Thread: What's the most ridiculous word in Russian for a foreigner?

Originally Posted by basurero

You mean like a rolled 'r'?

Why do people call it "rolled"?

What about оттопырить. Sounds funny for me.

Originally Posted by Rtyom

Originally Posted by basurero

You mean like a rolled 'r'?

Why do people call it "rolled"?

What would you call it.

Originally Posted by Volk

Originally Posted by Rtyom

Originally Posted by basurero

You mean like a rolled 'r'?

Why do people call it "rolled"?

What would you call it.

Retroflex

Originally Posted by Rtyom

Originally Posted by Volk

Originally Posted by Rtyom

Originally Posted by basurero

You mean like a rolled 'r'?

Why do people call it "rolled"?

What would you call it.

Retroflex

Well it beats 'rolled' in my opinion, I've never liked the way it's said in that sense.

Since I can't actually 'roll' my R's well the expression put a weird idea into my mind of people actually rolling their tongues to do it, before I learned more about it anyway.

For my part, it is beyond of my imagination how it is possible to "roll" your tongue. It is something weird to understand.

I just remembered one thing. We, Russians, sometimes mix up "мне понтяно" with "непонятно" because of "мне" and "не" being said silently are almost the same. Have you got such a problem when hear Russian speech?

Originally Posted by Rtyom

As for me, it is beyond my imagination how it is possible to "roll" your tongue. It is something difficult to understand.


I just remembered one thing. We Russians sometimes mix up "мне понтяно" with "непонятно" because of "мне" and "не" being said silently are almost the same. Do you have such a problem when you hear Russians speak?

I haven't noticed that difficulty. They usually just say понятно without any мне...

Thank you.

Originally Posted by BlackMage

как?

For italians, it sounds similar to the word "cacca"
(какка) an euphemism used by children for ( censored ).

I found funny also карандаж. Sure it comes from
www.carandache.ch

Originally Posted by massimo

I found funny also карандаш

I am only quoting from one discussion:

[quote=TATY][quote=flowforever]ahh i like Bratislava! Unfortunately, i can't understand any word in SLovak language..i know only this: "Ahoj! Ako sa m

Originally Posted by massimo

I found funny also карандаж. Sure it comes from
www.carandache.ch

It's карандаш, as somebody already said, but yeah, I'm sure that's where it's from. It's just like "hoover", "sellotape" and "blue-tac": they're actually product names, but they've come to be... just words, in English.

I don't know if the word comes from that company... it was founded in 1924. The pencil was invented 1564. I am sure the Russians used pencils before 1924.

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

I don't know if the word comes from that company... it was founded in 1924. The pencil was invented 1564. I am sure the Russians used pencils before 1924.

You right:
http://www.halfmoonbooks.net/carandache1.htm

Originally Posted by Ушаков

КАРАНДАШ, а, м. [от тюрк. kara--чёрный и tas или das--камень].

Originally Posted by Seventh-Monkey

Originally Posted by massimo

I found funny also карандаж. Sure it comes from
www.carandache.ch

It's карандаш, as somebody already said, but yeah, I'm sure that's where it's from. It's just like "hoover", "sellotape" and "blue-tac": they're actually product names, but they've come to be... just words, in English.

it was a French painter that took this word as his pseudoname. (sp?)

Originally Posted by Rtyom

I just remembered one thing. We, Russians, sometimes mix up "мне понтяно" with "непонятно" because of "мне" and "не" being said silently are almost the same. Have you got such a problem when hear Russian speech?

i agree. only instead of "мне понтяно" i often hear people saying "ну, понтяно". and in this case sometimes it does sound like "непонятно"

Originally Posted by massimo

Originally Posted by BlackMage

как?

For italians, it sounds similar to the word "cacca"
(какка) an euphemism used by children for ( censored ).

I found funny also карандаж. Sure it comes from
www.carandache.ch

and italians can immediately go back to watching soccer, where they can see a player "Kaka"... "milan" i think

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

I don't know if the word comes from that company... it was founded in 1924. The pencil was invented 1564. I am sure the Russians used pencils before 1924.

well, its a trend. i remember saying "ксерокс" to describe a copy made on a copier. to this day people still say "ксерокопия"....

and xerox is only one of the companies producing copiers. nobody says "зирокс" though...