{"id":1788,"date":"2011-02-01T02:00:02","date_gmt":"2011-02-01T02:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1788"},"modified":"2014-07-17T14:31:22","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:31:22","slug":"how-to-learn-russian-at-ikea-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/how-to-learn-russian-at-ikea-store\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Learn Russian at IKEA Store"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Have you heard of a mnemonics technique called <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043e\u0446\u0438\u0430\u0442<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong><strong>\u0437\u0430\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u043d<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> or \u201cvivid associations\u201d? The idea is to link a new piece of information that you\u2019re trying to remember to something you already know in a vivid and positive way.<\/p>\n<p>The rules are simple:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It has to be a positive link (who wants to be reminded of <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e-<\/strong><strong>\u0442\u043e <\/strong><strong>\u043d\u0435\u043f\u0440\u0438<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [something negative], anyway)<\/li>\n<li>The more <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u044f<\/span><\/strong><strong>\u0440\u043a\u0438\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [vivid], <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0437\u0430\u0431<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [fun], <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0443\u0432\u0435\u043b<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [exaggerated] the link is, the easier it will be to remember. And if the link refers to <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0441\u0435\u043a\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> (do I even need to translate this one?), it\u2019s even more likely to be remembered.<\/li>\n<li>Placing a new word totally out of <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0442<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0435<\/span>\u043a\u0441\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [context] works well too. Besides, doing so oftentimes creates funny associations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I challenge you to find a retail brand that offers more opportunities for this type of <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0438\u0437\u0443\u0447<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435 <\/strong><strong>\u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> than IKEA. Seriously, I love them and all, but I always have so much fun with their English-language catalogs.<\/p>\n<p>For example, they offer a type of jar code-named SLOM. In Russian, <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> means \u201cdemolition\u201d as in <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u042d<\/span><\/strong><strong>\u0442\u043e\u0442 <\/strong><strong>\u0434\u043e\u043c <\/strong><strong>\u0433<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u043d <\/strong><strong>\u043b\u0438\u0448\u044c <\/strong><strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong><strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e\u043c.\u00bb<\/strong> [The only thing this house is good for is demolition]. Just imagine trying to knock down a house with a SLOM jar instead of a wrecking ball. Fun!<\/p>\n<p><em>In Russian-language catalog the name of this same jar is <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><\/em><strong><em>\u0421\u041b\u0423\u041c\u00bb<\/em><\/strong><em> &#8211; not nearly as fun unless you get really creative (think <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><\/em><strong><em>\u0433\u043b\u0443\u043c\u00bb<\/em><\/strong><em> [jeering]). <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Another good one is a champagne glass SVALKA. In Russian, <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0441\u0432<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> is a \u201cdump\u201d as in <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0423 <\/strong><strong>\u0442\u0435\u0431<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u044f<\/span> <\/strong><strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong><strong>\u0434\u0432\u043e\u0440, <\/strong><strong>\u0430 <\/strong><strong>\u0441\u0432<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0430. <\/strong><strong>\u0422\u044b \u0431\u044b \u0445\u043e\u0442\u044c \u0438\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0443\u043c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u044b \u0443\u0431\u0440<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043b.\u00bb<\/strong> [Your yard looks like a dump. At least put away your tools.] Just imagine the look on your friends\u2019 faces when, at the next <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0432\u0435\u0447\u0435\u0440<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [party] you mention that the glasses <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0438\u0437 <\/strong><strong>\u043a\u043e\u0442<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u0445 <\/strong><strong>\u043e\u043d<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0438<\/span> <\/strong><strong>\u043f\u044c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u044e<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [from which they are drinking] are from a dump. See what I\u2019m saying? Fun, vivid and totally out of context.<\/p>\n<p>IKEA also has something called KVARTAL rail for, among other uses, a room divider. <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u041a\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0442<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> in Russian has two very different meanings. One is a city block; another one is a quarter (as in \u201cfiscal quarter\u201d). City blocks separated with curtains billowing in the breeze &#8211; this sounds like an awesome art installation to me.<\/p>\n<p>IKEA PS KRONA might be a pretty bowl, but outside of <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0418\u041a<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0415<\/span>\u0410\u00bb<\/strong>, the rest of Russia knows that <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u043a\u0440<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> is either a national currency of Sweden or a 9-volt battery.<\/p>\n<p>Your family picture might look amazing in a RIBBA frame, but just imagine the kind of reaction you\u2019d get if you were to hang a <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0440<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u044b<\/span>\u0431\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [fish] on your wall instead.<\/p>\n<p>In the textiles and rugs at IKEA you can find a GILDA BLOM cushion. I actually thought to buy it and use as a floor cushion, but &#8211; <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u043a\u0430\u043a<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u043e<\/span>\u0439 <\/strong><strong>\u043e\u0431\u043b<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [what a bummer] &#8211; they aren\u2019t big enough. Notice that even though the word <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u043e\u0431\u043b<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> starts with <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u043e\u00bb<\/strong>, it is an unstressed one and will be pronounced as <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0430\u00bb<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Two easily confused Russian words are <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0432<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [bathroom] and <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0432<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [bathtub]. A VANNA mirror might look good above the sink in your <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0432<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong>, but taking it into <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0432<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [bathtub] with you might be kind of dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, these are not all English-language product names that sound funny in Russian. And I hope IKEA keeps coming up with even more awesome fun, like KOLJA (sounds like a Russian male name <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u041a<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044f\u00bb<\/strong>, diminutive from <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u041d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u043b<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [Nikolay]) or SANELA (sounds very much like <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u044f\u043b<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong>, a female form of past-tense for the verb <strong>\u00ab<\/strong><strong>\u0437\u0430\u043d\u0438\u043c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [to borrow]).<\/p>\n<p>What memorization techniques do you use to memorize Russian words? Have you spotted something in a IKEA catalog (on at a store) that\u2019s not in this article? And what about a Russian-language IKEA catalog? Product names are a bit different there, but still, at least some must still be funny. If you know any, please share!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<img width=\"350\" height=\"252\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2011\/01\/IKEA1-350x252.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2011\/01\/IKEA1-350x252.jpg 350w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2011\/01\/IKEA1-768x554.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2011\/01\/IKEA1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><p>Have you heard of a mnemonics technique called \u00ab\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043e\u0446\u0438\u0430\u0442\u0438\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb or \u201cvivid associations\u201d? The idea is to link a new piece of information that you\u2019re trying to remember to something you already know in a vivid and positive way. The rules are simple: It has to be a positive link (who wants to be reminded&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"post-item__readmore\"><a class=\"btn btn--md\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/how-to-learn-russian-at-ikea-store\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":1790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[8,7828],"tags":[8106,1131,13334,13526],"class_list":["post-1788","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language","category-russian-for-beginners","tag-funny-russian-words","tag-learning-russian","tag-learning-russian-is-fun","tag-mnemonics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1788"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6273,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1788\/revisions\/6273"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}