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1500 questions
7
votes
5 answers
Can "чита" mean "monkey"?
A Russian friend of mine claims that the word "чита" can mean "small monkey". She thinks that it might be a colloquialism, but she cannot recall its etymology. I believe she has been using it since childhood (50+ years ago), so it may be an…
ESultanik
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7
votes
2 answers
Why is "счастливый" in instrumental case in the following sentence?
I translated the sentence "You make me happy." to Russian with an online translator. And it translated that as "ты делаешь меня счастливым.". Why is the instrumental case necessary here?
xpr34
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7
votes
5 answers
Why is the adjective "главное" in neuter gender?
Why is the adjective "главный" in neuter gender in the following sentence? метод and результат are masculine.
главное не метод, а результат.
xpr34
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7
votes
2 answers
Почему у групповых топонимов в родительном падеже обычно нулевое окончание (Мальдив, Альп, Курил)?
Согласно правилам (http://www.bibliotekar.ru/russkiy-yazik-2/122.htm), слова мужского рода во множественном числе в родительном падеже обычно имеют окончание -ов, а женского рода — обычно нулевое. Есть исключения для некоторых видов нарицательных…
Sergey Kirienko
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7
votes
2 answers
Can someone explain "ой мой скотч"?
I've seen this used on the web as a translation for "oh my God" . Even though, as far as I know, there is a more literal translation (боже мой) which seems also to be in common use
So ... what's the link between God and alcoholic drinks? Or,…
Emma Baillie
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7
votes
2 answers
What is the meaning of "еле-еле"?
I often hear "ели ели" but I haven't still had a clear meaning of that phrase. What does it mean? (Obviously, I'm not talking about "eat eat"). :)
As stated in the comments and answers, the phrase I meant was ""еле-еле" and not "ели ели" .
Alf Moh
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7
votes
4 answers
What's the difference between "фильм" and "кино"?
What difference, if any, is there in meaning between "фильм" and "кино"? I've encountered кино before, but have just encountered фильм. A machine translation of the Russian Wiktionary suggests the фильм can mean the physical material used for a…
Golden Cuy
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7
votes
1 answer
Equivalent letter for H in Russian?
I want to pronounce and write the word 'Hindustan'. What is the Russian equivalent for the English letter 'H'?
FYI: I am just taking my first steps in learning Russian.
soorapadman
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7
votes
2 answers
"Vrra" is a hispanization of which Russian word?
Mariano Payeras, a Spanish priest, wrote in an 1822 diary entry:
As a last courtesy our officers said goodbye to all the Russians who saluted us with four cannon shots, hat waving, and gestures, crying out to us three times Vrra, vrra, vrra, which…
Aaron Brick
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7
votes
2 answers
In "делегация из 5 человек во главе с президентом", are 5 or 6 visitors meant?
Got a business letter with this phrase followed by a list of 6 officials, sixth being a president. So I wonder whether it's me who always interpreted this phrase incorrectly (5 members total) or them (6 members)?
xyzman
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7
votes
1 answer
Meaning of "разведчик" on a Soviet era stamp
In my stamp collection is a 1990 Soviet Union stamp commemorating British double agent Kim Philby. Above his likeness is the title СОВЕТСКИЙ РАЗВЕДЧИК, which to my understanding translates to "Soviet Sentry". The term "sentry" strikes me as odd…
Jason Gilmore
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7
votes
1 answer
Can I say "я не в доме не прыгал" meaning "за пределами дома я не прыгал"
Я понимаю, что в устной речи так не говорят и, более того, так, наверное, не пишут.
Но верно ли это с грамматической точки зрения, и не противоречит ли каким-то правилам.
Также интересует вариант "Я не прыгал не в доме"
Yegor Razumovsky
- 173
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7
votes
1 answer
What old rare case or rule is used in the sentence "выдвигаться в президенты"?
I've asked a friend of mine, which is Russian, why they were saying on the news выдвигаться в президенты instead of выдвигаться в президентов, and he told me it is an exception, of an old case that he couldn't remember at the occasion.
Since then,…
ClaudioDeSouza
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7
votes
2 answers
When can we leave out ли?
In what cases can we leave out "ли"?
Я не знаю умер он или нет
or
Я не знаю умер ли он.
Basically when should I use ли?
VCH250
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7
votes
2 answers
Does "Zzz" (sleep) have the same meaning in Russian?
Onomatopoetic "Zzz" is well known in languages that use the Latin alphabet. It means "sleep" in many languages. Is this also the case in Russian? Can "Ззз" be used to symbolize sleep?
Tomaž Sajovic
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