Не За Что Or Ни За Что Posted by Nadya on Jan 22, 2021
In today’s topic, we will talk about the difference between “нЕ за что” и “нИ за что“. Even some Russian speakers sometimes make mistakes in the spelling of these two phrases. However, it is important to realize that their meanings are different. Both sound like just one word. Let’s look at some examples of using “не…
Kitchen Appliances Posted by bota on Jan 15, 2021
What comes to your mind when you think of kitchen spaces in Russia? Maybe you think of beautiful hand-painted wooden cups and spoons like in the pictures below? Or is it a big samovar, an infamous symbol of Russian teatime and, in my opinion, the grandest of…
Two Main Russian Problems – Fools and Roads Posted by Nadya on Jan 12, 2021
This time we will touch on a hot topic in Russia — its roads. They are terrible. The driving culture is not better. “В России две беды́: дураки́ и доро́ги” “There are two troubles in Russia: fools and roads” is a catchphrase attributed to Gogol, Saltykov-Shchedrin, sometimes Karamzin, or Vyazemsky, even Nikolai I. It is…
Whole-foods shopping in Russia Posted by bota on Jan 4, 2021
Whether your New Year’s resolution was to eat healthier and try new foods or your diet is already rich in plant-based meals, this collection of Russian words will come in handy for your next grocery outing. And one certainly doesn’t have to be a vegetarian (вегетериа́нец/вегетериа́нка), vegan (ве́ган/вега́нка), or rawtarian (сырое́д) to stock up their…
Making Plans For The Next Year Posted by Nadya on Dec 30, 2020
The time is approaching to take stock and make New Year’s Resolutions: make yourself promises and plans for the next year. Let’s summarize the year’s results (результаты) first. 2020 has been a crazy year. But finally, it is ending. After the holiday wishes (пожелания) this year, people invariably add, “I hope 2021 is a better…
What Goes With Any Dish In Russia Posted by Nadya on Dec 23, 2020
Mayonnaise consumption in Russia ranks among the highest in the world. On average 95% of Russians eat it (even higher in some regions) and per capita consumption in Russia is from 7 to 11 pounds of mayonnaise per year! Russians are obsessed with mayonnaise (майоне́з) and use it in industrial quantities. They add it to literally…
Dear Ded Moroz: Writing letters in Russian Posted by bota on Dec 18, 2020
Did you forget to write a letter to Santa for Christmas this year? I ‘ve got great news for you: Russian Grandfather Frost (Де́душка Моро́з) is still accepting mail (more on essential Russian words for New Year’s here). So, let’s practice letter writing in Russian together and get some wishes out into the universe. We…