Archive for 'language'
Шестеро на диване, or What would you do to win a brand new couch? Posted by ryan on Jun 30, 2022
![](https://blogs.transparent.com/russian/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/living-room-gb9a7f4000_1280-350x210.jpg)
I recently stumbled across an article on Афиша.ру, a popular Russian website, with the following headline: В Бе́лгороде провели́ соревнова́ние по са́мому до́лгому сиде́нию на дива́не The headline was intriguing because, well, it makes you ask, заче́м? The tough конкурс contest began on June 24 and lasted 4 days, finishing on June 28. From this…
Russian hocus-pocus Posted by bota on Jun 24, 2022
![tic-tac-toe](https://blogs.transparent.com/russian/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/pexels-elina-araja-3400795-350x350.jpg)
This title is just one of the combinations I used trying to search for the name of the super-duper fascinating language thing we are about to discuss. Would you like to guess what it is? An itsy-bitsy guess? I cannot give you another clue, but I will say this: googling ‘Russian hanky-panky’ will NOT take…
Monasteries, eyeliner, and poverty Posted by bota on May 18, 2022
![monastery](https://blogs.transparent.com/russian/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/05/pexels-vincent-rivaud-2363832-263x350.jpg)
Today is a deep dive into one Russian verb. Recently one of my students and I were casually talking about ways to express in English that you “подвёл кого–то” (as in ‘to let someone down’) when it dawned on me that I don’t know why we use “подводить” in that sense in Russian. What I…
A very polite hedgehog Posted by bota on Apr 19, 2022
![hedgehog](https://blogs.transparent.com/russian/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/pexels-egor-kamelev-2923830-234x350.jpg)
If you are новичок, this blog is for you. If you are an advanced student or a native Russian speaker, this blog is also for you. How? Simple. The answer is ёжик. Или точнее, очень вежливый ёжик. As Russians like to say “Повторение — мать учения“.. For those of you new to Russian language, use…
Some Russian riddles to celebrate spring Posted by ryan on Apr 15, 2022
![](https://blogs.transparent.com/russian/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/04/pexels-pixabay-69776-350x263.jpg)
Spring is finally here. After a long and snowy winter, seeing some цветы́ is a great relief, even if it is still a bit too cold and wet to actually enjoy being outside for a long period of time. However, the sad, gray landscape during this time starts to be dotted by tiny hints of…
Russian malaphors? Posted by bota on Mar 28, 2022
![puppy in hay](https://blogs.transparent.com/russian/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/искать-собаку-350x350.jpg)
I have recently came across English malaphors – unique and often hilarious mix of idioms, aphorisms, or clichés. The one I saw was “Let’s burn that bridge when we get to it”. It is остроумно, and, as my mom noted, a poster that belongs in a divorce lawyer’s office. Of course, having chuckled at a…
Cat Stepan is safe Posted by bota on Mar 18, 2022
![ukraine](https://blogs.transparent.com/russian/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/pexels-kostiantyn-stupak-190340-350x233.jpg)
Even if you did not know who cat Stepan is before this blog, я уверена вы не останетесь равнодушным к этому полюбившемуся по всему миру котику из Украины. Here’s a little fanmade Youtube compilation of some of Stepan’s videos, in case you have missed them: Grammar note: “я уверена вы не останетесь равнодушным к этому…