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Russian Lesson 3
Третий Урок

Russian Course
Chapters 1 2                  
Lessons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

 

Russian Lesson 3 has two interesting dialogues; the final part of Russian Alphabets; Dictionary forms of words; some introduction to basic Russian Grammar - no articles in Russian, informal vs. formal forms of address, introduction to gender; popular Russian first names; followed by homework exercises and answers.

Contents on this lesson:

Диалоги — Dialogues

Словарь — Russian Vocabulary

The Russian Alphabet — Part II

Грамматика — Russian Grammar

Домашнее Задание — Homework

Ответы — Answers

Диалоги — Dialogues

Диалог A: Leave me alone — Отстаньте от меня

Click the play button to playback the recording. You can also download the recording to your computer by clicking on the downward triangle and choose Save As Source...

Speaker Line Russian Phrase English Translation
  1 В баре
[v ba re]		 In a bar
Лена 2 Здравствуйте. Меня зовут Лена. А как вас зовут?
[Zdrastvuete. Menya zovut Lena. A kak vas zovut?]		 Hello. My name is Lena. What's your name?
Серёжа 3 Отстаньте от меня.
[Otstante ot menya]		 Leave me alone. (Лена leaves)
Петя 4 Кто это? Она довольно красивая девушка.
[Kto eto? Ana davolna krasivaya devushka.]		 (Walks up to Серёжа) Who's that? She's a pretty good looking young woman.
Петя 5 Как её зовут?
[Kak yeyo zovut?]		 What's her name?
Серёжа 6 Красивая? Ты шутишь!
[Krasivaya? Ti shutish!?]		 Good looking? Are you joking!?

 

Диалог Б: Отвяжись! — Get lost!

Speaker Line Russian Phrase English Translation
    В баре In a bar
Боря 7 Здравствуйте. Меня зовут Боря. А как вас зовут?
[zdrastvuyte. Menya zovut Borya. A kak vas zovut?]		 Hello. My name is Borya. What's your name?
Лара 8 Отвяжись!
[Otvyazhis]		 Get lost! (Боря leaves)
Рита 9 Кто это? Он довольно крпсивый парень.
[Kto eto? Ona dovolno krasiviy paren]		 (Walks up to Лара) Who's that? He's a pretty good looking guy.
  10 Как его зовут?
[Kak yeyo zovut?]		 What's his name?
Лара 11 Красивый? Ты шутишь!?
[Krasiviy? Ti shutish?]		 Good looking? Are you joking?

 

Словарь - Russian Vocabulary
Line Russian Vocabulary Transliteration Translation Notes
1 в баре v bare in a bar
2 зврасвтвуйте zdrastvuete (1st в is silent) Hello (formal)
2 меня зовут menya zavut My name is
(lit. they call me)
2 как вас зовут? (formal) kak vas zovut? What's your name?
(lit. how do they call you?)
2 как тебя зовут? (informal) kak tebya zabut? "
3 отстаньте от меня! otstante ot menya Leave me alone
(lit. stand away from me)
4 кто это? kto eta? Who's this /that?
4 она ana she
5 довольно davolna quite, rather pretty
5 красивая krasivaya attractive; good-looking (faminine)
5 девушка devushka girl; young woman
5 как её зовут? kak yeyo zovut? what's her name?
(Lit. how do they call her?)
6 ты шутишь? ti shutish? are you joking? (informal)
8 отвяжись! otvyazhis get lost! (this is very rude)
9 он on he
10 красивый! krasiviy attractive; good-looking (masculine)
10 парень paren guy
10 как его зовут? kak yeyo zobut (in this word 'г' is pronounced as 'v') What is his name?
(lit. how do they call him?)
 

The Russian Alphabet - Part II

3A1. Group 4: The rest of the letters (all look different than English)

Russian Letter Approximate Sound
Ф/ф f as in fan
Ц/ц ts as in its (also: zz as in pizza)
Ч/ч ch as in cheap (but with the tongue higher and more forward. Try to smile when pronouncing ч
Ш/ш sh as in shoot (but farther back in the mouth. Imitate the sound of a cappuccino maker) - try to stick out your chin as if daring someone to hit you
Щ/щ also sh as in fresh sherbet (this consonant is longer and higher in the mouth than ш). Try to smile when pronouncing щ. (ш vs щ will be contrasted in the next lesson)
ъ
(твёрдый знак)		 "Hard sign" (not a separate sound. See Lesson 5 for more examples)
Ы/ы the 'ugly' vowel sound: The closest English sound is the i in bit. Try to pronounce [u] as in luntic, but keep your lips unrounded. Best advice: Listen closely to the recording!
ь
(мягкий знак)		 "Soft sign" (not a separate sound. See Lesson 5 for more examples)
Э/э e as in bet (this letter does not normally appear in native Russian words)
Ю/ю 1. u as in tune;
2. yu as in Yuma (you will learn how to predict this later)
Я/я 1. a as in father;
2. ya as in yacht

 

Ф/ф
телефон (telephone; telephone number), фабрика (factory), факел (torch), физика (physics), фотограф (photographer), фунт (pound), Флорида (Florida; note stress can be either syllable), Франфурт (Frankfurt), Флобер (Flaubert), Франклин (Franklin)
Ц/ц
цена (price), центр (center), циник (cynic), цитата (quote), Троцкий (icepick in head), цинк (zinc), цвет (color), цемент (cement), цирк (circus), процесс (process; trial)
Ч/ч
Чикаго (Chicago), чёрт (devil; damn it!), дача (summer house; dacha), час (hour), чай (tea), чёлн (canoe), чек (receipt), черепаха (turtle), Чили (Chile), чудо (miracle)
Ш/ш
шофёр (chaufer, driver), Шанхай (Shanghai), Шекспир (Shakespear), шок (shock), шеф (boss), шкаф (closet), школа (school), шанс (chance), шарф (scarf), шайба (puck; also used to encourage sports team - Go Go!)
Щ/щ
щи (cabbage soup), щека (cheek), щука (pike, a kind of fish), щётка (brush), щёлк (snapping sond), щит (shield), щекотно (ticklish), ещё (still, yet), прощу (I forgive)
Ы/ы (Listen carefully to this "ugly" vower sound)
ты (you), мы (we), вы (you), белый (white), дым (smoke), дыра (hole), лысый (bald), лыжа (ski), пытка (torture), мыло (soap), рыба (fish), открыл (he opened), сыр (cheese)
Э/э (this letter does not normally appear in native Russian words)
элемент (element), эхо (echo), эмигрант (emigrant), экзамен (test), эксперт (expert), электричество (electricity), экономика (economics), экран (movie screen), Эдисон (Eddison), Эдмонтон (Edminton), хэппи энд (happy ending)
Ю/ю
сюжет (subject, plot), тюрбан (turban), нюх (sense of smell), нюанс (naunce), мюзикл (musical), рюкзак (backpack), рюмка (shot glass), люди (people), бюро (bureau), люблю (I love),
Юпитер (Jupiter), мою (my), юмор (humour), юбилей (anniversary), юрист (lawyer), юрский (Jurrasic)
Я/я
рядом (nearby, beside), тяга (pulling), няня (nanny), тётя (auntie), дядя (uncle), время (time), имя (name), деревня (village)
янки (Yankee), армия (army), яблоко (apple), ясно (clear), Англия (England), биология (biology), моя (my), Россия (Russia)

Russian Grammar — Русская Грамматика

3Б. The Russian Dictionary Form of Words

в баре (1)

If you look in a Russian dictionary you won't find the word баре. Instead you'll find бар, which is the dictionary form. The ending changes depending on the function the word performs in the sentence. In this case the ending -е indicates location, after the preposition в in. For now just memorise в баре. You will probably need at least a whole year to study the various forms nouns (adjectives and pronouns) take depending on their function a sentence.

*note that an electronic dictionaries, including online dictionaries, are far superior in this respect as you can search any word without knowing its root word, as compared to printed Russian dictionaries.

3В. No Articles (a, an, the) in Russian

The two Russian words в баре are translated by three English words in a bar. In a different context, it could very well mean in the bar. Russian does not have grammatical articles (a, an, the) which is why you may hear a Russian say 'where is car?' and other assorted phrases lacking articles. Actually learning to use articles is very difficult, so don't make fun of foreigners.

3Г. Informal vs. Formal Forms of Address (Continued)

здравствуй vs. здравствуйте (2)

In Lesson 1 the friends greet each other with привет hi, and in Lesson 2 with здравствуй, which is translated as hi. In this lesson's dialogues, Боря and Лена say здравствуйте hello to (not very sympathetic) strangers. Russian, like many other European languages (French, Spanish, Italian, German, Czech, Polish, etc.) distinguishes between Informal and Formal forms of address.

Use informal forms of address (привет, здравствуй) when speaking to friends, classmates, relatives, animals, God, and children (roughly) under the age of 13-14 (puberty). For everyone else (professors, unfamiliar persons over the age of 13-14) use formal forms of address (здравствуйте). Using the wrong form (especially the informal with a professor or other adult) can be a real faux pas (a social blunder). You'll see more examples in Lesson 5.

In fact, there is quite a large variation among Russians in their choice of informal vs. formal forms. Some adults address (even long time) friends with formal (especially if the relationship is professional), while other people use the informal with complete strangers (drunks especially like to do this). When Лара tells Боря to get lost, she uses the informal form in order to really 'diss' him.

3Д. Stating / Asking Names

Муня зовут; Как вас зовут? (2, 7)

Here we see another example of a 'fixed expression', and another example of how important it is not to translate phrases word for word. Literally, these two phrases break down as follows:

Меня / Её / Его зовут Саша My / Her / His name is Sasha
Me / Her / Him (they) call Sasha  
Как вас / тебя / её / его зовут? What's your / her / his name?
How you (formal /informal) /her / him (they) call?  

 

If you've studied Spanish or French or German or Italian (or just about any other language) you're probably already aware that this very common statement /question often cannot be translated literally into English.

When asking your classmates their names (which you should start practising immediately) use the informal form: Как тебя зовут?

Remember, the normal word for what is что, which you saw previously. Is is only in this fixed expression (and a few othes) that what is translated as как.

Form questions and give answers

Examples

you (informal) Миша Как тебя зовут? Меня зовут Миша.
her / Вера Как её зовут? Её зовут Вера.
  1. you (formal) / Наташа
  2. him / Юра
  3. you (informal) / Слава
  4. her / Люба
Verbal answers (03-6-1.mp3)

Written answers

Как вас зовут? Меня зовут Наташа.

Как его зовут? Его зовут Юра.

Как тебя зовут? Меня зовут Слава

Как её зовут? Её зовут Люба.

3Е. Grammatical Gender (introduction)

Красивая девушка (4) vs. красивый парень (9)

As in languages such as French and German, nouns in Russian are marked with gender - Masculine, Feminine or Neuter. You can almost always tell the gender of a noun just by looking at the ending:

  Masculine Feminine Neuter
ends in consonant -a -o
examples брат, кот, нахал сестра, собака, накалка окно (window), пиво (beer)

Nouns that end in -ь (soft sign) are either Masculine or Feminine. You can't always predict, but you'll learn some strategies to predict them in most circumstances later.

The endings of adjectives also change, depending on the gender of the noun (but note that unlike the adjective, the adverb довольно remains the same in the following phrases):

 

Frequently Asked Question about Russian Dictionary

If adjectives have more than one form, do all forms appear in the dictionary?

Answer
No, the dictionary uses the Masculine as its dictionary form. So the adjective above appears in the dictionary as красивый.

3Ё. Russian First Names

Pick up a Russian first name for yourself and start introducing yourself using the dimunitive form of your chosen name. Go ahead, it'll be fun...

Male Names
 Female Names
Full Name Common Dimunitives Approximate Meaning Full Name Common Dimunitives Approximate Meaning
Александр Саша, Шура defending men Александра Саша, Шура defending men
Алексей Алёша, Лёша defender Алина Лина white
Анатолий Толя east Алла Аля sublime
Андрей Андрюша brave Анастасия Настя resurection
Антон Антоша, Тоша flower (unattested) Анна Аня favor; grace
Борис Боря warrior Антонина Тоня flower (unattested)
Валентин Валя strong; healthy Ася - doctor
Валерий Валера strong; healthy Вера - faith
Василий Вася ruler Вероника Вика, Ника bring victory
Виктор Витя victor Валентина Валя strong; healthy
Владимир Володя, Вова rule with greatness Варвара Варя foreign
Владислав Слава rule with glory Виктория Вика victor
Всеволод Сева ruler of all Галина Галя calm
Вячеслав Слава great glory Дарья Даша possess good
Геннадий Гена noble Евгения Женя noble
Георгий Жора, Гоша farmer Екатерина Катя far off (unattested)
Григорий Гриша keep vigil Елена Лена light; torch
Даннил Даня God is my judge Елизавета Лиза oath of God
Дмитрий Дима, Митя plenty from the land Жанна - Jehovah is gracious
Евгений Женя noble Зинаида Зина of Zeus
Иван Ваня Jehove is gracious Зоя - life
Илья Илюша God is Jehova Инесса Инна -
Константин Костя constant Ирина Ира peace
Лев Лёва lion Кира - ruler; queen
Леонид Лёня appearance of a lion Ксения Ксюша hospitable
Михаил Миша who is like God? Лариса Лара sea gull (unattested)
Никита - victor Лидия Лида Lydia (rigion in Asia Minor)
Николай Коля victor Лилия Лиля lily
Павел Паша small; humble Любовь Люба love
Пётр Петя rock Людмила Люда favor of the people
Родион Родя rose Маргарита Рита pearl
Роман Рома Roman Марина - marine
Сергей Серёжа servant (unattested) Мария Маша bitter (unattested)
Степан Стёпа crown Марта - mistress of the house
Станислав Слава become gracious Надежда Надя hope
Фёдор Федя gift of God Наталия Наташа native
Юрий Юра farmer Нина - -
Яков Яша hold the heel Оксана - Ukrainian form of Ксения - hospitable
      Ольга Оля prosperous; happy
      Полина Поля Apollo
      Раиса Рая easy; relaxed
      Светлана Света light; bright
      Софья Соня wise
      Тамара Тома date palm tree
      Татьяна Таня -
      Юлия Юля downy-bearded (unattested)
 

Homework — Russian Listening Exercises

Lesson 3 - Exercise 1 (03-10-HW1.mp3) Circle the word you hear:

1 Фолнея Голнер Фулкнер Фолкрер
2 сензура цензура вензура цензуру
3 снайка чайка чака чайник
4 шанс снанс шенс шанц
5 гирка дерка дырка дурку
6 карандаш карендим харандащ карандош
7 ридом рядом рюдом пядом
8 Миксон Нексон Кликсон Никсон
9 бюдзет быдзет бюджет бюджат
10 футбол фоотбол футбол футбал
11 Рутин Путин Путин Рутин
12 чимия хемия симия химия
13 Амирака Омерика Америка Россия
14 щука сука щока щека
15 здраствойте здраствайте сдруствуйте здравствуйте

Check your answers here

Lesson 3 - Exercise 2 (03-10-HW2.mp3) List the names in the order they are read - just write the number next to the name. Not all names will be read.

  1. Ленин
  2. Толстой
  3. Шостакович
  4. Пастернак
  5. Горбачёв
  6. Ельцин
  7. Римский-Корсаков
  8. Пушкин
  9. Гагарин
  10. Набоков
  11. Каспаров
  12. Троцкий
  13. Солженицын
  14. Чехов
  15. Брежнев
  16. Барышников
  17. Путин
  18. Чайковский
  19. Достоевский
  20. Сталин

Check your answers here

Lesson 3 - Homework Exercise 3 Give the English equivalent

саксофон   Моцарт  
принтер   банан  
грейпфрут   цемент  
школа   рэп-музыка  
эксперт   бюджет  
Англия   солдат  
телевизор   ресторан  

Check your answers here

Lesson 3 - Homework Exercise 4 Indicate how you would address the following people:

  привет; здравствуй здравствуйте
your best friend    
your Russian teacher    
a clerk at the post office    
your friend's younger brother    
a cop who stopped you for speeding    
your classmates    
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin    

Check your answers here

 

Answers to Russian Homework

Exercise 1

  1. Фулкнер
  2. цензура - censorship
  3. чайка - seagull; Chaika (a Soviet-made limosine)
  4. шанс - chance
  5. дырка - hole
  6. карандаш - pencil
  7. рядом - nearby; close
  8. Никсон - Nixon
  9. бюджет - budget
  10. футбол - football
  11. Путин - Putin
  12. химия - chemistry
  13. Америка - America
  14. щука - pike (a kind of fish)
  15. здравствуйте - hello (formal)

Exercise 2

  1. Набоков
  2. Барышников
  3. Шостакович
  4. Чайковский
  5. Толстой
  6. Солженицын
  7. Ленин
  8. Троцкий
  9. Гагарин
  10. Сталин

Exercise 3

саксофон saxophone Моцарт Mozart
принтер printer банан banana
грейпфрут grapefruit цемент cement
школа school рэп-музыка rap music
эксперт expert бюджет budget
Англия England солдат soldier
телевизор television ресторан restaurant

Exercise 4

  привет; здравствуй здравствуйте
your best friend •  
your Russian teacher   •
a clerk at the post office   •
your friend's younger brother •  
a cop who stopped you for speeding   •
your classmates •  
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin   •

 

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