Thread: Russian words that everybody knows

Originally Posted by Layne

Speaking of babushkas, I was looking through the sale pile at a bookstore last night and found a book called 'The Russian Word for Snow'. I immediatly lost interest upon reading inside the jacket that it is a novel about some children adopted from russia. But it mentioned a woman in a babuska, as if it were some article of clothing. Is there such a thing or did the writer just neglect to look up what a babuska actually is?

In Polish, babushka means hankerchief.. So in this case, she was wearing one on her head. The pronunciation is different than babushka in Russian.

Originally Posted by MalenkayaKatinka

Originally Posted by Gerty

What in your opinion are the most recognazable Russian words for Northen Americans? Like "russki", "da", "perestroika" - I don't know "Spasiba"? Are any Russian words used in common situations - like italian "capiche", for examp.

That was a good try to spell that Italian word. but it capisci

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about. There is alredy an american word capiche.

Originally Posted by Gerty

Originally Posted by MalenkayaKatinka

Originally Posted by Gerty

What in your opinion are the most recognazable Russian words for Northen Americans? Like "russki", "da", "perestroika" - I don't know "Spasiba"? Are any Russian words used in common situations - like italian "capiche", for examp.

That was a good try to spell that Italian word. but it capisci

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about. There is alredy an american word capiche.

It's not an American word and never has been. Very few Americans know of that word unless they've seen the Godfather.

To answer the question of this post though, the most commonly known Russian word is vodka. Next would probably perestroika and glasnost'.

i think a lot of people know capiche, especially if they watch the sopranos! its quite natural for foreign words to become a part of a language, deja vu is french but its now also a part of the english language. normally the spelling rules change to suit that of the language

Anybody knows the word Luno[k]hod?

Originally Posted by basurero

Самое известное иностранцам слово в русском языке - это ВОДКА!

That's it, man !!! Пойду, выпью стакан водки за твое здоровье !!!

Originally Posted by Dogboy182

I remember one time my grandma was like, yea we saw some russians at the river, and they were wearing babushkas. I was like really, must have been uncomfortable for those poor grannies.

Or maybe she meant, they were wearing out those unfortunate babushkas.

"Russkaya mafiya" must be another well known term for American people, isn't it

Originally Posted by ***

"Russkaya mafiya" must be another well known term for American people, isn't it

No russian words, though.

What about "robot"?

I thought Robot was originally Czech?

Слово робот придумал Чапек, причем не Карел, а Джозеф.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_Capek

Etymology of robot
[i]The word robot comes from the word robota meaning "drudgery", "forced labor" in literary Czech and "work", "labor" in literary Slovak.

While Karel Čapek is frequently stated to have been the originator of the word, he wrote a short letter in reference to the Oxford English Dictionary etymology in which he named his brother, painter and writer Josef Čapek as its true inventor. [1]. In an article in the Czech journal Lidov

I didnt look throught this all but , mama papa? were the first ones I figured out as well as pistolet, babushka is grandmother I heard a story from kindergarten called "babushka baba yaga" americanits, for some reason food -eda sounded like eata with a soft "t".politic, scientist, professor,sister brother (brat as in snotty kid I thought this fit perfectally)kat, I think that is all of them.(sorry I cant see the keyboard its late so forgive anymistakes)

oh and keilbasa, my grandmother is polish for some reason keilbasa sardines, fine cheeses and strong liquer are delicacies in my family.