Russian Language Blog
Menu
Search

Make-up and Drag in Russia Posted by on Dec 14, 2021

drag queen polaroid

Whether you are doing some holiday shopping or would like to avoid saying, “you know that thing that does this to your eyelashes”, these make-up related Russian vocabulary and phrases are here to help. Basics Unlike in Soviet Union times, modern Russian markets have широ́кий ассортиме́нт косме́тики (many choices of make-up) from all over the…

Continue Reading

Rush Hour: How does one get around in a Russian [provincial] city? Posted by on Dec 10, 2021

As I was driving home from work on the roads of my city, snow layered on thick and people driving significantly slower than they normally would, I thought of how the snow would never stop a Russian маршру́тка driver, weaving in and out of traffic, zipping around corners, and stopping his machine dead in its…

Continue Reading

Russian Lullabies Posted by on Dec 3, 2021

toys asleep

Не зна́ю, как вы, но в декабре́ мне о́чень хо́чется спать! Whether it’s the end-of-the-year blues or the fact that we only get about 8 hours of daylight – either way, I envy my childhood years when sleep was something I was encouraged to do. If only I could have those afternoon naps in kindergarten…

Continue Reading

The Unforgettable Soviet New Year Cartoon Posted by on Nov 30, 2021

December has finally arrived! The holiday season is upon us! It’s as if our ancient ancestors who invented the winter holidays knew that we needed a bit of an emotional boost at the beginning of the winter season, and especially after the dreary, cold, wet hell that November brings us (is it me or is…

Continue Reading

Thanks, mama. Posted by on Nov 22, 2021

mom and daughter arguing

Understanding humor in another language is a whole new level of engaging with it. Those learning Russian know that Вели́кий и Могу́чий Ру́сский Язы́к , being the rich language that it is, loves to indulge in word play and irony. That can be a bit confusing, but with practice and exposure to more Russian jokes…

Continue Reading

The “Secret” Life of под- Posted by on Nov 19, 2021

You have probably seen под in some way or another in your studies of Russian. It is a common preposition that usually means “under.” As a prefix attached to verbs and nouns it also has a literal meaning of “under.” Подписа́ться means “to subscribe.” Подчеркну́ть means “to underline.” Perhaps you have read Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s «Запи́ски…

Continue Reading

Listening to Grechka Posted by on Nov 15, 2021

grechka-song

All images are by author (Akbota Yergaliyeva) Yes, you read the title right. This blog is only partially about Russia’s favorite grain гречка (buckwheat). We are going to talk about a wonderful Russian music artist on the rise that goes under the name Гречка (Grechka). It was actually Ryan’s delightful blog on Russian breakfast that…

Continue Reading

Older posts
Newer posts