Learn A Language: Russian

The Russian Language is without a doubt a very interesting language to study. It is the native language of some of the greatest authors, artists, musicians, scientists, and filmmakers. Having read the classics like Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, it made me want to read it in native tongue. Aside from literature, I’m also a fan of their culture and traditions. Russia has a very visual cultural past, from its colorful folk costumes to its ornate religious symbols. It is truly fascinating!

My Journey

I’m obsessed with learning specially languages in fact, I speak 4 languages and 3 Philippine dialects. But it was actually FIFA World Cup that pushed me to study the Russian language. When it was announced in 2014 that the next World Cup (2018) will be held in Russia, I got super excited that I purchased a book called ‘Russian For Dummies’ the next day (because I wanted to go so bad 😭). I started studying on my own by watching tutorials on Youtube and reading Russian translations. Self-teaching is pretty challenging so in 2015, I hired a private Russian tutor and spent weeks working with him. I don’t claim to be fluent, but I can get by and have the accent down pretty well.

And yes, I finally read Anna Karenina in Russian last 2018!😄

And no, my FIFA team is Argentina 🇦🇷.

Being bilingual (or multilingual) is an advantage, click the link below to know why! 4 REASONS WHY BEING BILINGUAL ROCKS!

Here are some commonly used words and phrases but first…

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE

• Russian (русский язык) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic language, and the largest native language in Europe.
• It is currently consists of 33 letters and is written in the Cyrillic script alphabet.
• It is one of the six official languages of the UN and ranks with English, Chinese and Spanish as a major world language.
• It’s compulsory for all astronauts in the international space station to learn Russian, so we can call it an international language of space.
• Russians believe that their language is great and powerful. Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Pushkin… If you read the works of Russian writers and poets in the original, it is possible to understand the mysterious Russian soul.
• Russian has a whole universe of ways to alter a person’s name to express your emotional attitude towards them. Mostly that’s how you call your beloved ones.
• Russian keyboard layout is completely different from qwerty making it really hard to use. But you do not need to buy a Russian keyboard in order to have a Russian keyboard layout and type Russian symbols.

Common Expressions and Greetings in Russian

English	Russian	Pronunciation
Hello (Formal Usage)	Здра́вствуйте	zdrav-stvoo-tye
Hi (Informal Usage)	Приве́т	preev-yet
Good Day, Hello	До́брый День	doh-bry dzyen’
Good Evening	До́брый ве́чер	doh-bry vyecher
Good Bye (General use/more formal)	До свида́ния	duh-svee-dah-nya
Please/You’re Welcome	Пожа́луйста	pah-zhahl-stah
Thank You	Спаси́бо	spah-see-bah
Excuse me…	Извини́те	eez-vee-nee-tye
My name is…	Меня́ зову́т	meen-yah zah-voot…
Pleased to meet you (lit. “it is very pleasant”)	О́чень прия́тно	oh-chen’ pree-yaht-nah

Useful Questions in Russian

English	Russian	Pronunciation
Do you speak English?	Вы зна́ете англи́йский?	vi znah-yeh-tye an-glee-skee
How are you doing?	Как дела́?	kahk dze-la?
Would you help me, please?	Не могли бы вы мне, помочь?	Ne mogli by vy mne pomoch’?
What is your name?	Как вас зову́т?	kahk vas zah-voot
What time is it?	Cко́лько вре́мени?	skohl-kuh vreh-meh-nee?
What is the weather like (when asking about weather for today)	Какая сегодня погода?	kah-KAH-yah see-VOHD-nyah pah-GOH-dah
How much is this?	Сколько это стоит?	Skol’ka eto stoeet
Where can I find a …?	Где можно найти …?	Gde mozhna naytee …?
Where is the toilet?	скажите пожалуйста, где туалет?	Skazhite pozhalusta, gde toalet?
Do you have any …?	Есть ли у Вас…?	Est’ lee oo vas
Could you speak more slowly?	Говорите, пожалуйста, медленнее	Gavareetye pazhalooysta myedleeney
Could you repeat that, please?	Не могли бы вы повторить пожалуйста?	Ne moglee buv vee pah-ftah-REE-tyeh pah-ZHA-loo-stah?

Days of the Week in Russian

English	Russian	Pronunciation
Monday	понедельник	puh-nee-DYEHL’-neek
Tuesday	вторник	FTOHR-neek
Wednesday	среда	sree-DAH
Thursday	четверг	cheet-VYEHRK
Friday	пятница	PYAHT-nee-tsuh
Saturday	суббота	soo-BOH-tuh
Sunday	воскресенье	vuhs-kree-SYEHN’-yeh

 Months of the Year in Russian

English	Russian	Pronunciation
January	январь	yeen-VAHR’
February	февраль	fee-VRAHL’
March	март	mahrt
April	апрель	ah-PRYEHL’
May	май	mahy
June	июнь	ee-YOON’
July	июль	ee-YOOL’
August	август	AHV-goost
September	сентябрь	seen-TYAHBR’
October	октябрь	ahk-TYAHBR’
November	ноябрь	nah-YAHBR’
December	декабрь	dee-KAHBR’

 I hope you find the lists helpful. до встречи (until next time)! 

 

 PIN THIS POST