If you’ve studied any Russian at al , then you know that one of the funny things about the language is that “please” and “you’re welcome” are the same word:
. This can start to sound a little lame after a while:
,
, on and on and on and on. So if
you want to avoid sounding like a broken record, here a few phrases you can use to add a little variety into the mix.
I have a request for you.
u me-NYA k te-BYE PRO-sba.
.
Be a pal!
bud DRU-gom!
SURPRISE〉〉〉
U-DI-VLE-NI-YE
Life in Russia is ful of surprises. Which might be why they have so many words and expressions that essential y al mean “wow.”
Wow!
vau!
Wowzers!
ukh, ti!
Word.
ye-SCHO bi.
Well, howd ya like that!
nu, ti da-YOSH!
Well, dang!
o-bal-DYεT!
That’s wild!
o-fi-GYεT!
I’ll be damned!
o-du-RYεT!
Fuckin’ A!
o-khu-YεT!
Holy shit!
khu-YA-sye!
Holy fuck!
za-ye-BIS
That’s fucked up!
ε-ta piz-DYεTZ!
Fuck!
yob!
Not bad!
ni-che-VO se-BYε!
Holy cow!
ni fig-A se-BYε!
Hot damn!
ni khren-A se-BYε!
Fuck yeah!
ni khu-YA se-BYε!
Help me out!
bud lyu-BYE-zen!
I’m really asking you!
ya te-BYA O-chen prosh-U!
I’m begging you!
ya te-BYA u-mo-LYA-yu!
I’m very grateful.
ya O-chen bla-go-DA-ren.
This is pretty formal and official sounding.
I thank you.
bla-go-dar-IU.
This is also kind of formal but is sometimes used ironical y by young people.
Thanky!
spa-SI-boch-ki!
Kind of a cutesy way of saying thanks.
No problem!
byez pro-BLYEM!
If you’re friends with a Russian, it’s pretty much taken for granted that you’l be wil ing to lend a hand when needed without complaint and general y without too many questions. Here a few ways to tel your Russian pal that you’re cool with that.
Don’t mention it.
NYE za chto
Here is another place where you need to be careful with stress. To say “Don’t mention it,” you have to stress it NYE za chto. If you say nye za CHTO, it means something like “No way, no how.”
Don’t worry about it!
da LAD-no!
It’s not worth (mentioning)!
nye STO-it!
Yet another place where stress is important. Here you need nye STO-it. If you say nye sto-IT, you’l be saying “It doesn’t stand.”
Easy-peasy!
ZA-pro-sto!
No biggie!
da E-to fig-NYA!
Nothin’ to it!
NYE fig DYE-lat!
Enjoy it (in health)!
na zdo-RO-vye!
My bad!
iz-vi-NYA-yus!
Sooner or later you’re going to make an ass of yourself. You just are. So here are few ways to say a quick apology and shake it off.
Excuse me!
iz-vi-NI!
Forgive me!
pro-STI!
Sorry!
SO-ri!
Just like English, only with
a Russian o and a rol ed r.
Whoops!
O-pa!
Oops!
ups!
GETTING TO KNOW YOU〉〉〉
ZNAKOMSTVO
I’m John.
ya—dzhon.
I think I’m pretty cool, but my friends al say I’m a loser.
ya schi-TA-yu se-BYA kru-TIM, no vsye mo-I dru-ZYA go-vo-RYAT,
chto ya LU-zer.
I’m real y just misunderstood and very lonely.
na SA-mom DYεL-ye, me-NYA nye po-ni-MA-yut i ya O-chen
o-di-NOK.
Wil you be my friend?
BU-dye-te mo-IM DRU-gom?
The honeys ain’t bad here.
DYε-vki tut ni-che-VO.
I have a huge penis.
u men-YA o-GRO-mnii chlyen.
My name is Mary.
Men-YA zo-VUT Mε-ri.
I’ve come to Russia in search of love.
ya pri-Yε-kha-la v ro-SSI-yu v POI-skakh lyu-BVI.
I like candlelit dinners, long walks on the beach, and wild sex.
mnye NRA-vit-sya U-zhi-nat pri SVYε-chkakh, DOl-gi-ye pro-GUL-ki na PLYA-zhe, i bez-U-mnii seks.
My vagina is cavernous.
Mo-YA va-GI-na kak pe-SCHε-ra.
For God’s sake, forgive me!
pro-STI me-NYA, RA-di BO-ga!
Believe it or not, I really didn’t mean to offend you.
vyer nye VYER, ya nye kho-TYEL te-BYA o-BI-dyet.
I was just kidding.
ya po-shu-TIL.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
ya nye ZNA-yu, chto so mnoi.
I’m such an idiot.
ya tak-OI i-di-OT.
It’s all my fault.
ya vo vsyom vi-no-VAT.
Don’t be upset with me!
nye o-bi-ZHAI-sya!
I frickin’ swear I didn’t do it on purpose!
BLYA BU-du, ya nye spye-tsi-AL-no!
Let’s roll!
AI-da!
Russians aren’t known for being in a hurry, and parties, casual meetings, and even chance encounters can quickly become long, drawn out, and downright tiresome. Here a few verbal cues to let your friends know that you’re ready to make a getaway.
Bye!
ko-KA!
See ya later!
do VSTRYE-chi!
See ya soon!
do SKO-ro-vo!
Kiss, kiss!
tsium, tsium!
Don’t be a stranger!
ne pro-pa-DAI!
Ciao!
chau!
It’s time for us (to go)!
nam po-RA!
I’m off!
ya po-SHOL!
Let’s fucking bail already!
po-PIZ-di-li u-ZHE!
It’s time for me to get the fuck outta here.
mnye po-RA sye-BAT-sya.
.
It’s getting kinda late.
u-ZHE ne-DYET-sko-ye VRYE-mya.
I’ll call you.
ya te-BYE po-zvo-NIU.
Hey, you!
eh, ti!
Sometimes you just want to give a shout out to someone you see on the street. Here are some quick ways to get their attention.
Hey...!
eh...!
little girl
DYE-voch-ka
This is general y used for a girl up to about age 12 or so.
young man
mo-lo-DOI che-lo-VYEk
This can be used for any guy up to about age 30.
miss
DYE-vu-shka
This is for females up to about age 30.
ma’am
ZHEN-schi-na
For women over 30 or so.
lady
BA-rish-nya
grandma
BA-bu-shka
For old ladies; just try to resist the American urge to say ba-BU-shka. It’s BA-bu-shka, dammit.
granny
ba-BU-lya
Also for old ladies, but probably somewhat more common in smal towns and vil ages.
gramps
dye-DU-lya
old man
sta-RIK
pal
pri-YA-tyel
buddy
dru-ZHOK
comrade
to-VA-risch
Mainly used by old communists and ironic young people.
citizen
gra-zhda-NIN
This is pretty Soviet sounding but stil occasional y used.
guys
re-BYA-ta
homey
pa-TSAN
bro
bra-TAN
dude
chu-VAK
Russian doesn’t make very wide use of titles. When Russians want to address someone formal y, they use the name and patronymic formula (you know, like
) instead of Mister, Ms., etc. When titles are used, it is mainly with foreigners who expect that sort of thing. Also, most
foreign names don’t lend themselves wel to Russification and end up sounding pretty sil y when you try. So for those occasions:
Mister
go-spo-DIN
Ms.
go-spo-ZHA
In formal public speeches, you may also sometimes hear:
Ladies and gentlemen!
DA-mi i go-spo-DA!
CHAPTER 2
FRIENDLY RUSSIAN
DRU-ZHE-SKI RU-SSKI
In the U.S., we tend to cal just about everyone we know our “friends.” Russians are not nearly so casual about relationships, however. To them a friend is someone who has been through thick and thin with you, someone who would share his last beer with you and bail you out of jail. For al those other people that you just hang out with, there are different words to describe the more casual nature of your relationship.
Friends
dru-ZYA
You’re a good friend (male/female)
ti kho-RO-shii drug/kho-RO-sha-ya po-DRU-ga.
.
He is my very best friend in the world.
on moi SA-mii LU-chshii drug v MI-rye.
Me and my buddies usually go shoot the shit after work.
mi so svo-I-mi pri-YA-tel-ya-mi o-BI-chno KHO-dim po-pi-ZDYET PO-sle ra-BO-ti.
This is a friend of a more casual nature, someone you just shoot the shit with.
Hey, homies, let’s party!
eh, pa-tsa-NI, da-VAi po-tu-SU-yem-sya!
Dudes, let’s go for a beer.
mu-zhi-KI, poi-DYOM za PI-vom.
My (high school) classmate always uses a crib sheet.
moi od-no-KLA-ssnik vsye-GDA i-SPOL-zu-yet shpar-GAL-ku.
He’s my (college) classmate at the uni.
on moi od-no-KURS-nik v u-ni-VER-ye.
We’re roommates in the dorm.
mi so-SYE-di po KO-mna-tye v ob-SCHA-gye.
I saw my boyfriend last night with some ho.
ya vch-RA VI-dye-la svo-ye-VO boi-FREND-a s ka-KOI-TO BLA-dyu.
My girlfriend is coming over tonight to hang out.
mo-YA GYORL-frend se-VOD-nya pri-DYOT po-ob-SCHAT-sya.
Sometimes you might hear this shortened to
(GYOR-la).
You’re the best lover (male) I’ve ever had.
ti SA-mii LU-chshii lyu-BOV-nik, ko-TO-rii u me-NYA kog-DA-LI-bo bil.
TERMS OF ENDEARMENT〉〉〉
LA-SKO-VI-YE SLO-VA
Dear (male/female)
do-ro-GOI/do-ro-GA-ya
Dearie
do-ro-GU-sha
My honey (male/female)
moi MI-len-kii/mo-YA MI-len-ka-ya
My better half
mo-YA LUCH-sha-ya po-lo-VIN-ka
My sweetie (male/female)
moi lyu-BIM-chik/mo-YA lyu-BIM-itsa
Sunshine
SOL-nish-ko
My love!
lyu-BOV mo-YA!
Hunny bunny
ZAI-ka
My sweetie pie
moi PUP-sik
My little cutie
mo-YA LA-poch-ka
The whole time they were married, he had a lover (female) on the side.
vsyo VRE-mya, kog-DA o-NI BI-li zhen-A-ti, u nye-VO bil-A lyu-BOV-nitsa na sto-ro-NYE.
I just can’t seem to forget my old flame.
ya ni-KAK nye mo-GU za-BIT svo-YU bIV-shu-yu PASSI-YU .
I met my fiancée through the Internet.
ya po-zna-KO-mil-sya so svo-YEI ne-VYE-stoi CHE-rez in-ter-NET.
Russians use
for both “fiancée” and “bride” and жених for both “fiancé” and “groom.”
My fiancé and I just registered at ZAGS.
mi s mo-IM zhe-ni-KHOM TOL-ko chto za-re-gi-STRI-ro-va-lis v ZAG-sye.
Couples in Russia are official y engaged once they’ve registered at this Soviet-style marriage hal . This is also where the civil ceremony takes place.
Acquaintances, coworkers, and enemies
zna-KO-mi-ye, so-TRUD-ni-ki, i vra-GI
Who is that guy?
chto za CHE-lik?
What’s that chick’s name?
kak E-tu dev-CHON-ku zo-VUT?
All broads are wenches.
vsye BA-bi—STYER-vi.
Hey, it’s just a song.
This acquaintance of mine once hitchhiked from Moscow to Irkutsk.
o-DIN moi zna-KO-mii od-NA-zhdi YE-khal av-to-STOP-om ot mosk-VI do ir-KUTSK-a.
I never give my phone number to strangers.
ya ni-kog-DA nye da-YU svoi NO-mer te-le-FO-na nezna-KOM-tsam .
.
My coworkers are a bunch of morons.
vsye mo-I so-TRUD-ni-ki—pri-DUR-ki.
My colleagues and I are here on a business trip.
mi so svo-I-mi ko-LLYE-ga-mi zdyes v ko-mman-dir-O-vkye.
Their CEO was arrested last week for fraud.
ikh GYE-na bil a-rest-O-van na PRO-shloi nye-DYEL-ye za mo-SHE-ni-chest-vo.
My boss pays me under the table.
moi shef mnye PLA-tit pod stol-OM.
My supervisor cussed me out for being late.
moi na-CHAL-nik me-NYA ot-ru-GAL za o-po-ZDA-ni-ye.
My manager is sleeping with his secretary.
moi MA-na-ger spit so svo-YEI se-kre-TAR-shei.
This is the slangy pronunciation of
(ME-ne-dzher).
Boris is my mortal enemy.
bo-RIS—moi za-KLYA-tii vrag.
The barista at the coffee shop is my arch nemesis.
E-ta ba-RI-sta v KOFYE KHAU-sye moi ko-VAR-nii vrag.
.
Russian names
RU-sski-ye i-me-NA
Russian is a very expressive language, especial y when it comes to names. They are several ways to address people by name depending on the degree of formality and the range of feelings you want to show to that person. In formal situations (where you would use vy), you general y address the person by name and patronymic. The patronymic is formed by the person’s father’s first name plus–ovich for a guy and–ovna for a chick.
In very official situations, Russians wil often be asked to give their
. (FIO), which stands for
(fa-MI-liya-I-mya-OT-
che-stvo): last name, first name, patronymic.
In more casual situations (one where you would use ty), usual y the short version of the first name is used, and with close friends and loved ones, various diminutives wil be used expressing a range of emotions.
For example, my daughter’s ful first name is
(Miroslava). In formal situations, she would be cal ed
(Miroslava
Igorevna), her patronymic derived from her father’s first name, Igor. Informal y, she could be cal ed either
(Mira) or
(Slava).
There are numerous diminutives that can be used affectionately:
(Mirochka),
(Mirusia),
(Mirusnya),
(Mirunchik),
(Mirusik),
(Mirusichka),
(Mirusinka)
Or, when she’s screwing around, she’s known pejoratively as:
Mirka
If I’m addressing her directly, I wil cal :
Hey, Mir!
This is something of a new vocativ
e whereby the short form of a name ending in a loses its ending when you are directly addressing the person.
For a guy, it’s basical y the same story. For example, my husband’s name is
(Igor). Formal y, he would be
(Igor
Leonidovich), and affectionately he could be cal ed
(Igoryonia), or
(Igoryok).
Al Russian names can do this, although there are some variations on endings depending on the name. But once you get the hang of it, you can real y be as creative as you want—Russians certainly are!
Compliments
kom-pli-MYEN-ti
Even the gruffest of Russians can often be won over with a few kind words; however, they tend to be very sensitive to insincerity. So if you want to compliment a Russian, you better keep it real. Or better yet, fol ow it up with alcohol and chocolate.
You rock!
ti PRO-sto mo-lo-DYETS!
Molodyets is sort of an al -purpose compliment that can mean anything from “Good job” to “You’re a swel guy.”
Smartypants!
ti UM-nich-ka!