Thread: What kinds of STRANGE Russian words do you know?

I'm interested in what kinds of Russian words you know that are particularly unusual compared to other words in the language. Here are a few that many Russians know about, but not all that many students know.

There are several words in Russian that have three e in a row:
змееед - snake-eater
длинношеее - long-necked (neuter)
короткошеее - short-necked (neuter)

There is only one word that has the -ко- infix:
закоулок - alleyway

A verb without a root:
вынуть - to get out, take out

Anyone have any other interesting words to share?

Since I am learning Russian the word крестьянин puzzles me. It has something to do with christianity. But, actually крестьянин is a farmer or peasant.

Originally Posted by ingberlin

Since I am learning Russian the word крестьянин puzzles me. It has something to do with christianity. But, actually крестьянин is a farmer or peasant.

They have the similar stem крест (cross) so in a manner they have some common origins. Still, a Christian would be христианин.

Крест - means a cross on a church. Окрестность - the surroundings originates from this word (an area that surrounds the church). Peasants (крестьяне) were serfs in Russia so they were bound to the land - usually a village with a church in the center (around the cross).
The word христианин, from the other hand, comes from the name of Jesus (Христос in Russian). The two words sound alike but the only similarity comes from the link between Christ and the cross.

Originally Posted by ingberlin

It has something to do with christianity.

Indeed. I have never made that connection, would you believe it?

Originally Posted by ingberlin

Since I am learning Russian the word крестьянин puzzles me. It has something to do with christianity. But, actually крестьянин is a farmer or peasant.

Basicallt крестьянин and христианин are similar etymoligically.
I imagine it had something to do with identifying and distinguishing Ruthenian (Russian/Ukrainian/Belarussian, whatever) Slavs from the other peoples who they lived alongside, e.g. the Jews, Muslims (Tatars), etc. In the past the idea of nationality wasn't developed, so simply people (i.e. peasants) identified most closely to their language and religion as a form of self-determination rather than the modern notion of belonging to a state.
So the word isn't that strange afterall.

спрут octopus,
I learned the word from an old movie, it was the name of a submarine...

My dictionary says it comes from English "sprout".
Russians have another "native" word for it, which is similar to "octopus" - "осьминог" (i.e. "восемь ног").

Originally Posted by Silk

A verb without a root:
вынуть - to get out, take out

There are words with one-letter root "у":
обувь, обуть, разуть

Originally Posted by capecoddah

спрут octopus,
I learned the word from an old movie, it was the name of a submarine...

"The Russians are coming!"
Ahhh, this is my absolute favorite movie about Americans and Russians!

пузо is almost the only Russian word which ends on зо.

семья = family (seven I)

надоедят => from надоедать (to pester, make someone bored)

[он] надоест
[можно] надоесть => from надоедать, sounds like "надо есть" (it's required to eat)

взгляд (4 consonants in a row).

Originally Posted by TATY

взгляд (4 consonants in a row).

http://vv.nexus.org/vv/37/vv37_13.mp3
http://www.kulichki.com/vv/pesni/vot-i- ... -puti.html

Владимир Высoцкий
В. Абрамову

Вот и разошлись пути-дороги вдруг:
Один — на север, другой — на запад.
Грустно мне, когда уходит друг
Внезапно, внезапно.

Ушёл — невелика потеря
Для многих людей.
Не знаю как другие, а я верю,
Верю в друзей.

Наступило время неудач,
Следы и души заносит вьюга,
Всё из рук вон плохо — плачь не плачь, —
Нет друга, нет друга.

Ушёл — невелика потеря
Для многих людей.
Не знаю как другие, а я верю,
Верю в друзей.

А когда вернётся друг назад
И скажет: "Ссора была ошибкой",
Бросим мы на прошлое с ним взгляд
С улыбкой, с улыбкой.

Что, мол, ушёл — невелика потеря
Для многих людей...
Не знаю как другие, а я верю,
Верю в друзей.

Originally Posted by MasterAdmin

[можно] надоесть => from надоедать, sounds like "надо есть" (it's required to eat)

"Надоесть" и "надо есть" sound different to me.

In "надоесть" only the last syllable is stressed, and the "а" in the first syllable is [schwa].
In "надо есть" there are two stressed syllables, and the stressed "а" in the first syllable is [a], not [schwa].
They can sound almost equal in a quick speech though.

Originally Posted by TATY

взгляд (4 consonants in a row).

Do you have to look hard to find one of those?

Здравствуйте!

or even

Встреча

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by MasterAdmin

[можно] надоесть => from надоедать, sounds like "надо есть" (it's required to eat)

"Надоесть" и "надо есть" sound different to me.

In "надоесть" only the last syllable is stressed, and the "а" in the first syllable is [schwa].
In "надо есть" there are two stressed syllables, and the stressed "а" in the first syllable is [a], not [schwa].
They can sound almost equal in a quick speech though.

Well he only said "sounds like"; not "sounds the same as".

How about "попугай" word.

сказаннное на прощанье "пока, Кать" звучит неоднозначно.

карбюратор

Originally Posted by Iamtinych

карбюратор

И что в нем русского? Ударение? =)