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• How to speak Russian in 5 Words (Part 3)

• 
  David Petherick    Group moderator

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  How to speak Russian in 5 Words (Part 3)

  Part 3: Minding your p's and q's
  
  The third (and fourth) words I choose for learning Russian in 5 words come as a pair: SPASIBA and PUZHALSTA.
  
  Spasiba means 'thank you', and there is no harm in sprinkling it liberally through any conversation with a Russian. Emphasis on the the 'i' - soundling like "ee" in "seek".
  
  Puzhalsta - the u as in the English 'up' (and with the emphasis on the 'a' when saying it) is a little more tricky. Its basic meaning is 'please', to be used when making requests. It does, however, have two other uses.
  
  First, you say puzhalsta when you are offering something to someone (a sort of 'here you are'. 'there you go, please take it' or 'have one of these, dearest').
  
  Second, you should say <em>puzhalsta</em> after someone has said spasiba to you: a meaning of 'not at all', 'you are welcome', think nothing of it. ('De nada' in Spanish, 'De rien' in French, 'No hi fa res' in Catalan).
  
  All of which can lead to the perfectly respectable Russian exchange of puzhalsta - spasiba - puzhalsta.
  
  Thus - Please, take one! Oh, thanks! You're welcome...
  
  >> Coming in Part 4, February 3 -' Vodka Etiquette'
  —
  From “Speak Russian in 5 Words” (c) Copyright David Petherick 2006.
  (The full version of this document is freely available on-line at http://russian-com.co.uk/fun/five-3.html and can also be downloaded in PDF format)
  
  • 27 Jan 2006, 1:14 pm
  David Petherick wrote: > Part 3: Minding your p's and q's > > The third (and fourth) words I choose for learning Russian in 5 words > come as a pair: SPASIBA and PUZHALSTA. > > Spasiba means 'thank you', and there is no harm in sprinkling it > liberally through any conversation with a Russian. Emphasis on the > the 'i' - soundling like "ee" in "seek". > > Puzhalsta - the u as in the English 'up' (and with the emphasis on > the 'a' when saying it) is a little more tricky. Its basic meaning is > 'please', to be used when making requests. It does, however, have two > other uses. > > First, you say puzhalsta when you are offering something to someone > (a sort of 'here you are'. 'there you go, please take it' or 'have > one of these, dearest'). > > Second, you should say <em>puzhalsta</em> after someone has said > spasiba to you: a meaning of 'not at all', 'you are welcome', think > nothing of it. ('De nada' in Spanish, 'De rien' in French, 'No hi fa > res' in Catalan). > > All of which can lead to the perfectly respectable Russian exchange > of puzhalsta - spasiba - puzhalsta. > > Thus - Please, take one! Oh, thanks! You're welcome... > > >> Coming in Part 4, February 3 -' Vodka Etiquette' > — > From “Speak Russian in 5 Words” (c) Copyright David Petherick 2006. > (The full version of this document is freely available on-line at > http://russian-com.co.uk/fun/five-3.html and can also be downloaded > in PDF format)
• 
  Christian Pfäffli

  (not a XING member)

  Re: How to speak Russian in 5 Words (Part 3)

  David
  
  Great stuff. I lived in Russia 3 years in the late 90's and in the beginning I would have liked to have a mentor like you :-) .
  Now it's too late, but I will follow your "course" and maybe I can give some contribution.
  
  Christian
  
  • 29 Jan 2006, 7:53 pm
  Christian Pfäffli wrote: > David > > Great stuff. I lived in Russia 3 years in the late 90's and in the > beginning I would have liked to have a mentor like you :-) . > Now it's too late, but I will follow your "course" and maybe I can > give some contribution. > > Christian