Thread: Why do you choose to learn Russian?

Kapish?

I've idea what that means!

Duuuude - my little sister thought kewl was cool about five years ago...

I prefer to spell words correctly anyway.

Originally Posted by ReDSanchous

I've idea what that means!
....

I assume he meant "capisce" which means "do you understand" in Italian. Question you would answer by "capito" which means " I understand".

I know just two words in Italian. They sound like "Vaffanculo Puttana". I think the spelling is wrong because, like I said, I never learned Italian.

I may be wrong but I think "vafanculo" is a F word and "putana" is to name a woman, but I'm sure you already figured out.

As well as Putano. It was the Italians who taught me these two words. What on Earth do foreign students teach one another in the first place? Of course, swearwords.

Probably for several reasons such as to put yourself in trouble when telling this to someone and thinking these were nice words, or for fun since cursing words are easy to remember, or some kind of joke they wanted you to be part of.

It's common for students (especially comparatively young) to exchange such words. Though those Italians were about 17-19, which, I think, is a mature age. Incidentally, how do you know that word is bad?

I agree with you, it's common to exchange such words and it seems to be amusing. I wouldn't say 17-19 is a mature age but a pre-mature age. I just went through an Italian forum.

I wouldn't say 17-19 is a mature age but a pre-mature age.

It depends.
Anyways, it looks like an off-topic because it's nothing to do with Russian.

Originally Posted by Spiderkat

Originally Posted by ReDSanchous

I've idea what that means!
....

I assume he meant "capisce" which means "do you understand" in Italian. Question you would answer by "capito" which means " I understand".

Maybe that is the italian way to spell it, but it ain't the american way. At least not in my circle Kapish?

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Maybe that is the italian way to spell it, but it ain't the american way. At least not in my circle Kapish?

Why not! By the way this "%@$#^@$%+_~|}E.,/." is the Martian way.
I just gave ReSanchous the correct spelling since the origin of this word is Italian.

Originally Posted by Spiderkat

Why not! By the way this "%@$#^@$%+_~|}E.,/." is the Martian way.

Hmmm... %@$#^@$%+_~|}E.,/... it just rolls right off your tongue!!! %@$#^@$%+_~|}E.,/!

So, to clear up those words you're so much interested:

vaffanculo > f**k you
puttana > slut

capisci > you understand

But there hundreds, thousands of other words in italian!

You're from Barcelona, aren't you? How do you know Italian? Learning it?
Thanks for the explanation. Those Italians I referred to later also said there were a lot of swearwords in Italian

I want to learn Russian because I'm interested in Russian history, literature and culture. I would love to be able to read Dostoevsky in the original.

But also it's an overall fascination with eastern Europe. I would love to have a good grounding in all the Slavic languages and just spend years traveling around that part of the world.

I was originally interested in Polish and I still am. But I am going to try and get a handle on Russian first and then re-visit Polish in a few years.

Ясон

Gatton, welcome and good luck with your Russian and Polish studies!

Your signature says "Ясон". Did you mean 'Jason'? If you did it's spelled as 'Джейсон'. 'Ясон' is a traditional spelling for the Greek myth character - Jason of the Argonauts.

Здравствуйте gRomoZeka!

'Ясон' is a traditional spelling for the Greek myth character - Jason of the Argonauts.

Yea that's me!
Ok I'll update it in my profile. Thanks for the tip!

The reason I have chosen to learn Russian is mostly due to the fact that my wife is Russian.
Her English is impeccable (better than most native speakers it seems... at least here in good 'ole America ), but I feel the desire to learn for several reasons.

For one, I think it is respectful. My wife speaks to me in my language all the time, it is only fair that I at least try to balance things a bit.
It also will help me learn her culture, which again, is a matter of respect, as well as interest on my part.

None of her family speaks English. This fact terrifies me enough that I have decided I must try and learn some Russian to survive when I have to make visits. Haven't gone yet... but we're planning to go see the parents come this Fall (oy! ).
Perhaps it'd be better if I were to play completely stupid and act as if I know nothing! пожалуйста, я не понимаю!

Finally, I think it'd be a terrible wasted opportunity if I did not learn the language. I have a tutor at my fingertips anytime I'd like, perhaps to her chagrin. :P

Originally Posted by muzzy

The reason I have chosen to learn Russian is mostly due to the fact that my wife is Russian.
[skipped]

I think it's really nice reason to learn Russian.
My wife is Russian too but I'm Ukrainian. We live in Russia and sometimes go to Ukraine for a while. She can't speak Ukrainian and doesn't want to learn Ukrainian although she understands Ukrainian clearly.

why? for the language itself, for the songs, for the snow, for the fun, for the good looking women