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How to Ask "Do You Speak English?" in Russian

If you want to ask "Do you speak English?" in Russian, you would say "Вы говорите по Aнглийски" (pronounced VWEE GOH-VAH-REETZYAH PAH-ANG-LEES-KYAH).

• Вы = You
  
• говорите = Speak
  
• Aнглийски = English
  

updated 2011-07-19 17:37:20

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Sochi

A famous Sochi tourist attraction, the Friendship Park is an area were trees are planted and additional grafts to existing trees are made by visiting famous people and world leaders from over 167 countries. The first graft was made by Arctic explorer O.Y. Shmidt in 1940.

The original tree was a grafted lemon tree by Fyodor Mikhailovich Zorin. His grafting was in attempt to obtain a frost resistant citrus tree. He used grafts of the Japanese tangerine tree, an Italian lemon, the American Grapefruit, Spanish orange, and Chinese kumquat for the variety. Shmidt found it odd that the tree bore different varieties of citrus fruits prompting him to make his graft contribution. The grafting is now seen as an act of the desire for friendship and peace. In 1975 the Soyuz and Apollo space crews planted two trees http://www.sochi-global.com/sights/friendship-tree

An adjacent museum was built in 1981 to display letters and souvenirs from around the world. The Museum houses and International Grafting School to teach visitors how to graft.http://www.hotels-russia.info/sochi.htm

updated 2010-07-17 22:12:05

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How to Say "Who" in Russian

Before attempting to pronounce the word yourself, listen carefully to how the instructor pronounces "kto" in the video. Don't be misled by the phonetic transcription as "ka-toh." This is given merely to distinguish the "k" and "t" as distinct sounds; neither letter is silent. When the word is spoken at normal speed, it becomes a single syllable.

Notice that when Alena says the word quickly, the "k" is still audible. Listen to the example in the video before trying to pronounce the word yourself.

The "o" sound in "kto" is shorter than some English speakers may try to pronounce it. Contrast the clipped "o" in Alena's pronunciation with how you might pronounce the "o" in the word "show." Keep this distinction in mind as you work on your accent in Russian.http://masterrussian.com/aa032301a.shtml

updated 2011-07-22 18:40:34

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Oslo

• Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park
• The Opera House
• Holmenkollen Ski Jump
• Historical Museum
• Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum)
• Fram Museum
• Kon-Tiki Museum
• Viking Ship Museum
• Norwegian Maritime Museum
• Gamlebyen (the old town)
• Akershus Fortress
• Munch Museum
• The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
• TusenFryd Amusement Park
• The Royal Palace, home of Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
• The Nobel Peace Center
• The Holocaust Centerhttp://www.visitnorway.com/en/Articles/Norway/East/Oslo/Attractions-in-Oslo/

updated 2010-07-17 17:57:30

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How to Say "Week" in Russian

Conduct conversational language drills in order to enhance your Russian skills. Conduct these sessions with another language student, or with anyone who is willing to help advance your Russian skill set and is familiar with the language. Make patterns using words, phrases and questions you have memorized. Practicing words in a conversational context will help you use the word correctly when an opportunity arises.http://www.omniglot.com/language/pronunciation.htm 

updated 2011-02-26 08:22:10

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How to Say "July" in Russian

Expand your horizon past the word for "July" in Russian and add to your knowledge of useful Russian words and phrases. 

"August" is pronounced ahv-gust.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mELMBi68fo&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SP31098EC11EAF8623 

"September" is pronounced sen-seah-behr.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcrcZximGI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL 

"October" is pronounced ach-tah-behr.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1PP3o9UTBk&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL 

"Do you speak English?" is pronounced vwee goh-vah-reetzyah pah-ang-lees-kyah.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4-G0O6ONfQ&feature=related  

updated 2011-02-23 10:53:08

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Christmas in Russia

Christmas in Russia was previously celebrated on December 25th as it was in the rest of the world, with a Christmas trees, gifts and Saint Nicholas. After the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, it was1992 before Christmas was openly observed again. The Russia church still uses the old Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in the Western nations. Most Russians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, but a few Russians have begun to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.

Today, Christmas is celebrated with an all-night Mass in Cathedrals. The main religion is Russian Orthodox. Many only eat meat, eggs or milk a few weeks before Christmas and it is a custom to fast until after the first church service on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve dinner is meatless but a festive meal. A typical Christmas dinner includes hot roast Pirog and Pelmeni.The most important ingredient is a special porridge called kuty is eaten from a common dish to symbolize unity.

An important Christmas ceremony is the blessing of individual homes, a priest visits each home accompanied with vessels of holy water sprinkled throughout the house, which is believed to usher in happiness and fortune to them. Another custom on the first day of Christmas, young children go from house to house carrying a star and singing carols and receive sweets.http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/russia.htm

updated 2010-07-17 01:32:38

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Moscow

• Anton Chekhov: playwright and writerhttp://www.theatrehistory.com/russian/chekhov001.html
• Fyodor Dostoevsky: author of Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamozov http://www.europe-cities.com/en/609/russia/moscow/history/famous-people/
• Wassily Kandinsky: painter, printmaker and art theoristhttp://www.wassilykandinsky.net/
• Anna Kournikova: tennis playerhttp://www.kournikova.com/about/bio
• Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky: actor, director and producerhttp://www.nndb.com/people/290/000205672/
• Joseph Stalin: politician http://www.notablebiographies.com/Sc-St/Stalin-Joseph.html

updated 2010-12-01 18:15:38

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How To Visit Russia

The most popular tourist destinations in Russia are St. Petersburg and Moscow with their cultural and architectural heritage. Moscow is the home for the famous Bolshoi Theater. Moscow also has many museums with stunning collections, and galleries where you can purchase arts with cheaper price than galleries in Western European countries. Russian churches with their ornate and unique constructions are one of the greatest tourist attractions in Russia. Some famous churches are St. Basil Cathedral, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and St. Isaac Cathedral. Aside from the churches, the most visited site in Moscow is the Red Square (Krasnaia Ploschad).

St. Petersburg, which was the home of the composer Rahmanihoff, is another city with great architect and cultural heritage ever since Tsar Peter founded the city. Some places of interest in St. Petersburg are Palace Square, Winter Palace, Alexander Palace, Anichkov Palace, and Menshikov Palace. Cruising the canals on water buses is a great way to enjoy St. Petersburg.http://www.st-petersburg.world-guides.com/

Russia’s Trans Siberian Railway is a journey that you should not miss. Aside from seeing the magnificent scenery along the way, you can also arrange for stopovers in some places to explore Russia’s countryside. Most popular stopovers along this railway are Yaroslavl, Ekateriburg, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok.http://www.geographia.com/russia/trasib01.htm

updated 2010-07-17 10:05:47

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