When Russians Get Busy, They Say… Posted by yelena on Aug 5, 2011
On my «личный» [personal] blog I frequently start new posts with «извинение» [an apology]. It goes something like this: “Well, it’s been a while since my last post, but things have been crazy-busy here”. Until very recently I didn’t think much of the “crazy-busy” phrase, but how would I say something like that in Russian?…
How to Say “Default” in Russian Posted by yelena on Jul 30, 2011
Have you ever wished for a time machine? What would you use «машина времени» for if you did have it? The protagonists of Soviet «научная фантастика» [science fiction] were always using time machines for various noble deeds, such as dinosaur research or, say, trying to save «одно из семи чудес света» [one of the seven…
Russian Names for Pets Posted by yelena on Jul 28, 2011
This is my cat Xander when he was just a kitty. On the surface of it, Xander is not a typical Russian name for a cat. Unless you know that I derived it from “Александр” [Alexandr]. Yep, every Russian woman has her Alexandr. Names are endlessly fascinating, aren’t they? Ok, maybe “endlessly” is a bit…
Prefixed Verbs of Motion: Some Example Sentences Posted by Natalie on Jul 27, 2011
This is the third post in a series about «глаголы движения с приставками» [prefixed verbs of motion]. If you have not read the previous two posts, you can do so here and here. A commenter asked for example sentences with prefixed verbs of motion. I am happy to say that I have found sentences…
Most Popular Russian Names Posted by yelena on Jul 26, 2011
It might seem «невероятно» [unbelievable], but all through elementary and middle school I was the only «Лена» [Lena] in my class of 35 students, half of whom were girls. «Елена» [Yelena] was, until recently, one of the most common Russian names for girls. As for boys, back in the days «Александр» [Alexandr] was «настолько распространённое…
Harry Potter, Our Favorite Wizard Posted by Natalie on Jul 25, 2011
A very bittersweet event took place on July 15, «дорогие друзья» [dear friends]. «Часть вторая» [Part two] of the film «Гарри Поттер и дары смерти» [Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows] came out. This is «последний фильм» [the final film] of the series. And as someone who has ready «каждая книга» [every book] multiple…
Soup And Salad All In One Posted by yelena on Jul 21, 2011
This summer’s «жара» [heat] and «засуха» [drought] are set to beat all sorts of records. While the «пессимист» [pessimist] in me frets over «мой огород» [my vegetable patch] and the «оптимист» [optimist] in me cheers that «вода в бассейне будет ещё теплее» [water in the pool will get even warmer], my inner «реалист» [realist]…