Filler words. They come to the rescue when you run out of words. Sometimes, literally. They’re there when you hesitate with your answer, stutter trying to cover a lie, or…um… just need a second to think.  Today, we’ll be talking about Russian filler words and how to use them. But first, let’s set the stage... Let’s say I asked you to name out loud five movies with Matt Damon. Yes, right now. For real.  Done?  What was the sound you made when you were (painfully) trying to remember the fifth one? That’s a filler.  I’m sure you could come up with at least a couple more filler words yourself if I told you they pop up whenever you stammer. And I bet "like" or "um" would be the first ones to cross your mind! And you’d be right.... Show more

Love is one of the best feelings ever, and it’s one that frequently cuts across international borders and cultural backgrounds.  If a Russian has caught your eye or completely stolen your heart, learning even a few basic phrases in his or her language might just win them over.  In this article, we’ll talk about everything from flirting to marriage and introduce you to the many ways you can say "I love you," in Russian. You’ll learn the most common pick-up lines, how to express your abiding love in Russian, how to propose to that special someone, and more.  Save these popular Russian love phrases for the person of your heart, and get ready for a whirlwind of romance!  Table of Contents Confess Your Affection: Pick-Up... Show more

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about the new experiences and discoveries that the magic "yes"-word can draw us toward. But sometimes we have to say no. Be it an invitation to a boring party, your kid begging for a 57th toy at the store, or a fast-food clerk offering you extra double mustard for your burger. "No." With me, you’ll learn about the subtleties of negation in Russian. Together we’ll unearth the simple ways of negating words and statements, discuss the infamous double negation, and go over the most common negative words and expressions. I’ve also saved negation in questions and imperative sentences for last. You’ll be well-prepared, on all fronts! Can you say no to this? Table of Contents 3 Simple Ways to Say... Show more

Let me guess. You’re at a stage where you already know how to introduce yourself and talk about your family, and now you’re ready to get down to real business. Hesitating between the verb conjugation and noun cases, your choice fell on Russian tenses. Fair enough. You need a way to tell the world about your past adventures, current feelings, and ambitious plans. Stick with me, and I’ll show you how it’s done. We’ll go step by step, starting with the Russian verb basics like the infinitive, person, number, and verbal aspects before seamlessly switching to the tenses: present, past, and future. Russian tenses are not a piece of cake, but we’re going to have one bite at a time anyway. Shall we? Table of Contents Basic Concepts ... Show more

Russian is not an easy language to learn. It often takes much longer to master than one might imagine when first starting out.  If you’re like most of us, your time is quite limited and you might be wondering this all-too-common question among aspiring learners: How long does it take to learn Russian?  Even though this question has no definite answer, we’ll try to discuss it as thoroughly as possible in the article below. We’ll talk about the different factors that can affect the speed of your learning progress, how long it takes on average to achieve each level of Russian, and how to learn Russian fast and effectively.  Let’s go! Table of Contents How Long Will it Take to Learn Russian? 3 Defining Factors. How Long... Show more

"Better late than never." "Don’t judge a book by its cover." You’re constantly surrounded by proverbs, and you probably don’t pay much attention to them until you start learning a new language. This is where the fun begins: The meanings of foreign proverbs can be difficult to guess, you can’t usually translate them literally, and some of them don’t even have an equivalent. Yes, you’ll find a few Russian proverbs like this. But what if you look at them from another angle? Have you ever wondered where proverbs come from? Many of them haven’t changed in centuries! They’ve been carrying wisdom from one generation to another, up until modern times. We use proverbs to console a beloved one, to give advice, or to cheer somebody up.... Show more

The Russian language is rich not only with its own words, but also with words borrowed from other languages. For English speakers looking to learn the language, studying English loanwords in Russian is a great way to quickly expand your vocabulary and make Russian seem less daunting.  We’ve prepared a list of English words in Russian that you can start using right away. We’ve also included a section about Russian words in the English language to further broaden your horizons.  Let’s get to it! Table of Contents Introduction to Runglish Runglish Examples Loanwords vs. Runglish How to Say These Names in Russian English Words Derived From the Russian Language English-Russian Paronyms Conclusion ... Show more

What images come to mind when you hear the word "Russia"?  Russia is known for its large territory and cold winters. But, digging deeper, what is Russian culture like?  Art and literature enthusiasts may be familiar with our world-famous ballet and our prominent writers: Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky…  Sports lovers may acknowledge our hockey team and outstanding performances at the Olympics. Those who are into science must already be familiar with our space activities as well as our massive oil and gas industry.  And gamers: you know Tetris, right? Perhaps you’ve already learned something new just from reading this Russian culture introduction. But if you want to find out how Russians live, interact with... Show more

Although Russia is not considered one of the world’s top food destinations, this country has lots of fantastic traditional dishes to offer. Tourists who come to Russia are often astonished by the diversity and flavors of the local cuisine. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the most famous Russian foods and give you some simple recipes that you can try wherever you are.  Let’s start our journey into the world of Russian cuisine! → By the way, to learn more about the topic, you can visit our lesson titled How is the Russian Food? Table of Contents Must-Try Dishes in Russian Restaurants Unique Russian Foods Food-Related Vocabulary How to Cook Russian Food at Home Conclusion 1. Must-Try Dishes in Russian... Show more

Although quotes don’t play a very important part in our everyday lives, there are some situations where knowing them can be really helpful. With quotes, we can express our thoughts in a more vivid and concise way.  If you’ve been studying Russian for a long period of time, you’re definitely ready to step up your game and learn some Russian quotes. We’ve prepared a list of twenty famous Russian quotes that you can use to enrich your speech, impress native Russian speakers during a conversation, and make yourself look more intelligent in their eyes. Some of these quotes are of Russian origin, while others are quotes from other languages that have gained popularity in Russia.  Pick your favorites and learn them by heart. We’re sure that... Show more