We are so lucky. Think about it: if you wanted to learn Russian (or any other skill) even 25 years ago, you would’ve needed to go to the library, take expensive classes and hunt down the right information. Instead of spending your time practicing, you would be busy doing other things. Now, with a quick Google search you can find literally anything you need for learning Russian on the internet:
Forgot the genitive plural of female nouns? Wikipedia has a detailed page explaining those.
Want to watch Russian movies with subtitles? Check out Youtube (Mosfilm in particular).
Or like to put your Russian to the test with a one-on-one lesson with a native Russian speaker? Tons of online platforms where you can have Skype lessons.
So it’s no longer a lack of materials or resources that holds you back. But rather finding the time and motivation to put them into practice.
If you’re already listening to the podcasts of RussianPod101, and find that you’re lacking this time or motivation – then here are some of my tips and tricks that I’ve used over the last couple of years to get the most out RussianPod101:
1. Aim for 1 podcast every day
It’s easy to set the bar high and want to put 2 hours of Russian practice in every day. But for most of us that’s not realistic. Do you want to sit behind your desk to practice Russian – even after a long day at work? Probably not.
But if you take it easy, and do a small thing consistently, you’ll find that you’ll make progress almost without noticing it.
Listen to 1 podcast every day. They’re only 10-15 minutes and everyone can make time for that. Even on your worst day, you’ve got 15 minutes, right? Listening to 1 podcast per day will ensure that your brain gets the time off to digest everything you’ve learned. And that you can come back the next day fresh and ready for a new lesson.
Tip: get some sort of habit tracker app on your phone and every day that you listen to a Russian podcast, add a checkmark.
2. Use the lesson review tools
If you want to go the extra mile after listening to the podcast, then use the lesson review tools. A quick review of what you’ve learned will ‘cement’ the information in your brain. And it will make it 10X more effective. Repetition is key when learning Russian – so the more you see/practice a specific word or phrase, the better you’ll remember it.
Tip: make sure to get 8 hours of sleep every night. Sleep is crucial for memory retention and learning new things.
3. Take the 2000 most common words and put them in a spaced repetition app
It’s said that around 600 words make up 80% of all the words in major newspapers. So why not apply this principle in your Russian studies? Take it a step further: if you learn the 2000 most common words, I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting around in Russia.
The list from RussianPod101 is a great tool for this. It has example phrases with the word and you can listen to the correct pronunciation (which is perfect, because of the random nature of stresses in Russian words).
It works even better when you get a spaced repetition program and create your own flashcard deck. This is especially effective if you have it on your phone. So you can practice a couple of words whenever you’re standing in line at the grocery store, waiting for someone or when travelling.
How much time do you spend every week doing the following tasks:
Commuting to work/school
Doing groceries
Walking
Cleaning
It’s probably more than a couple of hours, right? Don’t waste this time. Use it instead to listen to Russian podcasts. You’ll free up time for other activities. And you’ll get better at Russian without specifically scheduling time to practice.
This is one of the ‘secrets’ that separates successful Russian learners from others. They take every opportunity they can get to practice.
You can download all the RussianPod101 lessons to your phone. Each season of podcasts will be stored as an album, so it’s easy to put on your headphones and listen to a quick lesson whenever you’ve got the time.
Tip: delete every lesson directly after you’ve listened to it. That way you won’t have to keep track of which lesson you’re at.
5. Have the right expectations
On the internet you’ll find all sorts of wacky language learning systems and secret tricks that promise fluency in several months (or even weeks). While they often have some merit, most of the time the claims are not based on reality.
The problem is when you measure your own progress to these standards. It can be very demotivating if you’ve been promised that you could learn Russian in 3 months - and you’re only having basic conversations at that time (which is actually very good).
I’ve been seriously studying Russian for around 2.5 years now, and I’ve only recently got to the point where I can talk about a wide variety of topics in Russian. I don’t consider myself fluent, but I’m at the point where I can freely speak with native Russian speakers and understand movies without subtitles.
That’s not to say that it will take you that long. Fluency isn’t an on/off switch. With daily practice you can already have basic conversations after several weeks of practice. You’ll get better every day and it’s this exact sense of progress that will motivate you.
Just don’t expect to speak like a native and read Dostoyevsky after 6 months.
Tip: talk to other people that are learning Russian (who are further than you) and ask them how long they’ve been practicing. You’ll get a good sense of how long it takes to get to a specific level.
Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.
However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day around the world!
1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day
Do you want to know how to say April Fools’ Day in Russian? Well, there are millions of ways and words, but here are the top one million Russian words you really need to know! Simply click this link. Here are some of them you will find useful:
funny - смешной - smeshnoy
joke - шутить - shutit’
prank - шалость - shalast’
lie - лгать - lgat`
humor - юмор - yumar
fool - дурак - durak
deceptive - обманчивый - abmanchivyy
surprise - удивлять - udivlyat`
sneaky - подлый - podlyy
prankster - проказник - prakaznik
April 1st - Первое апреля - Pervaye aprelya
play a joke - разыгрывать - razygryvat’
2. Russian Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day
Don’t limit yourself to practical jokes - use these April Fools’ phrases in Russian to prank your favorite Russian friend or colleague!
I learned Russian in 1 month.
Я выучил русский язык за 1 месяц.
Ya vyuchil russiy yazyk za odin mesyats.
All classes for today got canceled.
Все занятия сегодня были отменены.
Vse zanyatiya sevodnya byli atmeneny.
I’m sorry, but I’ve just broken your favorite pair of glasses.
Мне очень жаль, но я сломал Ваши любимые очки.
Mne ochen’ zhal’, no ya slamal vashi lyubimye ochki.
Someone has just hit your car.
Кто-то только что врезался в твою машину.
Kto-to tol`ko shto vrezalsya v tvoyu mashinu
I’m getting married.
Я выхожу замуж
Ya vykhazhu zamuzh
You won a free ticket.
Вы выиграли бесплатный билет.
Vy vyigrali besplatnyy bilet.
I saw your car being towed.
Я видел как буксировали ваш автомобиль.
Ya videl kak buksiravali vash avtamabil`.
They’re giving away free gift cards in front of the building.
Они раздают бесплатные подарочные карты перед зданием.
Oni razdayut besplatnye padarachnyye karty pered zdaniyem.
A handsome guy is waiting for you outside.
Красивый парень ждет тебя на улице.
Krasivyy paren’ zhdet tebya na ulitse.
A beautiful lady asked me to give this phone number to you.
Красивая девушка попросила меня передать этот телефонный номер вам.
Krasivaya devushka paprasila menya peredat` etot telefonnyy nomer vam.
Can you come downstairs? I have something special for you.
Можешь спуститься вниз? У меня есть что-то особенное для тебя.
Mozhesh spustit’sya vniz? U menya yest’ chto-to osobennoye dlya tebya.
Thank you for your love letter this morning. I never could have guessed your feelings.
Спасибо за любовное письмо этим утром. Я и не догадывалась о твоих чувствах.
Spasibo za lyubovnoye pis`mo etim utrom. Ya i ne dogadivalas` o tvoih chuvstavah.
Choose your victims carefully, though; the idea is to get them to laugh with you, not to hurt their feelings or humiliate them in front of others. Be extra careful if you choose to play a prank on your boss - you don’t want to antagonize them with an inappropriate joke.
3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody
Right, now that you know the top million April Fools’ words in Russian, let’s look at some super pranks and tricks to play on friends, colleagues and family. Some April Fools ideas never grow old, while new ones are born every year.
Never joke in such a way that it hurts anyone, or humiliates them badly in front of others - the idea is for everybody to laugh and enjoy the fun! Respect is still key, no matter what day of the year it is.
1- Infestation
This trick is so simple, yet so creepy, it’s almost unbelievable. Take black paper, cut out the silhouette of a giant cockroach, a spider or another insect, and stick it inside the lampshade of a table lamp. When the lamp is switched on, it will look like a monstrous insect is sitting inside the lampshade. Or, get a whole lot of realistic-looking plastic insects, and spread them over a colleague’s desk and chair, or, at home, over the kids’ beds etc. Creep-factor: stellar.
2- Which One Doesn’t Fit?
Put the photo of a celebrity or a notorious politician in a frame, and take it to work on April Fools’ Day. Hang the photo on the staff picture wall, and wait. You’ll be surprised how long it can take for people to notice that one picture doesn’t fit.
3- Something Weird in the Restroom
At work, replace the air freshener in the restroom with something noxious like insect killer, oven cleaner or your own odious mixture in a spray bottle. Be sure to cover the bottle’s body so no one suspects a swap.
Or paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish, and leave it at the hand wash basin. It will not lather.
Or, if your workplace’s restroom has partitioned toilets with short doors, arrange jeans or trousers and shoes on all but one of the toilet covers, so it looks like every stall is occupied. Now wait for complaints, and see how long it takes for someone to figure out the April Fools’ Day prank. You’ll probably wish you had a camera inside the restroom. But, unless you don’t mind getting fired, don’t put your own recording device in there!
4- Call Me Funny
Prepare and print out a few posters with the following instructions: Lion Roar Challenge! Call this number - 123-456-7890 - and leave your best lion’s roar as voicemail! Best roarer will be announced April 10 in the cafeteria. Prize: $100. (Lion’s roar is just an example; you can use any animal call, or even a movie character’s unique sound, such as Chewbacca from Star Wars. The weirder, the funnier. Obviously!) Put the posters up in the office where most of the staff is likely to see them. Now wait for the owner of the number to visit you with murderous intent. Have a conciliatory gift ready that’s not a prank.
5- Minty Cookies
This is another simple but hugely effective prank - simply separate iced cookies, scrape off the icing, and replace it with toothpaste. Serve during lunch or tea break at work, or put in your family’s lunch boxes. Be sure to take photos of your victim’s faces when they first bite into your April Fools’ cookies.
6- Wild Shopping
At your local grocer, place a realistic-looking plastic snake or spider among the fresh vegetables. Now wait around the corner for the first yell.
7- The Oldest Trick in the Book
Don’t forget probably the oldest, yet very effective April Fools’ joke in the book - smearing hand cream or Vaseline on a door handle that most staff, family or friends are likely to use. Yuck to the max!
8- Sneeze On Me
Another golden oldie is also gross, yet harmless and utterly satisfying as a prank. Fill a small spray bottle that you can easily conceal with water. Walk past a friend, colleague or one of your kids, and fake a sneeze while simultaneously spraying them with a bit of water. Expect to be called a totally disgusting person. Add a drop of lovely smelling essential oil to the water for extra confusion.
9- Word Play Repairs
Put a fresh leek in the hand wash basin at home or work, and then tell your housemates or colleagues this: “There’s a huge leak in the restroom/bathroom basin, it’s really serious. Please can someone go have a look?!” Expect exasperation and smiles all around. Note that this prank is only likely to work where people understand English well.
10- Scary Face
Print out a very scary face on an A4 sheet of paper, and place it in a colleague’s, or one of your kid’s drawers, so it’s the first thing they see when they open the drawer. You may not be very popular for a while.
11- Wake Up To Madness
Put foamy shaving cream, or real whipped cream on your hand, and wake your kid up by tickling their nose with it. As long as they get the joke, this could be a wonderful and fun way to start April Fools’ Day.
12- Computer Prank
This one’s fabulous, if you have a bit of time to fiddle with a colleague, friend or your kid’s computer. It is most effective on a computer where most of the icons they use are on the desktop background itself (as opposed to on the bottom task bar).
Take and save a screenshot of their desktop with the icons. Set this screenshot as their background image. Now delete all the working icons. When they return to their computer, wait for the curses when no amount of clicking on the icons works.
13- Monster Under the Cup
This one will also work well anywhere people meet. Take a paper cup, and write the following on it in black pen: “Danger! Don’t lift, big spider underneath.” Place it upside-down on prominent flat surface, such as a kitchen counter, a colleague’s desk or a restaurant table. Expect some truly interesting responses.
14- Prank Door
Write in large letters on a large and noticeable piece of paper: PUSH. Tape this notice on a door that should be pulled to open, and watch the hilarious struggle of those clever souls who actually read signs.
4. How Can RussianPod101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?
If you happen to visit Russia, or if you work for any Russian company, knowing the above Russian prankster phrases can really lighten up your day. Showing you have a sense of humor can go a long way to cement good relationships in any situation. These phrases are at your disposal for free, as well as are these 100 core Russian words, which you will learn how to pronounce perfectly.
Also, don’t stop at learning April Fools’ phrases in Russian - bone up your Russian language skills with these FREE key phrases. Yes, RussianPod101 doesn’t joke when it comes to effective, fun and easy learning.
Now, as a bonus, test our super-learning technology, and learn the Top 1000 most useful phrases in Russian below! But that’s not all. Read on to learn how you can be eligible for large enrollment discounts at RussianPod101.
5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in Russian - testing new technology
Help us by being a language guinea pig! Listen to this video above with embedded cutting-edge, frequency-based learning technology that enables you to learn large amounts of data in record time.
Note: This technology is in beta-phase of development, and we invite your input for fine-tuning.
To participate: Watch the video for instructions, and leave a comment to rate it. Your comment will make you eligible for large enrollment-fee discounts. To watch the video, please click the play button.
Thank you for helping RussianPod101! We’re serious about making learning Russian fun.
Russian isn’t at the top of the list of easy foreign languages. If you’re a native English speaker you will have to contend with the Cyrillic alphabet, complex grammar, and difficult pronunciation. Many new Russian learners start out strong, but peter out after a short time.
But that doesn’t have to be your story. Don’t let the grizzly reputation of the Russian language scare you away. Yes it’s not easy, but it probably isn’t as hard as you think either.
In this post we give you five practical tips to help you win while learning Russian. Follow these and you will be hard pressed not to see improvement in your language ability!
1. Develop a good Russian Accent
When I first started to learn Russian the words overwhelmed me. Not only were some of them extremely long (by English language standards), they often bunched together three or more consonants in a way that I just wasn’t used to. As a result to me the Russian language sometimes sounded more like noise that an actual language.
This was because I didn’t have a good grasp on Russian pronunciation. I decided to focus on this weak point by learning and practicing how to correctly pronounce each individual sound in the language. I started with the ones most similar to English, and then moved on to the more difficult ones.
Then i started practicing with longer words and eventually I listened to recorded audio of native speakers and did my best to mimic their flow of speech. By the end of this phase of learning my Russian accent wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty decent (I occasionally get complimented on it), but more importantly I heard the language differently.
When you intuitively know how to correctly pronounce a sound it’s a lot easier to recognize that sound when its spoken or read. I suppose knowing how to produce Russian sounds gives your brain some context for what it hears when you’re using the language.
RussianPod101 is a great tool for working on your pronunciation. It lets you play back the words from a lesson in isolation and also at a slower speed. This is perfect for pinpointing the nuances of the language and developing your Russian tongue as well as your ear.
2. Break down the Case System
The Russian case system has a gnarly reputation, and it is not without reason. To the native English speaker Russian nouns can seem enigmatic simply because they’re always changing! Even once you learn the rules behind the grammatical cases, you have to work very hard to use them correctly in conversation and writing.
Your best bet is to focus on one case at a time. Trying to learn the entire system at once is akin to trying to swallow an elephant. Work with the noun and adjective endings in one case until you become fairly comfortable with it.
Then, and only then, move on to the next case. This process will ensure that you have a firm foundation in the Russian cases. If you rush through this stage it will haunt you throughout your learning. Cases affect almost everything in Russian!
3. Learn Grammar in context
This next tip is applicable no matter what language you’re learning. Once you move past the basic vocabulary in the language, try to pick up the patterns of Russian grammar by learning the rules in the context of phrases or sentences.
I found the example sentences in the show notes of RussianPod101 to be extremely helpful for this. After each episode I could look at the examples to get a feel for how a particular aspect of Russian grammar worked. Then I could practice making my own similar phrases using the same rule.
Slowly but surely as I worked through each episode I took greater ownership of the language. I find this approach is a lot more effective then memorizing tables or rules. If I can use the grammar and vocabulary I just learned; I’m much more likely to internalize it, and thus remember it the next time I try to say something in Russian.
4. Get feedback from Native Speakers
Receiving correct and accurate feedback from native Russian speakers is vital to improving your skills in the language. Whether you’re reading or writing you need to find out what your mistakes are, so that you can correct them.
Some people are willing and able to pay a private tutor, or take a formal Russian class in order to help them progress. These two alternatives will certainly help, but they aren’t the only options.
If you live near a major city there’s a substantial chance that there are some Russian speakers in your area. Keep your eyes and ears open, because you might be surprised where you find them. You can look for a nearby meetup group or language exchange. You’re likely to find Russian speakers there as well.
If these options don’t work out you can take your search online. There are several free language exchanges where you can chat via video or audio chat with other language learners. Look for a Russian speaker learning English so that you can practice together and correct each other’s mistakes.
You can also use Lang-8 to post written entries in Russian and have them corrected by native speakers. Reading and writing both have their place when learning a foreign language. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make mistakes. It’s all part of the process. As long as you’re getting good feedback when you use the language your skills will improve!
Conclusion
Hopefully this post took some of the fear and mystery out of learning Russian. Remember that the most important tip is to enjoy the language for its own sake. Seriously, if you enjoy the process of learning, then studying Russian will seem more like a journey of discovery rather than work.
Use these pointers as tools for the road ahead as you find your way to fluency in Russian!
Learn all the Russian New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join RussianPod101 for a special Russian New Year celebration!
Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated.
So, how do you say Happy New Year in Russian? Let a native teach you! At RussianPod101, you will learn how to correctly greet your friends over New Year, and wish them well with these Russian New Year wishes!
Do you know what holiday the Russian people like the most? It’s New Year’s Day which of course is celebrated on the evening of December 31. New Year’s Day is the largest, most significant holiday in Russia, and people start preparing for it as early as the middle of December. In this lesson, you will learn about traditions associated with celebrating New Year’s Day in Russia, as well as some well-known New Year’s omens.
Now, before we go into more detail, we’ve got a question for you- how many times do you think New Year’s Day is celebrated in Russia?
If you don’t already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep reading!
There is a Russian proverb that says “How you celebrate the New Year shows how the whole year will go.” In Russian, it’s “Как встретишь Новый год, так его и проведёшь.” It’s believed that the merrier and more joyful the New Year’s Day celebration is, the luckier and happier the next year will be. That is why everyone in Russia tries to celebrate New Year’s Day with their nearest and dearest. Many people like celebrating New Year’s Day with friends at a restaurant, while others may like going to a ski resort. But wherever you are, a big holiday tree is decorated in the main square in almost every city.
Almost all households set up a festive New Year spread which isn’t complete unless it includes Olivier salad, which is called “салат Оливье” in Russian, and champagne. As the saying goes, the more lavish the New Year spread is, the more prosperous the coming year will be, which is why the table is laden with numerous delicacies. People typically start sitting at their tables at 10 p.m., so they can raise a toast to the departing year. In the evening, the “Russia 1” TV channel shows the New Year’s Eve concert “Blue Flame” which in Russian is called “Голубой огонёк”. It’s also said that on New Year’s Eve, Grandfather Frost, or “Дед Мороз” and his granddaughter Snow White, or “Снегурочка” visit people’s houses and put presents under the New Year tree for kids. By the way, Grandfather Frost’s home is located in the city named “Великий Устюг”.
About ten minutes before the clocks strike midnight, the whole country listens to the President’s New Year speech. In Russian, it’s called “новогоднее поздравление Президента”. There is also a custom of making a wish while the Kremlin clock is chiming. After the last chime, people wish each other “Happy New Year” and clink glasses full of champagne. In Russian “Happy New Year” is “С Новым годом!”. People celebrate till morning, and the sounds of fireworks can be heard all night long.
Every year on New Year’s Eve, old Soviet movies are shown. The movie “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”, or “Ирония судьбы или с легким паром” has been shown every December 31 for more than twenty years.
So, coming back to our quiz, how many times do you think New Year’s Eve is celebrated in Russia?
Well, in fact, Russia is the only country in the world where New Year’s Eve is celebrated nine times. Because of its huge expanse, the territory of Russia includes nine time zones. The first ones to celebrate the New Year are the Кури́льские острова́ and Kamchatka, and the last one is Kaliningrad.
Happy New Year!
С Новым годом! S Novym godam!
2. Must-Know Russian Words & Phrases for the New Year!
1- Year
год god
This is pretty self-explanatory. Most countries follow a Gregorian calendar, which has approximately 365 days in a year, while in some cultures, other year designations are also honored. Therefore, New Year’s day in Russia could fall on a different day than in your country. When do you celebrate New Year?
2- Midnight
полночь polnoch’
The point in time when a day ends and a new one starts. Many New Year celebrants prefer to stay awake till midnight, and greet the new annum as it breaks with fanfare and fireworks!
3- New Year’s Day
Новый год Novyy got
In most countries, the new year is celebrated for one whole day. On the Gregorian calendar, this falls on January 1st. On this day, different cultures engage in festive activities, like parties, parades, big meals with families and many more.
4- Party
вечеринка vecherinka
A party is most people’s favorite way to end the old year, and charge festively into the new one! We celebrate all we accomplished in the old year, and joyfully anticipate what lies ahead.
5- Dancing
танец tanets
Usually, when the clock strikes midnight and the New Year officially begins, people break out in dance! It is a jolly way to express a celebratory mood with good expectations for the year ahead. Also, perhaps, that the old year with its problems has finally passed! Dance parties are also a popular way to spend New Year’s Eve in many places.
6- Champagne
шампанское shampanskoye
Originating in France, champagne is a bubbly, alcoholic drink that is often used to toast something or someone during celebrations.
7- Fireworks
салют salyut
These are explosives that cause spectacular effects when ignited. They are popular for announcing the start of the new year with loud noises and colorful displays! In some countries, fireworks are set off to scare away evil spirits. In others, the use of fireworks is forbidden in urban areas due to their harmful effect on pets. Most animals’ hearing is much more sensitive than humans’, so this noisy display can be very frightful and traumatising to them.
8- Countdown
отсчёт времени atshchot vremeni
This countdown refers to New Year celebrants counting the seconds, usually backward, till midnight, when New Year starts - a great group activity that doesn’t scare animals, and involves a lot of joyful shouting when the clock strikes midnight!
9- New Year’s Holiday
Новогодние каникулы Novogodniye kanikuly
In many countries, New Year’s Day is a public holiday - to recuperate from the party the previous night, perhaps! Families also like to meet on this day to enjoy a meal and spend time together.
10- Confetti
конфети kanfeti
In most Western countries, confetti is traditionally associated with weddings, but often it is used as a party decoration. Some prefer to throw it in the air at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve.
11- New Year’s Eve
Канун Нового года Kanun Novogo goda
This is the evening before New Year breaks at midnight! Often, friends and family meet for a party or meal the evening before, sometimes engaging in year-end rituals. How are you planning to give your New Year greetings in 2018?
12- Toast
тост tost
A toast is a type of group-salutation that involves raising your glass to drink with others in honor of something or someone. A toast to the new year is definitely in order!
13- Resolution
резолюция rezolyutsiya
Those goals or intentions you hope to, but seldom keep in the new year! Many people consider the start of a new year to be the opportune time for making changes or plans. Resolutions are those intentions to change, or the plans. It’s best to keep your resolutions realistic so as not to disappoint yourself!
14- Parade
парад parad
New Year celebrations are a huge deal in some countries! Parades are held in the streets, often to celebratory music, with colorful costumes and lots of dancing. Parades are like marches, only less formal and way more fun. At RussianPod101, you can engage in forums with natives who can tell you what Russian New Year celebrations are like!
3. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions
So, you learned the Russian word for ‘resolution’. Fabulous! Resolutions are those goals and intentions that we hope to manifest in the year that lies ahead. The beginning of a new year serves as a good marker in time to formalise these. Some like to do it in writing, others only hold these resolutions in their hearts. Here are our Top 10 New Year’s resolutions at RussianPod101 - what are yours?
Learn these phrases and impress your Russian friends with your vocabulary.
1- Read more
Больше читать. Bol’she chitat’.
Reading is a fantastic skill that everyone can benefit from. You’re a business person? Apparently, successful business men and women read up to 60 books a year. This probably excludes fiction, so better scan your library or Amazon for the top business reads if you plan to follow in the footsteps of the successful! Otherwise, why not make it your resolution to read more Russian in the new year? You will be surprised by how much this will improve your Russian language skills!
2- Spend more time with family
Проводить больше времени с семьёй. Pravadit’ bol’she vremeni s sem’yoy.
Former US President George Bush’s wife, Barbara Bush, was quoted as having said this: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, a parent.” This is very true! Relationships are often what gives life meaning, so this is a worthy resolution for any year.
3- Lose weight
Похудеть. Pakhudet’.
Hands up, how many of you made this new year’s resolution last year too…?! This is a notoriously difficult goal to keep, as it takes a lot of self discipline not to eat unhealthily. Good luck with this one, and avoid unhealthy fad diets!
4- Save money
Накопить денег. Nakapit’ denek.
Another common and difficult resolution! However, no one has ever been sorry when they saved towards reaching a goal. Make it your resolution to save money to upgrade your subscription to RussianPod101’s Premium PLUS option in the new year - it will be money well spent!
5- Quit smoking
Бросить курить. Brosit’ kurit’.
This is a resolution that you should definitely keep, or your body could punish you severely later! Smoking is a harmful habit with many hazardous effects on your health. Do everything in your power to make this resolution come true in the new year, as your health is your most precious asset.
6- Learn something new
Выучить что-то новое. Vyuchit’ shto-ta novaye.
Science has proven that learning new skills can help keep brain diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay! It can even slow down the progression of the disease. So, keep your brain healthy by learning to speak a new language, studying towards a qualification, learning how to sew, or how to play chess - no matter how old you are, the possibilities are infinite!
7- Drink less
Меньше пить. Men’she pit’.
This is another health resolution that is good to heed any time of the year. Excessive drinking is associated with many diseases, and its effect can be very detrimental to good relationships too. Alcohol is a poison and harmful for the body in large quantities!
8- Exercise regularly
Регулярно заниматься спортом. Regulyarna zanimatsa sportam.
This resolution goes hand-in-hand with ‘Lose weight’! An inactive body is an unhealthy and often overweight one, so give this resolution priority in the new year.
9- Eat healthy
Кушать здоровую пищу. Kushat’ zdarovuyu pishchu.
If you stick with this resolution, you will lose weight and feel better in general. It is a very worthy goal to have!
10- Study Russian with RussianPod101
учить русский язык с RussianPod101.com uchit` ruskiy yazyk s RussianPod101.com
Of course! You can only benefit from learning Russian, especially with us! Learning how to speak Russian can keep your brain healthy, it can widen your circle of friends, and improve your chances to land a dream job anywhere in the world. RussianPod101 makes it easy and enjoyable for you to stick to this resolution.
4. Inspirational New Year Quotes
Everyone knows that it is sometimes very hard to stick to resolutions, and not only over New Year. The reasons for this vary from person to person, but all of us need inspiration every now and then! A good way to remain motivated is to keep inspirational quotes near as reminders that it’s up to us to reach our goals.
Make decorative notes of these in Russian, and keep them close! Perhaps you could stick them above your bathroom mirror, or on your study’s wall. This way you not only get to read Russian incidentally, but also remain inspired to reach your goals! Imagine feeling like giving up on a goal, but reading this quote when you go to the bathroom: “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” What a positive affirmation!
5. Inspirational Language Learning Quotes
Still undecided whether you should enroll with RussianPod101 to learn a new language? There’s no time like the present to decide! Let the following Language Learning Quotes inspire you with their wisdom.
As legendary President Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” So, learning how to say Happy New Year in Russian could well be a way into someone special’s heart for you! Let this year be the one where you to learn how to say Happy New Year, and much more, in Russian - it could open many and unexpected doors for you.
6. How To Say Happy New Year in 31 Languages
Here’s a lovely bonus for you! Why stop with Russian - learn how to say Happy New Year in 31 other languages too! Watch this video and learn how to pronounce these New Year’s wishes like a native in under two minutes.
7. Why Enrolling with RussianPod101 Would Be the Perfect New Year’s Gift to Yourself!
If you are unsure how to celebrate the New Year, why not give yourself a huge gift, and enroll to learn Russian! With more than 12 years of experience behind us, we know that RussianPod101 would be the perfect fit for you. There are so many reasons for this!
Custom-tailored Learning Paths: Start learning Russian at the level that you are. We have numerous Learning Pathways, and we tailor them just for you based on your goals and interests! What a boon!
Marked Progress and Fresh Learning Material Every Week: We make new lessons available every week, with an option to track your progress. Topics are culturally appropriate and useful, such as “Learning how to deliver negative answers politely to a business partner.” Our aim is to equip you with Russian that makes sense!
Multiple Learning Tools: Learn in fun, easy ways with resources such 1,000+ video and audio lessons, flashcards, detailed PDF downloads, and mobile apps suitable for multiple devices!
Fast Track Learning Option: If you’re serious about fast-tracking your learning, Premium Plus would be the perfect way to go! Enjoy perks such as personalised lessons with ongoing guidance from your own, native-speaking teacher, and one-on-one learning on your mobile app! You will not be alone in your learning. Weekly assignments with non-stop feedback, answers and corrections will ensure speedy progress.
Fun and Easy: Keeping the lessons fun and easy-to-learn is our aim, so you will stay motivated by your progress!
Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Russian? RussianPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Russian Christmas phrases!
Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Russian speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases and vocabulary, RussianPod101 will teach you the most important ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Russian!
Did you know that in Russia people don’t give presents for Christmas? Let’s discuss how people celebrate Christmas in Russia.
Now, before we go into more detail, I’ve got a question for you - why is Christmas in Russia celebrated on January 7 and not on December 25?
If you don’t already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep reading.
Christmas, or as it’s known in Russian Рождество (Razdestvo), is actually observed in Russia on January 7. It’s a state holiday and a day off. As is the same in all Christian nations, Christmas in Russia is a celebrated as the birth of Jesus Christ. In Russian, Jesus Christ is called Иисус Христос (Iisus Khristos).
Christmas in Russia is a warm, family-centric holiday which most Russian people try to spend at home. In Russia, It’s not customary to give each other presents for Christmas, there is no Santa Claus, and people don’t especially decorate a Christmas tree. On this holy day, a great number of people attend celebratory church services, make confessions, and receive communion. It’s customary to serve on a festive table, pork dishes such as aspic or холодец (Khaladets) in Russian, homemade sausages, and ragout.
The day before Christmas is called Сочельник (Sachel’nik), which means Christmas Eve. The word сочельник meaning “Christmas Eve” comes from the word сочиво (sochiva). Сочиво (sochiva) is a meatless porridge made from wheat with a little honey added. It’s customary to make twelve meatless dishes for Christmas Eve, among which there should be sochiva, a porridge made from wheat, millet, rice or other grains with added poppy seeds, walnuts, raisins, and honey. Tradition dictates that all twelve dishes must be sampled, but none should be eaten completely in order to ensure that there will always be prosperity in the family.
On Christmas Eve, the Orthodox churches are decorated with a Nativity scene including small models of Bethlehem Cave. In Russian, the Bethlehem Cave is called Вифлеемская пещера (Vifleyemskaya peshchera) with small figures inside. The Nativity scene depicts the birth of Christ. The main decorations of the Nativity scene are the manger with the baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or Дева Мария (Deva Maria), and Joseph, or Иосиф (Iosif).
In Russia, the tradition of Christmas divinations has been preserved right up until this day. Divinations made on the night of January 6 are considered the most accurate and truthful. On that night, young maidens request divinations about who their betrothed will be and when they will find love.
So then, why is Christmas celebrated on January 7 and not on December 25 in Russia?
It’s all because of the calendar. The Russian orthodox church uses the Julian calendar, or “The old calendar”. December 25th on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 7th on the Gregorian calendar.
2. Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season
1- Merry Christmas!
Счастливого Рождества! Schastlivogo Rozhdestva!
Do you know how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Russian? Learn here how to pronounce it perfectly! ‘Merry’ means to be joyful, to celebrate and generally be in good spirits. So, with this phrase you are wishing someone a joyful, celebratory remembrance of Christ’s birth!
2- Happy Kwanzaa!
Счастливой Кванзы! Schastlivoy Kvanzy!
Surprise your African-American, or West African native friends with this phrase over the Christmas holidays! Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-religious celebration, starting on Dec 26th each year. It has its roots in African American modern history, and many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas!
3- Have a happy New Year!
Счастливого Нового года! Schastlivogo Novogo goda!
In countries where Christmas is not officially celebrated, but a Gregorian calendar is observed, this would be a friendly festive-season wish over New Year.
4- Happy Hanukkah!
Счастливой Хануки! Schastlivoy Khanuki!
Hanukkah is the beautiful Hebrew festival over November or December each year. It is also called the ‘Festival of Lights’ and is celebrated to commemorate the Jewish freedom of religion.
5- Have a great winter vacation!
Весёлых зимних каникул! Vesolykh zimnikh kanikul!
This is a good phrase to keep handy if someone doesn’t observe any religious festival over the Christmas holidays! However, this will only be applicable in the Northern hemisphere, where it is winter over Christmas.
6- See you next year!
Увидимся в новом году!
Uvidimsya v novom godu!
Going away on holiday over Christmas season, or saying goodbye to someone about to leave on vacation? This would be a good way to say goodbye to your friends and family.
7- Warm wishes!
тёплые пожелания! toplyye pozhelaniya!
An informal, friendly phrase to write in Russian Christmas cards, especially for secular friends who prefer to observe Christmas celebrations without the religious symbolism. It conveys the warmth of friendship and friendly wishes associated with this time of year.
After saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in Russian, this would be a good phrase with which to wish Christmas holiday-goers well! It is also good to use for secular friends who don’t celebrate Christmas but take a holiday at this time of the year.
10- Best wishes for the New Year!
Всего самого лучшего в Новом году! Vsevo samava luchsheva v Novam gadu!
This is another way of wishing someone well in the New Year if they observe a Gregorian calendar. New Year’s day would then fall on January 1st.
3. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary
Christmas is associated with many traditions and religious symbols in multiple countries across the world. It originated centuries ago in the West with the birth of Christianity, and the celebrations are often embedded with rich cultural significance. So, by now you know how to say Merry Christmas in Russian! Next, learn pertinent vocabulary and phrases pertaining to Christmas, as well as how to pronounce them correctly. At RussianPod101, we make sure you sound like a native speaker!
1- Christmas
Рождество Rozhdestvo
This is the Russian word for ‘Christmas’. Most happy Christmas wishes in Russian will include this word!
2- Snow
снеговик snegovik
In most Northern-hemisphere countries, Christmas is synonymous with snow, and for Christmas, the snowman is often dressed as Santa Claus.
3- Snowflake
снежинка snezhynka
Snowflakes collectively make up snow. A single snowflake is small, white, light like a feather and icy cold! When put under a microscope, the snowflake reveals itself to have the most beautiful, symmetrical patterns. These patterns have become popular Christmas decorations, especially in Western countries.
4- Snowman
снеговик snegovik
As you guessed - a snowman is only possible to build if it is snowing! What a fun way to spend Christmas day outside.
5- Turkey
индейка indeyka
Roast turkey is the traditional main dish on thousands of lunch tables on Christmas day, mainly in Western countries. What is your favorite Christmas dish?
6- Wreath
гирлянда girlyanda
Another traditional Western decoration for Christmas, the wreath is an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring. Many families like to hang a Christmas wreath outside on their houses’ front doors.
7- Reindeer
северный олень severnyy olen’
Reindeer are the animals commonly fabled to pull Santa Claus’ sled across the sky! Western Christmas folklore tells of Father Christmas or Santa Claus doing the rounds with his sled, carrying Christmas presents for children, and dropping them into houses through the chimney. But who is Santa Claus?
8- Santa Claus
Санта Клаус Santa Klaus
Santa Claus is a legendary and jolly figure originating in the Western Christian culture. He is known by many names, but is traditionally depicted as a rotund man wearing a red costume with a pointy hat, and sporting a long, snow-white beard!
9- Elf
эльф el’f
An elf is a supernatural creature of folklore with pointy ears, a dainty, humanoid body and a capricious nature. Elves are said to help Santa Claus distribute presents to children over Christmas!
10- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
оленёнок Рудольф olenyonok Rudol’f
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is a Christmas song based on an American children’s story book with the same name. Rudolph is one of Santa’s reindeer. The song became more famous than the book, and can still be heard playing in many shopping malls over Christmas time across the globe!
11- North Pole
Северный полюс Severnyy polyus
The cold North Pole is where Santa Claus is reputed to live with his reindeer!
12- Sled
санки sanki
A sled is a non-motorised land vehicle used to travel over snow in countries where it snows a lot, and is usually pulled by animals such as horses, dogs or reindeer. This one obviously refers to Santa’s sled! Another word for sled is sleigh or sledge.
13- Present
подарок podarok
Gift or present giving is synonymous with Christmas Eve and the greatest source of joy for children over this festive time! This tradition signifies that Christ’s birth was a gift to mankind, but not all people who hand out presents over Christmas observe the religious meaning.
14- Bell
колокол kolokol
On Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, many religious celebrants enjoy going to church for a special sermon and Christmas rituals. The start of the sermon is often announced with bells or a bell, if the church has one. For this reason, the sound of ringing bells is often associated with Christmas Day.
15- Chimney
труба truba
The chimney is the entrance Santa Claus uses to deliver children’s presents on Christmas Day, according to folklore! Wonder how the chubby man and his elves stay clean…?!
16- Fireplace
камин kamin
In most countries where it snows, Christmas is synonymous with a fire or burning embers in houses’ fireplaces. Families huddle around its warmth while opening Christmas presents. Also, this is where Santa Claus is reputed to pop out after his journey down the chimney!
17- Christmas Day
Рождество Христово Razhdestvo Khristova
This is the official day of commemorative celebration of Christ’s birth, and falls each year on December 25.
18- Decoration
украшение ukrasheniye
Decorations are the colourful trinkets and posters that make their appearance in shops and homes during the Christmas holiday season in many countries! They give the places a celebratory atmosphere in anticipation of the big Christmas celebration. Typical Christmas decorations include colorful photographs and posters, strings of lights, figurines of Santa Claus and the nativity scene, poinsettia flowers, snowflakes and many more.
19- Stocking
чулок chulok
According to legend, Santa Claus places children’s presents in a red stocking hanging over the fireplace. This has also become a popular decoration, signifying Christmas.
20- Holly
падуб padub
Holly is a shrub native to the UK, and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. It is characterised by glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries. Ironically, its significance for Christmas relates to Christ’s crucifixion and suffering rather than his birth. However, the leaves’ distinctive shape and image have become popular Christmas decorations.
21- Gingerbread house
пряничный домик pryanichnyy domik
According to legend, the gingerbread house synonymous with Christmas is related to Christ’s birth place, Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally means ‘House of Bread’. Over centuries, it has become a popular treat over Christmas time in many non-religious households as well.
22- Candy cane
леденец ledenets
According to folklore, Christmas candy canes made their appearance first in Germany in the 16th century. A choir master gave children the candy canes to suck on in church in order to keep them quiet during the Christmas sermon! Apparently, the candy is shaped like a cane in remembrance of the shepherds who were the first to visit the baby Jesus. Today, like gingerbread houses, they are still a popular sweet over the festive season!
23- Mistletoe
омела omela
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on certain trees. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the mistletoe has magical powers, and could protect a household from evil if hung above a door during December. The belief didn’t last but the habit did, and the mistletoe is another popular Christmas decoration!
4. Twelve Days of Christmas
Wow, you’re doing extremely well! You know how to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Russian, and you learned pertinent vocabulary too! The Twelve Days of Christmas is not very well known in modern times, so, you’re on your way to becoming an expert in Christmas traditions and rituals. Well done!
The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a traditional festive period of 12 days dedicated to celebrate the nativity of Christ. Christmas Day is, for many who observe Twelvetide, the first day of this period.
‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is also a popular Christmas song about a series of gifts given on each day of Twelvetide. According to experts, these gifts were created as a coded reference to important symbols in the Christian church. Here is a list of those gifts mentioned in the song! Do you recognise them?
5. Top 10 Christmas Characters in American Culture
This is fantastic, you know how to explain almost everything about Christmas in Russian! However, do you know the most popular Christmas characters in American culture? Your knowledge will not be complete without this list.
6. RussianPod101 Is One Of The Best Online Language Schools Available!
We don’t just say this - we can prove it! Geared to your personal needs and goals, we have several learning paths from which to choose. From Russian for Absolute Beginners to Advanced Russian, lessons are designed to meet you where you are, and increase your language abilities in fun, easy and interactive lessons! Mastering a new language has never been this easy or enjoyable.
We have over a decade of experience and research behind us, and it shows! With thousands of audio and video lessons, detailed PDF lessons and notes, as well as friendly, knowledgeable hosts, RussianPod101 is simply unbeatable when it comes to learning correct Russian. Plenty of tools and resources are available when you study with us. New lessons are added every week so material remains fresh and relevant. You also have the option to upgrade and enjoy even more personalised guidance and services. This is a sure way to fast-track your learning!
So, this Christmas, why don’t you give yourself a present and enroll in RussianPod101? Or give an enrollment as a present to a loved one. It will be a gift with benefits for a whole lifetime, not just over Christmas!
In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as follows: it is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Giving a sincere, thankful response to someone’s actions or words is often the ‘glue’ that keeps relationships together. This is true in most societies! Doing so in a foreign country also shows your respect and appreciation for the culture. Words have great power - use these ones sincerely and often!
The magical words that can bring a smile to any face. For one day, truly mean it whenever you say these words, and see how this lifts your spirit too!
2- That’s very kind of you.
Это очень мило с Вашей стороны. Eta ochen’ mila s Vashey starany.
This phrase is appropriate when someone clearly goes out of their way to give good service, or to offer you a kindness.
3- Thanks for your kind words!
Спасибо за добрые слова! Spasiba za dobryye slava!
Someone paid you a compliment and made you feel good? That is kind of him/her, so express your gratitude!
4- Thank you for coming today.
Спасибо за то, что пришли сегодня. Spasiba za to, shto prishli sevodnya.
This welcoming phrase should be part of your arsenal if you’re conducting more formal meetings with Russian speakers. If you’re hosting a party, this is also a good phrase when you greet your Russian guests!
5- Thank you for your consideration.
Спасибо, что уделили внимание. Spasiba, shto udelili vnimaniye.
This is a more formal, almost solemn way to thank someone for their thoughtfulness and sensitivity towards you. It is also suitable to use when a native speaker has to consider something you submit, like a job application, a project or a proposal. You are thanking them, in essence, for time and effort they are about to, or have spent on your submission.
6- Thanks a lot!
Большое спасибо! Bal’shoye spasiba!
This means the same as ‘Thank you’, but with energy and enthusiasm added! It means almost the same as ‘thank you so much’ in Russian. Use this in an informal setting with your Russian friends or teachers.
7- Teachers like you are not easy to find.
Такого учителя, как Вы, непросто найти. Takova uchitelya, kak Vy, neprosta nayti.
Some phrases are compliments, which express gratitude by inference. This is one of them. If you’re particularly impressed with your RussianPod101 teacher, this is an excellent phrase to memorize!
8- Thank you for spending time with us.
Спасибо, что уделили нам время. Spasiba, shto udelili nam vremya.
Any host at a gathering with Russian speakers, such as a meeting or a party, should have this under his/her belt! Use it when you’re saying goodbye or busy closing a meeting. It could also be another lovely way to thank your Russian language teacher for her time.
9- Thank you for being patient and helping me improve.
Благодарю Вас за терпение и за то, что помогаете мне становиться лучше. Blagadaryu Vas za terpeniye i za to, shto pamagayete mne stanavitsa luchshe.
This phrase is another sure way to melt any formal or informal Russian teacher’s heart! Teaching is not easy, and often a lot of patience is required from the teacher. Thank him/her for it! It’s also a good phrase to use if you work in Russia, and want to thank your trainer or employer. You will go a long way towards making yourself a popular employee - gratitude is the most attractive trait in any person!
10- You’re the best teacher ever!
Вы самый лучший учитель! Vy samyy luchshyy uchitel’!
This is also an enthusiastic way to thank your teacher by means of a compliment. It could just make their day!
11- Thank you for the gift.
Спасибо за подарок. Spasiba za padarak.
This is a good phrase to remember when you’re the lucky recipient of a gift. Show your respect and gratitude with these words.
12- I have learned so much thanks to you.
Я так много узнал благодаря Вам. Ya tak mnoga uznal blagadarya Vam.
What a wonderful compliment to give a good teacher! It means they have succeeded in their goal, and you’re thankful for it.
2. Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
Wherever your destination maybe, manners are a must! And in this respect, Russia is no different.
1- спасибо. Spasiba
In Russian “Thank you” is spasiba. Now in Russian there are other ways to express one’s gratitude. There are more formal and more casual ways to do this.
2- Большое спасибо. Bol’shoye spasibo
You can emphasize spasiba by adding bol’shoy which means “big”. Bol’shoyspasibo literally means “Big thank you” and is the equivalent of “Thank you very much” in English.
3- Благодарю Вас. Blagadaryu vas
For very special occasions when someone goes above and beyond the call of being kind, when someone is extremely generous, or for any other time you’re extremely grateful, we have the following phrase to express extreme gratitude: Blagadaryu vas. The first word blagadaryu means “(I am) thankful.” It is followed by the polite “you” which in Russian is vy but in this sentence we use vas. So in English it would be something like “I am grateful (thankful) to you”.
To reproduce the Russian consonant “r” in blagadaryu you should roll your “r”’s. The Russian “r” resembles the Italian or Spanish ones, but even if you don’t roll it properly you will be easily understood anyway.
Cultural Insights
Please do know that in Russian there are two ways of referring to people: formal and informal.
So let’s start first with the polite form. The polite equivalent of the English “you” is vy in Russian. This polite word contains a sound that does not exist in English and is transcribed by the letter “y” but please don’t worry; I will teach you how to produce this sound. Open your mouth as if you were preparing to pronounce the sound “a” in the word “able” and holding the same open position of your mouth try to reproduce the sound “ee” like in the word “if”. Doing it this way you will achieve the desired sound “y” which is present in vy. Please note the same letter “y” will be also used to show the short “ee” sound and after some consonants in order to soften them.
We use vy when we want to show respect to the other person or when the context requires formality. For instance, when meeting someone for the first time, at a shop, at work, with a professor, or with an older person. However, vy is not always required when you meet someone for the first time if the setting is casual, say at a party with people of your own age.
Younger people, especially, are using vy less and less.They often speak directly inty with each other and even their grandparents. So ty is the informal equivalent of “you”.The sound “y” here is the same as vy. We use ty in contexts where we know the person personally and the environment is casual. People of one’s own age, classmates, family, and friends are such people. At home, at school, friendly social settings are such contexts. Ty is the most common form of “you” that you will hear, so don’t feel nervous about using it.
Not many Russians know that the origin of the word spasiba came from two words, spasi which means “save” and Bog which means “God”. So the meaning of it is “May God keep you safe!” which was an old way of expressing gratitude. So surprise your Russian friends by asking them the origin of the word spasiba!
On the run to Russia? Wait! You can’t go without some basic language phrases under your belt! Especially if you’re heading to meet your prospective employer! Either in person or online, knowing how to say ‘Thank you’ in the Russian language will only improve their impression of you! RussianPod101 saves you time with this short lesson that nevertheless packs a punch. Learn to say ‘Thank you’ in Russian in no time!
3. Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases - Thank You
Perhaps you think it’s unimportant that you don’t know what ‘Thank you’ is in Russian, or that it’s too difficult a language to learn. Yet, as a traveler or visitor, you will be surprised at how far you can go using a little bit of Russian in Russia!
At RussianPod101, we offer you a few ways of saying ‘Thank you’ in Russian that you have no excuse not knowing, as they’re so simple and easy to learn. The lesson is geared to aid your ‘survival’ in formal and informal situations in Russia, so don’t wait! You will never have to google ‘How do you say thanks in Russian’ again…!
4. ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
For the global traveler in a hurry, here are 31 ways to say ‘Thank you’! These are the first words you need to learn in any foreign language - it is sure to smooth your way with native speakers by showing your gratitude for services rendered, and your respect for their culture! Learn and know how to correctly say ‘Thank you’ in 31 different languages in this short video.
5. Why would RussianPod101 be the perfect choice to learn Russian?
However, you need not stop at ‘Thank you’ in Russian - why not learn to speak the language?! You have absolutely nothing to lose. Research has shown that learning a new language increases intelligence and combats brain-aging. Also, the ability to communicate with native speakers in their own language is an instant way to make friends and win respect! Or imagine you know how to write ‘Thank you’ to that special Russian friend after a date…he/she will be so impressed!
RussianPod101 Has Special Lessons, Tools and Resources to Teach You How to Say Thank You and Other Key Phrases
With more than a decade of experience behind us, we have taught thousands of satisfied users to speak foreign languages. How do we do this? First, we take the pain out of learning! At RussianPod101, students are assisted as they master vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation through state-of-the-art and fun online learning methods. A library replete with learning resources allows for you to learn at your own pace and in your own space! Resources include thousands of video and audio recordings, downloadable PDF lessons and plenty of learning apps for your mobile devices. Each month, we add benefits with FREE bonuses and gifts to improve your experience.
We accommodate all levels and types of learners, from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, and RussianPod101 is free for anyone to sign up. However, you can choose to fast track your fluency with lesson customization and increased interactive learning and practicing. Upgrade to Premium, or Premium PLUS to enhance your experience and greatly expedite your learning. With this type of assistance, and pleasurable effort on your part, you will speak Russian in a very short period of time!
Best of all is that you’re never alone! We believe that practice is the holy grail of learning any new language, and we gear our courses to ensure lots of it. Enroll with us, and you gain immediate access to our lively forum where we meet and greet, and discuss your burning questions. Our certified teachers are friendly and helpful, and you are very likely to practice your first ‘Thanks!’ in Russian on him/her, AND mean it! Hurry up, and sign up now - you will thank us for it.
Learn 4 tools and techniques to stop translating in your head and start thinking in Russian
Going through Russian lessons is enough to get by and learn the basics of Russian, but to truly become fluent you need to be able to think in Russian. This will allow you to have conversations with ease, read smoothly, and comprehensively understand natives. To do this, you need to go beyond just completing daily or weekly lessons.
We naturally translate in our heads because it’s viewed as the easiest way to learn the definitions needed when learning a language. This way of learning can actually hinder your skills and fluency later on. If your brain has to make neural connections between the word you’re learning, what it means in your native tongue, and the physical object the connection will not be nearly as strong. When you bypass the original translation between Russian and your native language then there is a more basic and strong connection between just the Russian vocabulary word and the tangible object.
In this blog post, you will learn the 4 important techniques to easily and naturally begin to speculate about the daily occurrences in your life. The best part is all of these techniques are supported and can be achieved through RussianPod101.com.
By surrounding yourself with Russian constantly you will completely immerse yourself in the language. Without realizing it you’ll be learning pronunciation, sentence structures, grammar, and new vocabulary. You can play music in the background while you’re cooking or have a Russian radio station on while you study. Immersion is a key factor with this learning process because it is one of the easiest things to do, but very effective. Even if you are not giving the program your full attention you will be learning.
One great feature of RussianPod101.com is the endless podcasts that are available to you. You can even download and listen to them on the go. These podcasts are interesting and are perfect for the intention of immersion, they are easy to listen to as background noise and are interesting enough to give your full attention. Many of them contain stories that you follow as you go through the lessons which push you to keep going.
2. Learn through observation
Learning through observation is the most natural way to learn. Observation is how we all learned our native languages as infants and it’s a wonder why we stop learning this way. If you have patience and learn through observation then Russian words will have their own meanings rather than meanings in reference to your native language. Ideally, you should skip the bilingual dictionary and just buy a dictionary in Russian.
RussianPod101.com also offers the materials to learn this way. We have numerous video lessons which present situational usage of each word or phrase instead of just a direct translation. This holds true for many of our videos and how we teach Russian.
3. Speak out loud to yourself
Speaking to yourself in Russian not only gets you in the mindset of Russian, but also makes you listen to how you speak. It forces you to correct any errors with pronunciation and makes it easy to spot grammar mistakes. When you speak out loud talk about what you did that day and what you plan to do the next day. Your goal is to be the most comfortable speaking out loud and to easily create sentences. Once you feel comfortable talking to yourself start consciously thinking in your head about your daily activities and what is going on around you throughout the day.
With RussianPod101.com you start speaking right away, not only this, but they have you repeat words and conversations after a native Russian speaker. This makes your pronunciation very accurate! With this help, you are on the fast path to making clear and complex sentences and then actively thinking about your day.
4. Practice daily
If you don’t practice daily then your progress will be greatly slowed. Many people are tempted to take the 20-30 minutes they should be practicing a day and practice 120 in one day and skip the other days. This isn’t nearly as effective because everyday you practice you are reinforcing the skills and knowledge you have learned. If you practice all in one day you don’t retain the information because the brain can realistically only focus for 30 minutes at most. If you’re studying for 120 minutes on the same subject little of the information will be absorbed. Studying everyday allows you to review material that you went over previous days and absorb a small amount of information at a time.
It’s tough to find motivation to study everyday, but RussianPod101.com can help. It’s easy to stay motivated with RussianPod101.com because we give you a set learning path, with this path we show how much progress you’ve made. This makes you stick to your goals and keep going!
Conclusion
Following the steps and having patience is the hardest part to achieving your goals, it’s not easy learning a new language. You are essentially teaching your brain to categorize the world in a completely new way. Stick with it and you can do it just remember the 4 tools I taught you today! With them, conversations, reading, and understanding will become much easier. The most important thing to remember is to use the tools that RussianPod101.com provides and you will be on your way to being fluent!
Your Learning, Streamlined – The New Lesson Interface
Your learning is about to get a whole lot easier.
More than ever, learners are choosing mobile as the platform to study Russian. Mobile has always been a part of our DNA. We began our life on your iPod, and have remained by your side ever since.
In our 11th year, we’re returning to our roots as a way to learn Russian on-the-go. How? With a brand-new lesson interface just for you.
It’s built from the ground-up to be a great experience on your phone, tablet, and computer.
You don’t have to compromise anymore.
Take the whole lesson experience with you wherever you go.
Our lessons are the heart of our learning system and now they’re the heart of the interface as well. Just tap the big play button to start learning right away.
(example taken from japanesepod101.com)
As you scroll through the lesson contents, the player sticks with you at the bottom of your screen.
Pause, rewind or adjust your speed and volume without losing your place.
(example taken from japanesepod101.com)
Navigation is also just a tap away.
Quickly jump to the dialogue, vocabulary, or lesson notes with our new lesson navigation bar. Available at the top of your screen wherever you are.
(example taken from japanesepod101.com)
And for the first time ever, you don’t need to download a PDF or jump between tabs to read the lesson notes and transcript. Read it all on your mobile browser as you listen.
(example taken from japanesepod101.com)
There are many more small improvements but the end result is this: a drastically improved lesson experience on mobile and desktop.
Spend less time squinting at your screen and more time reaching your Russian goals.
The new lesson interface will launch in beta this month.
We can’t wait to hear what you think. Keep on studying!
Sneak peek! And if you take advantage of our upcoming 25% OFF All Access Pass Sale, you secure full access to this new update! You unlock our complete Russian learning program – ALL Audio/Video Courses from Beginner to Advanced, Premium Study Tools, Bonus Apps and much more!
P.S. Get 25% OFF ANY Plan! Master Russian with YOUR All-Access Pass!
Want to learn Russian fast with an ALL-ACCESS PASS to our entire learning system?Get 25% OFF Basic, Premium and Premium PLUSand unlock ALL audio/video lessons, study tools and exclusive apps that you’ll ever need. And with Premium PLUS, you get your own teacher! Just $3 a month & up to $137 in savings. Ends March 31st, 2017.
Have you ever returned to RussianPod101 lessons you’ve completed?
Accessing a lesson once is enough to learn more Russian. But to master what you’ve learned, to understand Russian the second you hear it, to read with just a quick glance, and to speak smoothly, without thinking… you need to review.
In this blog post, you’ll learn the 5 review tactics and learning tools that will truly sharpen your Russian (all of which I’ve been able to resources for on RussianPod101.com).
One of the best ways to learn Russian (or any language) is to listen to native speakers over and over again until you understand what they are saying. By listening closely and often, you start to pick up the rhythm of a language and pronunciation from a native speaker. It’s not surprising, then, that Innovative Language offers a great line-by-line feature that lets you listen (and read along!) as many times as you’d like. I really recommend taking advantage of this feature— aside from moving to Russia, it is the best way to immerse yourself in the language.
2. Use a voice-recording tool to perfect pronunciation.
No one likes to hear themselves recorded, but it is a great way to perfect your pronunciation! Record yourself and compare against a fluent speaker. If you sound different, repeat after the fluent speaker until your pronunciation matches. Innovative Language has a great voice-recording feature that makes recording super easy. Never hesitate or be shy about your pronunciation again.
3. Master recorded conversations.
Another excellent way to review your Russian is to record conversations and go over them again and again until you have the entire conversation mastered and can repeat it line by line. Now, it might be kind of awkward trying to explain to someone why you are recording them speak so it is fortunate that Innovative Language has dialogues available for download right off of their website. I found these also come with transcripts of the entire conversation, which is great if you don’t want to spend tons of time translating the conversation yourself.
4. Use mobile devices to reinforce previously learned conversations.
It might sound redundant at this point, but constant review is the best, and only, way to perfect Russian. In that spirit, I strongly recommend downloading the recorded dialogue to your mobile device and incorporating it into your music playlist. You’ll be amazed how effectively quick reviews throughout a day can reinforce what you’ve learned.
The guaranteed accurate transcript of the recorded dialogues is one of the most useful features Innovative Language offers. You can read along with a fluent speaker to really master pronunciation and natural conversation. You should start slow at first, then slowly increase the speed with each pass through. Every time you read through, your pronunciation will become more intuitive and your ability to understand fluent speakers will greatly increase.
Imagine a child who just learned how to read. At first, they slowly struggle through a sentence, but on the second try, they know what the most of the words sound like and so they read a bit faster and easier and on the third try, they read that sentence at normal, native speed.
Using these five simple review techniques the most challenging parts of learning Russian will become your areas of comfort. Conversations will no longer be excruciating and embarrassing, but rather offer a chance to show off your new skills and communicate with someone from a different culture in their natural language. You will be able to casually listen to Russian and understand everything. Reading, too, will become natural and enjoyable.
Learning any language takes time and dedication. With the right focus, however, you can ensure the maximum impact of your efforts. Consistently listening to fluent speakers, recording your own voice and comparing it against fluent speakers, mastering conversations, listening to them on go, and following along with written transcripts will put you on the path to becoming fluent in Russian. Learn from the mistakes that so many have made, myself included, don’t let what you’ve already learned slip away.
You need exposure to native Russian conversation from day 1. You need a native Russian speaker to explain it all – the words, the grammar, and cultural nuances.
And you get all of that in every single RussianPod101 lesson.
In fact, we’re starting up a brand new season just in time for the New Year!
Starting January 2nd, 2017, we’ll be publishing brand new seasons of Audio and Video Lessons to get you mastering Russian the fast, fun and easy way! Want to know what you can expect?
Here’s RussianPod101’s Lesson Schedule:
Monday:
- Beginner - Business Russian for Beginners
Tuesday:
- Video Series - Listening Comprehension
- Video Series - Russian Words of the Week
Thursday:
- Throwback Thursday Lessons (Get a free random lesson from the past sent directly to your e-mail inbox.)
Remember, RussianPod101’s newest lessons are free for the first three weeks! You have three weeks worth of lessons at any given time. Oh, and the first 3 lessons of every series are free too!
Check out the newest RussianPod101 lessons for free!
