that if you go to Russia, all your classes must be in Russian for credit. I'm a political science major VERY far from completing my major, so I'd need to take 4 Poli Sci classes in Russian to work this... and I don't know if 3 years was enough to discuss international law or political philosophy etc. Have any of you had similar experiences, and if so, how did they go? The program that I would most likely be doing if I choose Russia will be the Bard-Smolny program in St. Petersburg (damn I really want to live in Moscow though...)

Thanks!

(I should mention that I would try to look for all of this myself of course, but internet is TERRIBLE here so I'm preparing this post ahead of time and praying people can help me).

learn_russian @ 2008-07-06T03:22:00

2008-07-06T01:34:57Z

Hello!
How would you say "dirty old lady" (when your not necessarily talking about somone old.. or dirty) in Russian? I mean in a case when a woman is like a generation older then her lover. (I mean, "dirty old man" is not as condemning as "old pervert", I guess).

I hate those kinds of words and expressions (and love them), it's like food or like the swedish word "tant", we don't have quite the same words because we dont have quite the same tings (or at least we do not look at them quite the same way)! It is espacially fascinating when it comes to different words for different kinds of women - it is very context bound...;-)

So my question is really about the word "dirty" in this sence. All the words I can think of is somewhat more crude.

Amanda

SNATCHING

2008-07-03T20:19:39Z

How could I translate, please, "You seem to want to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory"

Normally, someone will snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. For example, a last minute goal, Blucher's late intervention at the Battle of Waterloo, a boxer unexpectedly knocking out an opponent who was well ahead on points etc etc.

I think there must be a Russian equivalent to snatching victory which could be adapted.

learn_russian @ 2008-07-02T22:17:00

2008-07-02T15:19:52Z

In English we sometimes say "You aren't too polite, are you?" or "He isn't too generous." This is a form of understatement, and it more or less means "You are are not polite" and "He really isn't generous." I think I've heard Russians say something like this. Is it possible to say this in Russian (with the same meaning):

Ты не слишком вежливый

Ты не слишком милая

Он не слишком шедрый

в vs. на Украине

2008-07-01T12:06:49Z

My first Russian teacher was a wonderful woman, as well as being an incredible St. Petersburg snob. She was very particular about our language and pronunciation and emphasized the fact that Ukraine, alone of non-island countries, takes на. I have subsequently lived in Ukraine and discovered that these days, Ukrainians use на and в interchangeably, though tending to use в more often. My most recent Russian teacher (a Ukrainian) told me that using на is out of date. like saying the Ukraine.

However, on Russian television, everyday people often say на. What is the general Russian opinion? The learned, linguistic opinion? Are they the same? Thanks in advance.

learn_russian @ 2008-06-30T22:01:00

2008-07-01T06:03:19Z

I'm looking to practice Russian and French, and to learn German. Have any of you tried using Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, or similar software? Is there a free equivalent online? I've taken plenty of russian in college (it was my major!), but with no practice, I'm quickly losing what little I had.

Голубец

2008-06-30T18:31:58Z

Голубец is bad slang for a gay person, yes? And it's related to the color голубой, right? I was just curious because I'm heard rumors that, if you're a male, wearing light blue can cause you to be antagonized as a гомосексуалист, and light blue is a color that occurs with worrisome frequency among the clothes in my suitcase...

Can someone explain this clothing thing to me?

internet russian

2008-06-30T15:20:28Z

i've seen some russians say on the internet say, for example, смеяцо. at first i was very confused by this until i said it out loud and realized that it sounded like смеяться. but it has made me curious: is смеяцо and words like it a legitimate grammatical form that i haven't learned yet or is it just russians playing with the spelling of their language, like how english-speakers will write moar instead of more

learn_russian @ 2008-06-30T17:27:00

2008-06-30T13:41:45Z

Hi! I want to improve my English, so I find english-speaking friends who learn Russian. Russian is my native, I'm student of philological faculty (teacher of Russian language and russian literature) so I know Russian perfectly and I can help you in learning.
My icq is 386 849 195
or add me in Live Journal=)

killing birds

2008-06-30T06:56:07Z

What is the best Russian equivalent to "kill two birds with one stone"? Одним ударом убить двух зайцев?
The American version is used all the time-- is this a similarly popular phrase in Russian or is it more rare?

byebye

2008-06-29T02:23:47Z

when is it appropriate to use do svedonya as a goodbye vs. poka?

sorry, my knowledge of russian is very limited. i'll know MUCH more (hopefully) when i take intensive russian for beginners starting in september.

Spaseeba!