columnists

‘The Russian Tongue’

Sara BuzadzhiStuck for a polite way to refer to extra winter weight? Here’s how to soften the blow in Russian

May your God go with you

30/01/2012 20:12

From plunging into freezing waters to invoking the Lord’s name, religious expressions permeate everyday Russian speech

Come to me, blogger-logi!

16/01/2012 19:55

Putin’s ‘Jungle Book’ quip has gotten his critics scrapping for a fight. But how can you slip some Mr. Kipling into your Russian online banter?

Fur coats and boots for bumpkins

19/12/2011 20:09

In Russian winter wear, it pays to know your valenki from your dublyonki

Snow patrol

05/12/2011 20:31

Winter sports demand the right equipment – including the linguistic kind

Lost in transmission

21/11/2011 19:56

If you want to translate seemingly simple words, don’t just be accurate – be cautious

Moscow doesn’t believe in pathos

07/11/2011 20:12

Russian ‘false friends,’ like pafosny restaurants, don’t need pitying. Just avoid mixing them up with their English soundalikes

You do the (Russian) math

24/10/2011 20:08

Two times two was five in 1984, but talking about math needn't give you an anxiety attack

If I could talk to the animals

10/10/2011 20:42

From cute pets to strays in your dvor, talking animals in Russian needn’t drive you crackers

Blind chickens and one-eyed kings

26/09/2011 21:23

Talking about sight in Russian means using a host of colorful imagery

Going ‘past your ears’

12/09/2011 20:17

How to talk about deafness – literal and non-literal – in Russian

Hair today, Chavez tomorrow

29/08/2011 19:48

Russian hair styles, from Dima Bilan mullet to revolutionary chic, can be a tricky thing to ask for

What drives Russians round the bend

15/08/2011 20:05

If you’re talking toilets, make sure you know how to distinguish outhouse terrorists from men who leave the seat up

Bookworms and bestsellers

01/08/2011 19:44

Russians don’t just read the latest pulp fiction – they devour it

Baby talk and Russian gangsters

18/07/2011 20:01

Russian peek-a-boo can easily turn into street slang, so talking to kids is not all child’s play

Werewolves in epaulettes (and other bloodsuckers)

04/07/2011 20:18

In the world of Russian vampires, there are more types of vurdalaki that you can shake a stake at

Flights in dreams and reality

20/06/2011 21:12

Whether it’s 40 winks or a chance to daydream, Russian has plenty of evocative phrases to sleep on

Hey, teacher!

23/05/2011 20:44

From detsky sad to university, getting the Russian terminology right can avoid a visit to the principal’s office

Is there a doctorate in the house?

10/05/2011 20:39

Describing Russian academic qualifications can be a tricky business, so it’s good to know a professor from a specialist

Repairing the horses

25/04/2011 20:21

From Napoleon’s cavalry to evro-remont, home improvement is a pain. But the right phrases can help

Fighting over kopeks

11/04/2011 20:43

If the line at the supermarket turns ugly, or your son comes home with a black eye, it’s good to know a fight from an argument

Down ‘n’ dirty in the springtime

28/03/2011 19:59

It’s time to talk mess and household disorder, so here are some clean (and rude) Russian ways to get spring cleaning

How to lose friends and annoy people

14/03/2011 18:46

It’s tough getting Russians (and foreigners) to curtail those irritating habits that drive us up the wall – but here’s how to ask

Let’s talk about love

28/02/2011 18:18

In the season between Valentine’s and Women’s Day, there are lots of useful ways in Russian to meet (and leave) your lover

When sorry is the hardest word

14/02/2011 18:35

Expressions offering sympathy in Russian can range from the sincere to the philosophical

Minding your Russian Ps and Qs

31/01/2011 19:18

The etiquette of when and how to use pozhaluista can be tricky for students of Russian to master

Bombing your way around Moscow

17/01/2011 19:32

If you’re seeking or giving directions in a strange town, it pays to speak (or think like) a little old lady

Making merry with Father Frost

20/12/2010 17:42

Learn a few useful holiday phrases and maybe the old year won’t end like most Russian fairy tales

The big freeze

06/12/2010 17:15

From cold-hearted villains to frozen poets, knowing frosty terminology can bring you in from the cold

Talking Tolstoy

22/11/2010 19:17

From famous beginnings and new words to smocks and philosophy, the legendary writer has much to tell students of the Russian language

Artists set to follow writers with walk of their own

15/05/2012 16:43

Leave the office behind

14/05/2012 21:08

Onishchenko wary of Dutch vegetables

14/05/2012 18:35

Cable’s growing challenge

14/05/2012 20:48

Navalny to issue bank cards to fight corruption

15/05/2012 17:47

седельные тягачи в москве

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