Thread: В Гостиной

How does one say the following:

Blinds - Жалюзи
Drapes - Гардины
Curtains - Занавески
Coffee table - Журнальный стол
???? - Стенка
Stereo - Стереосистема
VCR - Видеомагнитофон

Is there a short way of saying телефон in russian? Like phone?

the uncomfortable couch - неудобный диван
the comfortable armchair - удобное кресло
the new clock - новые часы

I’m talking (talked) on the telephone - Я говорю (поговорил) по телефону.
You’re expecting (expected) a letter - Ты ждёшь (ожидал) письмо.
He’s closing (closed) the blinds - Он открывает (открыл) жалюзи.
We’re having (had) guests - Мы принимаем (приняли) гостей.
You’re vaccuuming (vaccuumed) the living room - Вы пылесосите (пропылесосили) гостиную.
They’re conversing (conversed) with each other - Они разговаривают (разговаривали) друг с другом.
I’m listening (listened) to music - Я слушаю (послушал) музыку.
You’re watching (watched) television - Ты смотришь (посмотрел) телевизор.
He’s reading (read) the newspaper - Он читает (прочитал) газету.
We’re looking (looked) at each other - Мы смотрим (посмотрели) друг на друга.

to Sit on the couch - ????
to Put a video in the VCR - ????

What is the difference between - Ставить, Поставить - Класть, Положить?
Can someone give me some examples?

Thanks a lot
Большое спасибо

Originally Posted by Knave

VCR - Видеомагнитофон

Видак, видик.

Is there a short way of saying телефон in russian? Like phone?

Труба, трубка (для мобильных обычно).

to Sit on the couch - ????

Сидеть на диване. Сесть на диван (sit down).

to Put a video in the VCR - ????

Вставить видео(касетту)/запись/фильм/кино в видеомагнитофон.

What is the difference between - Ставить, Поставить - Класть, Положить?

The second two imply that the object will be "lying". Which means that the contact with the surface is large compared with the biggest dimension of the object. The first two imply that the contact will be small.

Положить книгу на стол -- this means that the book will be lying with its pages horizontal. This is the natural way of doing it.

Поставить книгу на полку -- this means the book will be put on the shelf with its pages vertical. This is the natural way when the format of the book is not very large.

Положить книгу на полку -- this means the book will be put on the shelf with its pages horizontal. This is the natural way when the format is large.

Поставить книгу на стол -- this sounds funny because a book cannot be put on a table with its pages vertical except with a special arrangement.

Поставить стакан на стол -- the glass will be vertical, just as it should be.

Положить стакан на стол -- funny, because it is not normally done deliberately.

Поставить стол на пол -- the table has legs, contact is small.

Положить стол на пол -- the table is put upside down or on a side (if it has one).

Мы принимаем (приняли) гостей.

You can also say "К нам приехали гости"

Thanks a lot for the help!!!

If you say комната чистая, does that mean the room has been dusted and windows have been wiped or can it also mean that it is straightened up without having any real cleaning being done? How would one say the room is straightened up (arranged)?

Which is more popularly used?
видак или видик?

I want to put a movie in the VCR.
Я хочу вставить фильм в видак.

Sit down on the couch!
Сядь на диван!

We are sitting down on the couch.
Мы садимся на диван.

So, basically
Ставить, Поставить - to Put things vertically
Класть, Положить - to Put things horizontally

Thanks a lot!

Well комната убрана means everything is put back in it's place. Like "I cleaned my room" "Я убрала свою комнату"

[quote]видак или видик?[quote]
видик

Originally Posted by Евгения Белякова

Мы принимаем (приняли) гостей.

You can also say "К нам приехали гости"

That's a hell of a lot of unnecessary wordage. Keep it simple - у нас гости - unless you want to sound pompous.

видак and видик are used by different types of people (think rocking youth vs. sobre judge). In my experience both are used equally often. My personal preferences are видаджо and видиллино.

Thanks for your help.

Still I have remembered some other questions I would like to ask.

How do you say:

to Turn on the TV: Включать, Включить телевизор
to Turn off the TV: Выключать, Выключить телевизор
Is there a shorter way to say телевизор?

Remote control - Дистанционное управление
And if so, is there a shorter way of saying it?

to Change the channel - ????

I believe that's all of my questions, thanks!

Originally Posted by Knave

Is there a shorter way to say телевизор?

телек

Remote control - Дистанционное управление
And if so, is there a shorter way of saying it?

пульт

to Change the channel - ????

переключить программу (or канал)

My mother calls пульт дистанционного управления “переключалка” or sometimes she just says “Где эта?..” and makes some typical movemets by hёr fingers.

лентяйка