Learn some basic Russian, it will help a lot!

[Jumper]

That's probably an accurate estimate.

I like how you snuck "chicken" into that group - LOL !!  A few others of importance are the ATM ( БАНКОМАТ ), city bus ( АВТОБУС )
taxi ( ТАКСИ )....

chicken!  but how can Jack forget to include in the  essential (similar) words ..  PECTOPAH?

 

or аэропорт!!

[Eduard]

Козёл [kah-zyol] = a male goat (also used as a slang word to call somebody an idiot, an a-hole or/and a jackass, more so in Ukraine, than Russia)

Some synonyms to the latter are: придурок [pree-doo-rock], идиот [ee-dee-awt] (same as idiot but with imphasys on "awt")
кретин [kryeh-teen] (same as cretin but with imphasys on "ee",
дурак [doo-ruck] = stupid
мудак [moo-duck] = even more stupid

Happy sunday every one!

[khelkhov]

Relating to your post, I have another Russian synonym to contribute...

глупo [gloo puh] = stupid, silly or foolish

(the bold syllable means that it is the stressed syllable)

Just thought about adding a phrase to make it a bit more educational...

I have heard a Russian college student saying this phrase when observing someone's foolish behavior:

Это очень глупo!!! = This is very stupid!!  

[Vaughn]

Another, although I've never had to use it in real life, is,

У вас каталог не варит ?  (ooh vahs kah-tah-LOHG ni VAHR-eet?)

From what I'm told it roughly means "What - are you cracked ?"  Eduard - can you confirm this ?

[Eduard]

Thanks Khelkhov! One little adjustment though, it is spelled with an "O"   -  Это очень глупo = this is very silly or foolish

[khelkhov]

Thanks Khelkhov! One little adjustment though, it is spelled with an "O"   -  Это очень глупo = this is very silly or foolish

Thanks for your correction, Ed... I still have the habit of spelling Russian words the way how I speak Russian or how the words sound to my ears...

[Eduard]

Another, although I've never had to use it in real life, is,

У вас каталог не варит ?  (ooh vahs kah-tah-LOHG ni VAHR-eet?)

From what I'm told it roughly means "What - are you cracked ?"  Eduard - can you confirm this ?

No, Vaughn, never heard it exacly that way... "your catalogue doesn't cook?" LOL. However there is a saying "У вас котелок не варит" = your pot doesn't cook.
I think that you probably confused the 2 words since they sound similar: catalogue [kah-tah-lawg] versus котелок [kah-tyeh-lock]

[Eduard]

This one will put a smile on any Russian's/Ukrainian's face coming from a WM:
Как жизнь молодая?  [kahk  zhyizn' mah-lah-da-yah] Although it basically means "how are you doing young man (or young lady)? You can address an older person this way also. They won't expect this from a foreigner 

[Vaughn]

Yes - obviously I confused каталог и котелок - thanks for clarifying that. They sound
almost identical to me in speech.

[Daveman]

some phrases which have been invaluable to me are:

izvinitye za moy plohoy Ruski (excuse my bad russian)
pamagitye pazhaluista (help please)
paftaritye pazhaluista, myedlena (please repeat, slowly)
napazhitye pazhaluista (write, please... such as write the amount down on paper.. and I always carry pen and paper specifically for that purpose)

There's another one which I can't remember for the life of me at the moment (sheesh), but it means "Please point in the correct direction".. momentary brain lock.

Learning a little of the native language of any area you wish to travel is worth the effort in self benefit if nothing else.  It gives one a little more independence even if not fluent.  

[Eduard]

napazhitye pazhaluista (write, please... such as write the amount down on paper.. and I always carry pen and paper specifically for that purpose)

Dave, they'll understand this one better if you pronounce it as [nah-pee-shee-tye] = write down (напишите)

[Daveman]

Dave, they'll understand this one better if you pronounce it as [nah-pee-shee-tye] = write down (напишите)

yes indeed, you are correct, of course... thanks.
What's the pne for "Please point (with your finger) in the correct direction"?  It's a very simple phrase but I can't remember it to save my life at the moment.. and it's REALLY buggin' me.

[Eduard]

yes indeed, you are correct, of course... thanks.
What's the pne for "Please point (with your finger) in the correct direction"?  It's a very simple phrase but I can't remember it to save my life at the moment.. and it's REALLY buggin' me.

Dave, there are different ways of saying this (different variations depending on a few factors), can you give me the exact full sentence that you want translated?

[Daveman]

Dave, there are different ways of saying this (different variations depending on a few factors), can you give me the exact full sentence that you want translated?

Thanks, Ed, the phrase I'm thinking of is not an exact translation for what we would say in English.. the verbatim English, IIRC, would be something like "Please show with your finger"  which we would actually say in English "Please point in the direction"... so, the situation is.. say I am walking along the street, and ask someone to point in the direction of "Lenin" (which is always my guide to everything.. every city has a gargantuan statue of Lenin)... this phrase can also be used with a map .. "please show with your finger... (whatever you need)"

I know finger is "pal'yets", but I don't think that word is actually in the phrase, though I may be mistaken... MAN this is REALLY getting on my nerves now... I guess I'll have to sacrifice a chicken to the god "Zapomnyu", or find that stupid phrase book I used years ago.

[Nat]

Now factor in that for men, who are on the ball (which is what the  women are looking for) and have good careers, time is a scarce resource.

Sure such men could learn some of a foreign language, just the same as they could learn how to knit, become an expert in Scrabble, train to be one of first civilians into space, etc., etc.

But, since those activities will not enhance their careers, it makes little sense to do them; again I am speaking about those whose time is a scarce resource.

If putting some efforts into relationships makes little sense to a man, then this man makes little sense as a husband, don't you think so? Trying to learn the language of his wife means trying to understand her culture. Even if it's 10 or 20 words, it's always pleasant for a women, it means that he actually cares.

[Nat]

Thanks, Ed, the phrase I'm thinking of is not an exact translation for what we would say in English.. the verbatim English, IIRC, would be something like "Please show with your finger"  which we would actually say in English "Please point in the direction"...

Pokazhite paltsem?

[Daveman]

Pokazhite paltsem?

THAT'S IT!!!! 

Thank you, Nat! You just saved what's left of my sanity.

[khelkhov]

If putting some efforts into relationships makes little sense to a man, then this man makes little sense as a husband, don't you think so? Trying to learn the language of his wife means trying to understand her culture. Even if it's 10 or 20 words, it's always pleasant for a women, it means that he actually cares.

   +1!

[Daveman]

 +1!

Yep +1 from me as well. However, I will also state, unequivocally, that not every RW will appreciate this.  From my personal experience those who do NOT appreciate a man's attempt at her language have turned out to be total flakes. YMMV... At this point, after having communicated with so many, I personally would take this as a serious red flag from the outset.  Again, YMMV, but I'm just sayin'...

[khelkhov]

Yep +1 from me as well. However, I will also state, unequivocally, that not every RW will appreciate this.  From my personal experience those who do NOT appreciate a man's attempt at her language have turned out to be total flakes. YMMV... At this point, after having communicated with so many, I personally would take this as a serious red flag from the outset.  Again, YMMV, but I'm just sayin'...

That's right that those girls who don't appreciate her man speaking Russian is a serious red flag...  It is a clear sign that she may have some hidden agenda that she does not want her man to know...  This is easy to spot...

If a girl doesn't want me to speak Russian, I would find a good excuse to give her a boot from my life...  There is always another girl who does...

[Eduard]

Новый [no- vyj] = new
Новичёк [noh-vee-chyok] = newbie

[Al_C]

I tried, but Russian is a majorly difficult language.  I got the Cyrillic alphabet down and figured out most street signs and commercial store signs, but that is about it.

I am not exactly linguistically challenged, as I picked up Spanish quite easily, mostly from the streets of New York.

[Eduard]

Скажите пожалуйста [skah-zhee-tyeh   pah-zhah-lah-stah] = "tell me please" (literally) is used to say: "could you tell me"

Скажите пожалуйста как проехать в центр?   = Could you tell me how to get to the center? (downtown area is usually referred to as "the center" in Russian cities)

[Eduard]

Я опаздываю  [yah  ah-pah-zdy-vah-you] = I'm running late or I'm going to be late

[acctBill]

I tried, but Russian is a majorly difficult language.  I got the Cyrillic alphabet down and figured out most street signs and commercial store signs, but that is about it.

I am not exactly linguistically challenged, as I picked up Spanish quite easily, mostly from the streets of New York.

Al I took courses to learn the Russian.  Once you get to a certain point, which is different for each person, you can begin to learn on your own.  Read books, papers, websites or when speaking start picking up new words and phrases from TV or other Russian speakers.  It does take hard work but your wife/g/f will appreciate it and it will definitely impress her family.