Archive by Author
4 Tips For Dating A Russian Posted by Maria on Jan 10, 2018
One of the reasons you may be learning Russian is because you are dating or are married to a Russian. While it is hard to generalize Russian expectations of a romantic partner, there are some common threads that you may want to know about. Naturally, they will not apply to everyone. 1. Have Memorable Dates…
Knowledge Is Power: Verbs With ‑знать in Russian Posted by Maria on Jan 8, 2018
Знать (to know) is one of the most common verbs in Russian. There are also several important verbs derived from it. Узнать — To Discover/Learn Узнать (perfective)/узнавать (imperfective) is used to talk about learning some information for the first time. О́коло полугода жильцы́ пыта́лись узна́ть, что, со́бственно, происхо́дит. The residents tried for about half a…
6 Critically Acclaimed Russian Films You Can Stream Right Now Posted by Maria on Jan 1, 2018
Happy New Year, dear readers! С Новым годом! If you are looking for something to watch on your winter break, here are six recent Russian films that were praised by critics or won awards. Make sure you check out our earlier post on new Russian movies with English subtitles, too. 1. 12 The film 12…
Top Russian Blog Posts of 2017 Posted by Maria on Dec 27, 2017
As this year draws to a close and many of our readers will be celebrating with their loved ones, let us take a look at the most popular posts published this past year. 10. What Subjects Should I Avoid in a Russian Conversation? This post talked about some common taboos when talking to Russians — and…
3 Myths Most Russians Have Heard About Themselves Posted by Maria on Dec 19, 2017
There are certain things you hear a lot as a Russian traveling or visiting abroad. Of course, this list is a generalization and summarizes the experience of an average Russian. It does not reflect every person’s experience and is meant to be taken in good fun. 1. “You must be used to the cold” Russia…
5 Homes of Famous Russians Around The World Posted by Maria on Dec 14, 2017
If you have been to Russia, you might have visited the homes of famous Russian writers, composers, artists, and politicians. But did you know there are places outside Russia where famous Russians stayed or lived permanently? Inclusion of a person in this post is not meant to endorse their views, policies, or work. Dostoevsky Museum…
5 Russian Words That Come From Yiddish Posted by Maria on Dec 7, 2017
We may be familiar with Yiddish words in English, such as chutzpah or bagel, but Russian has its share of Yiddish-origin words. Yiddish (идиш) is a Germanic language traditionally used by Jews (евреи) in Eastern and Central Europe. Many of them are thought to have entered Russian via the secret language of the criminal underworld…