Thread: To contradict oneself...

I've been listening to Pimsleur's Russian tapes, and they ask me to "contradict" myself. I think they are saying "данет" (yes/no) but I am not sure. I cannot find this word in any dictionary. Is this slang? Am I spelling it correctly? Or am I not hearing this correctly? Thanks....

Originally Posted by Haksaw

I've been listening to Pimsleur's Russian tapes, and they ask me to "contradict" myself. I think they are saying "данет" (yes/no) but I am not sure. I cannot find this word in any dictionary. Is this slang? Am I spelling it correctly? Or am I not hearing this correctly? Thanks....

I believe it is generally written "да-нет". I do not know the precise translation, but my host grandmother used it in the context of "Why did you even ask that, idiot Americanka?"

e.g.
Me; "Do you think I should wear my snowboots?"
Grandma: "Da-neeeet. It's forty below zero out."

"Да" doesn't mean "yes" here, it means something like "well.." and depending on intonation it may show annoyance or hesitation of the speaker. I think "well, not really" is a possible translation of "да нет" too.

Линдзи! Where have you been for the past year or so??? Missed your witty remarx.

Да-нет often means smth like "not at all" "au contraire""you've got it all wrong" ....

Originally Posted by chaika

Линдзи! Where have you been for the past year or so??? Missed your witty remarx.

Aw, hugs. I've been in the technological wasteland that is South Texas.