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Thread: Slang for American in Russian

  1. #1
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    Slang for American in Russian

    Hello,
    So I've learned some of the slang that British English speakers use to refer to Americans (from the USA). What are some that are used in the Russian language to refer to Americans?

    Sherman - formerly known as Scott

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    Re: Slang for American in Russian

    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Hello,
    So I've learned some of the slang that British English speakers use to refer to Americans (from the USA). What are some that are used in the Russian language to refer to Americans?

    Sherman - formerly known as Scott
    I only know the word янки used as nickname for Americans. It seems to be a bit outdated.
    In Russian, all nationalities and their corresponding languages start with a lower-case letter.

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    Америкос - (midly) derogatory and widly used. The origin is quite clear.

    Пиндос/пиндос (also Пиндостан, Пиндосия, etc. as USA) - VERY rude. Really. If a person uses this word you may be sure he/she doesn't like Americans.

    "Пиндос" (with various other meanings) was used at least since 18th century, but wasn't very common. It became a slang word for Americans (initially for (NATO) Amercan soldiers) after war in Yugoslavia (in 1998-1999) and widely used since then.

    There are also borrowed words "гринго" (well known, but almost never used) and "янки" (it's used, but not very often, mostly in standard expressions like "Yankee, go home" or "Yankee in King Arthur's Court").

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    Re: Slang for American in Russian

    Quote Originally Posted by Оля
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Hello,
    So I've learned some of the slang that British English speakers use to refer to Americans (from the USA). What are some that are used in the Russian language to refer to Americans?

    Sherman - formerly known as Scott
    I only know the word янки used as nickname for Americans. It seems to be a bit outdated.
    The people in the southeast of the USA often refer to people in the northeast as Yankees.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee#In_ ... ted_States



    Scott

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    Quote Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
    Америкос - (midly) derogatory and widly used. The origin is quite clear.

    Пиндос/пиндос (also Пиндостан, Пиндосия, etc. as USA) - VERY rude. Really. If a person uses this word you may be sure he/she doesn't like Americans.

    "Пиндос" (with various other meanings) was used at least since 18th century, but wasn't very common. It became a slang word for Americans (initially for (NATO) Amercan soldiers) after war in Yugoslavia (in 1998-1999) and widely used since then.

    There are also borrowed words "гринго" (well known, but almost never used) and "янки" (it's used, but not very often, mostly in standard expressions like "Yankee, go home" or "Yankee in King Arthur's Court").
    Wow! The word "Пиндос" has over 28,000 listings on google.com

    Thank you,

    Sherman пиндос seppo янки merkin Scott

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    As for me, I never knew that пиндос is a nickname for Americans. Although I've heard this word.
    In Russian, all nationalities and their corresponding languages start with a lower-case letter.

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    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Wow! The word "Пиндос" has over 28,000 listings on google.com
    Thank you
    Yeah, and it's 163,000 if remove quotation marks.
    You are welcome.

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    Quote Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Wow! The word "Пиндос" has over 28,000 listings on google.com
    Thank you
    Yeah, and it's 163,000 if remove quotation marks.
    You are welcome.


    So if I heard Putin use this word should I assume the nukes are on the way? Can the word be used on regular TV?

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    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Quote Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Wow! The word "Пиндос" has over 28,000 listings on google.com
    Thank you
    Yeah, and it's 163,000 if remove quotation marks.
    You are welcome.


    So if I heard Putin use this word should I assume the nukes are on the way? Can the word be used on regular TV?
    If you heard someone say it on TV you should think about American secret weapons по разжижжению мозгов used on Russia.
    «И всё, что сейчас происходит внутре — тоже является частью вселенной».

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    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Wow! The word "Пиндос" has over 28,000 listings on google.com
    And none of them says something good about the Americans
    Send me a PM if you need me.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rtyom
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Quote Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Wow! The word "Пиндос" has over 28,000 listings on google.com
    Thank you
    Yeah, and it's 163,000 if remove quotation marks.
    You are welcome.


    So if I heard Putin use this word should I assume the nukes are on the way? Can the word be used on regular TV?
    If you heard someone say it on TV you should think about American secret weapons по разжижжению мозгов used on Russia.
    Do tell - I never heard of по разжижжению мозгов.

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    Re: Slang for American in Russian

    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Quote Originally Posted by Оля
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Hello,
    So I've learned some of the slang that British English speakers use to refer to Americans (from the USA). What are some that are used in the Russian language to refer to Americans?

    Sherman - formerly known as Scott
    I only know the word янки used as nickname for Americans. It seems to be a bit outdated.
    The people in the southeast of the USA often refer to people in the northeast as Yankees.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee#In_ ... ted_States



    Scott
    That's RED SOX around here (and smile when you say that)

    Great, I have some non-dictionary words to ask about tomorrow...
    I'm easily amused late at night...

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    That's RED SOX around here (and smile when you say that)

    Oh lord help me.

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    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Quote Originally Posted by Rtyom
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Quote Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
    Quote Originally Posted by fortheether
    Wow! The word "Пиндос" has over 28,000 listings on google.com
    Thank you
    Yeah, and it's 163,000 if remove quotation marks.
    You are welcome.


    So if I heard Putin use this word should I assume the nukes are on the way? Can the word be used on regular TV?
    If you heard someone say it on TV you should think about American secret weapons по разжиж_ению мозгов used on Russia.
    Do tell - I never heard of по разжиж_ению мозгов.
    A weapons "по разжижению мозгов" mean a ideological propaganda in mass media, I think.
    And about "Пиндос", that word can't be used on regular TV. I have never heard "Пиндос" on TV.
    Could you correct my mistakes, please.

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    Quote Originally Posted by XPaul
    And about "Пиндос", that word can't be used on regular TV. I have never heard "Пиндос" on TV.
    В этом новом значении слово прозвучало с экранов российских телевизоров в районе 7 ноября 1999 года, в репортаже из Косова. Солдат в интервью рассказал, что этим словом обозначают американских миротворцев.

    http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Пиндос_(сленг)

    I agree, like any derogatory term it absolutely can't be used 'oficially' (by news dictor, for example, or by any respectful person), but it makes an appearance occasionally (in unedited interviews, maybe movies, etc.)

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    Quote Originally Posted by gRomoZeka
    В этом новом значении слово прозвучало с экранов российских телевизоров в районе 7 ноября 1999 года, в репортаже из Косова. Солдат в интервью рассказал, что этим словом обозначают американских миротворцев.

    http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Пиндос_(сленг)

    I agree, like any derogatory term it absolutely can't be used 'oficially' (by news dictor, for example, or by any respectful person), but it makes an appearance occasionally (in unedited interviews, maybe movies, etc.)
    Oops! I didn't know that. I think it was acceptebly because the word was uttered by soldier when he was explaining its meaning.
    Could you correct my mistakes, please.

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    gRomoZeka wrote: "news dictor"
    I can't find "dictor" but I think you mean "announcer". See http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define. ... &dict=CALD

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Watts
    gRomoZeka wrote: "news dictor"
    I can't find "dictor" but I think you mean "announcer". See http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define. ... &dict=CALD
    Exactly! I used Russian word by mistake.
    In Russian it's "диктор новостей/телевидения/etc." (newscaster, newsreader, TV announcer, etc.). Sorry if it caused misunderstanding.

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    gRomoZeka wrote:
    Sorry if it caused misunderstanding.
    No, there was no misunderstanding. I just suggested the correction because you ask for that in your signature line.
    This might amuse you, in searching for "dictor" I found this slang definition:
    1. dictor - a person who enjoys being sexually assaulted
    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dictor
    I don't know whether or not that is accurate.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Watts
    I just suggested the correction because you ask for that in your signature line.
    Thank you! It helped. )
    1. dictor - a person who enjoys being sexually assaulted
    Wow. That's what we call "ложный друг переводчика".

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