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Dear Language Enthusiast,
Welcome to Russian Monthly, the free Internet newsletter from Transparent
Language. It's our way of helping you practice your language skills, as you learn about the
culture of Russia.
This month, we examine two elements of Russian that are absolutely indispensable if you want to
speak like a native: slang and idioms. These are colorful words and expressions that cannot be
translated literally (Imagine a Russian speaker trying to make sense of English idioms like "he
has a screw loose" or "it's a piece of cake"!). Yet, learning these is the secret to achieving
true fluency; it's the difference between "textbook" and "real-world" language. If you're not
yet familiar with any Russian slang words or idiomatic expressions, prepare yourself. You may
be surprised at how fascinating and fun they can be to learn and to use. Best of all, learning
about slang and idioms will add a new dimension to your language skills!
Our selection this month is an excerpt from two of our most popular titles: "Kaif! Fun
Russian Slang," and "Pines-Sticks and Other Russian Idioms." In the first half of the
newsletter, we've selected five slang expressions (the literal translation presented first,
with the figurative equivalent in parentheses), followed by a dialog that uses each in
context. In the second half, you'll find five idiomatic phrases, also then used in a
contextual dialog. We hope you enjoy this fun glimpse of some of the lively and relevant
phrases that are prevalent in the Russian language.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
CLARIFICATION:
In our January Russian Monthly Newsletter, Nikola Tesla was listed as a Hungarian Scientist.
Tesla was born in Smiljan, Croatia in 1856, which was then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
He was of Serbian descent and lived in the United States after 1884.
In English:
What would you do if in the midst of a conversation with your new Russian friends, one of them
exclaims: "Kaif?" Your usual dictionary will not help you understand this. Slang, the meaning
of which is completely different from the literal translation of the words comprising it, is an
expressive and ever present part of any language. If you don't know it, you may get the
impression that you are losing the thread of the conversation.
Each word is illustrated by a sentence. After each five idioms there follows a simple dialog,
which demonstrates their use in context.
To begin to shake (to annoy, to torment)
My boss completely torments me. He demands an account for each minute of tardiness.
To serrate (to cram, to learn by heart)
I memorized the textbook from cover to cover.
To loaf (to waste work time)
That's enough loafing. It's time to get to work.
Shpargalka (cheat sheet)
In our institute they strictly see to it that students do not use cheat sheets on exams.
Vtiuritsya (to fall in love)
In my opinion, you have fallen in love with that girl. Somehow you can't take your eyes off of
her.
Dialog
Masha: Where have you gotten ready to go?
Lena: Vitya and I are going to the beach.
Masha: And may I go with you?
Lena: Have you lost your mind? You totally flunked Biology.
You have to study seriously in order to make up the exam.
Masha: You are bugging me with your advice. As it is, I crammed for three days before the exam.
This teacher simply doesn't like me and he gave me the trickiest questions.
Lena: And I understand him. You skipped almost all the lectures and lab studies.
Masha: On the other hand, I had cheat sheets with almost all the questions.
Lena: What's the sense of your cheat sheets if you still got an F on the exam?
Masha: I know why you won't take me to the beach. Quite simply you have fallen in love with this
Victor and want to be with him as a twosome. Can you say it's not so?
Lena: Well, let's admit it's so. So what?
What would you do, if in the middle of a conversation with your new Russian friends, one of
them suddenly exclaimed "Pine trees-sticks!" with great emotion? Your trusty dictionary will
not help you understand! Idiomatic expressions, phrases that mean something entirely different
than the literal translation of the words that comprise them, are a colorful and ever-present
aspect of every language. If you don't know them, you may find yourself feeling left out of a
conversation.
Idioms
good riddance
You are leaving? Good riddance!
To grin from ear to ear
He walked around all day, grinning from ear to ear.
when hell freezes over
They will pay us when hell freezes over.
That beats all; isn't that great!
This is your new car? That beats all!
Love makes a cottage a castle
We only had a one-room apartment when we got married, but we were happy. Love makes a cottage a
castle.
Dialog
Olga: Good morning, Nikolai! What's new?
Nikolai: Guess!
Olga: I don't know. We got a 200 percent raise?
Masha: Sure, that'll happen when hell freezes over.
Nikolai: The new boss has been transferred to the Siberian office!
Olga: Hurrah! Good riddance! Who will be our new boss?
Nikolai: Ludmila! She has been promoted!
Masha: That beats all! Can this day get any better?
Nikolai: Here comes Sasha. Hey Sasha, we have great news. But why are you grinning from ear to
ear? Do you know about our boss already?
Sasha: Nina and I are getting married.
Nikolai: That's great! But where will you live? She lives in a dorm and you live with your
parents!
Olga: They'll figure something out. Love makes a cottage a castle.
Congratulations, Sasha!
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