[Virtus]

(11-11-2014 02:48 AM)FretDancer Wrote:  

In the sentence Если ты болел, ты был в поликлинике? I automatically thought of it as "when".

Even google translate seems to give list "when" as one of the definitions or something.

Anyways, new question:

Does для [Person] mean something like "according to [person]"? Could this be used to express someone's opinion?

For example: для он, этот [Something] очень....

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B8

and not "для он" but "для него/неё"

для means for, not according

[FretDancer]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have finally understood what all these hard and soft consonant sounds really are, finally. My pronunciation is also improving greatly.

This video helped me immensely, the girl is really cute as well and I'm loving the accent:

New Question:
This might sound like a stupid question, but I was wondering if there is a female "them" in Russian? So far I only know они which means "them" but I guess it's for male-only or mixed gender.

[PeruLover12]

Они means 'they'. Им I think is 'them'.

I don't think there is a female version.

Yo Fret mind if I post a few of my own questions in this thread, don't want to hijack man.

[Virtus]

Они is neuter, not masculine. Them/they could be both right depending on the whether dative/accusative is used

[FretDancer]

(11-18-2014 03:53 AM)The Ligurian Wrote:  

Они means 'they'. Им I think is 'them'.

I don't think there is a female version.

Yo Fret mind if I post a few of my own questions in this thread, don't want to hijack man.

Yes sure, go ahead.

(11-18-2014 04:31 AM)calihunter Wrote:  

Они is neuter, not masculine. Them/they could be both right depending on the whether dative/accusative is used

So if you are referring to a group of only girls for example, you would still use Они?

[micky]

@FretDancer, I'm not russian but grammar principles of my language are similar(croatian)

In my language there is a difference when referring to a group of guys and girls.
pointing to a group of guys, you would use "oni", and group of girls "one".
but google translate for russian gives me translation "te" for pointing to group of girls,
I think russians are not using "one".
"te" is also correct when pointing to girls, but I think it is not what you're looking for..

anyhow, Они is definitely not for girls. only for pointing to guys, or mixed group of guys and girls

would live to hear explanation from someone fluent in russian

[matthewshannon9]

Они is just they, the exact same as English. Any more than one person that doesn't include you is they or они. Girl, guy, mix it doesn't matter.

[Virtus]

(11-18-2014 05:18 AM)FretDancer Wrote:  

So if you are referring to a group of only girls for example, you would still use Они?

Yes

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8

(11-18-2014 07:22 AM)micky Wrote:  

@FretDancer, I'm not russian but grammar principles of my language are similar(croatian)

[PeruLover12]

Could someone please explain how to use the word 'Насколько'. Does it mean 'in as far as'?

Would you be able to say:
Насколько я знаю она сюда не переехала? Or: Насколько я знаю Бьянка не выпустила новый альбом.

[PeruLover12]

Fret how's the studies going, you haven't posted much for a while, you still motivated?

[Constitution45]

Have any of you noticed clear similarities with other Slavic languages. I have tried speaking Russian with Bulgarians but they don't seem to understand, despite the language and a lot of words being so similar. I am thinking of making a trip to Belgrade in the future, and want to know if my Russian can come into use.

[tattiemasher]

(12-10-2014 06:42 AM)Constitution45 Wrote:  

Have any of you noticed clear similarities with other Slavic languages. I have tried speaking Russian with Bulgarians but they don't seem to understand, despite the language and a lot of words being so similar. I am thinking of making a trip to Belgrade in the future, and want to know if my Russian can come into use.

Russian is part of the East Slavic branch of Slavic, along with Ukranian and Belarussian, as well as some older dialects. Bulgarian is in South Slavic. So there are some similarities, but not enough to have a mutually understandable conversation. I spoke with one Serbian in Russia, and he said he couldn't get by with just using Serbian, he had to learn Russian.

[micha]

Not to mention that some people from ex-СССР states will outright refuse to speak or understand you, even if they could.

[Virtus]

If you talk to 60 year old Bulgarians there is a good chance they will understand. Most took it in school and those that worked in management had to do knowledge exchange trips. But you probably have to explain that this is the only common language you know. Also they are about 30 years out of practice

[micky]

(12-10-2014 06:42 AM)Constitution45 Wrote:  

Have any of you noticed clear similarities with other Slavic languages. I have tried speaking Russian with Bulgarians but they don't seem to understand, despite the language and a lot of words being so similar. I am thinking of making a trip to Belgrade in the future, and want to know if my Russian can come into use.

it seems to me that serbian/croatian are more similar to russian than other slavic languages.
in only few hours of learning russian I can learn a ton, and I'm making a really fast progress because of similar grammar and vocabulary..

I'm guessing if I stick to it for a few hours every day for like a month,
I'd be able to have some meaningful conversation about foreign politics of United States, or to lure women into my apartment.

[OBJ Snakebite]

(12-10-2014 06:42 AM)Constitution45 Wrote:  

Have any of you noticed clear similarities with other Slavic languages. I have tried speaking Russian with Bulgarians but they don't seem to understand, despite the language and a lot of words being so similar. I am thinking of making a trip to Belgrade in the future, and want to know if my Russian can come into use.

You will understand a few words here and there, but that's about it. English is a Germanic language, but do you understand German?

P.S. Didn't realize there where so many native Russian speakers on the forum.
Makes me wonder if Honest Signalz guy is on here.

[FretDancer]

(12-10-2014 06:36 AM)The Ligurian Wrote:  

Fret how's the studies going, you haven't posted much for a while, you still motivated?

It is getting slower since I do not have much time left for Russian lately. Lately I have learned numbers and the Genitive case. I must say that numbers are probably the only thing I really dislike about Russian so far...

(12-10-2014 06:42 AM)Constitution45 Wrote:  

Have any of you noticed clear similarities with other Slavic languages. I have tried speaking Russian with Bulgarians but they don't seem to understand, despite the language and a lot of words being so similar. I am thinking of making a trip to Belgrade in the future, and want to know if my Russian can come into use.

I have encountered that many words are also very similar with many Spanish words.

New Question:

How can I say "Perhaps another time." in Russian?

The only word I know here is время which is Time.

[Virtus]

(12-11-2014 12:14 AM)FretDancer Wrote:  

How can I say "Perhaps another time." in Russian?

The only word I know here is время which is Time.

Может/Давай потом? Maybe/Lets "after"? (Proposal is unclear if there will be a next time)
Может/давай в другой/следующий раз? Maybe/Lets in another/next "try"? meaning next time. Presupposes there will be a next time

[micha]

What is фигасе?

Can't get a translation out of google.

(Contrary to "минет" which I had forgotten. Often I type in words (especially slang) in google and go for the pictures, because it will often be clear what is meant. Worked like a charm for минет, lol.)

[micha]

This goes out to people learning Russian:

As additional resources to your learning I have

- The Hobbit (dual-text book, RUS-ENG)
- Transcripts of all episodes Интерны, which you can watch on rutube for free
- A DOUBLE-DYED DECEIVER by O. Henry (dual-text book, RUS-ENG)

(and some more stuff that I somehow can't find right now, but may find later.)


which I believe is all free of copyright and can be shared. If you're interested PM me.

[Virtus]

(12-11-2014 02:53 PM)micha Wrote:  

What is фигасе?

Can't get a translation out of google.

https://www.google.com/search?q=фигасе

first and third link are slang dictionaries

Фигасе = Нифигасе = ни фига себе

Literally it doesn't mean anything at all. The whole expression is an euphemism, because фиг in Russian substitutes another word - prick. On the other hand, this rough expression obviously substitutes quite polite one - ничего себе (same meaning).
Anyway:
ни - not a
фиг - fig, originally "three-finger combination" (кукиш) representing a prick
себе - to you, but used as intensificative particle

Really means "Oh Boy!" or "Holey Moley"

кукиш

[micha]

I appreciate the explanation.

I don't mess with dictionaries explaining Russian words in Russian yet. I usually run into words that I don't know again, making the whole experience quite frustrating. If I can't find an English translation I leave the word alone.

[PeruLover12]

Personally I'd use ФИГ much more in the expression 'иди на фиг' which is a politer way to say go fuck yourself. You can also say 'иди на хрен' which is the same thing.

How do people drop their parasitic words? I can't stop saying типа all the time after dating a girl this year who did the same. It's annoying as hell.

[micha]

There is a rapper called ST who has a weird accent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gae5mSaWQhY

to a lesser degree Смоки Мо as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnsNsO1FoxI


what's up with that?

ST doesn't roll the "r" (р) at all. Is this an idiosyncrasy of a certain group of people? Or are there simply people who can't roll the "r" due to biological reasons?

Смоки Мо has something about the way he speaks that I can't put a finger on. More staccato less flow.


I heard Russia doesn't have varied accents like many other countries (Germany, Italy etc.) but I guess there is still SOME variance. Are the above examples regional or something else?


Thanks in advance to our Russian speaking folk

[RandomGuy1]

Fret how is your progress so far, any updates?