Thread: Trying to find the perfect way to describe my Russian level to Russians

If I say stuff like: Я немного говорю по-русски , russians will underestimate my russian language skills and will resolve to speaking with me their bad English (which is worse than my russian!), or their bad Hebrew.

If I say я знаю русский язык, they will overestimate it and use big words, slang, and talk really fast that I'll start missing whatever they're saying.

I was thinking of я знаю русский язык так себе... is that good? Or any other alternatives I can use?

I believe it is enough to start speaking (no matter what) in Russian and everybody will get the idea about your level of Russian (even if not about the topic of conversation ).

BTW You almost don't use Russian here in forum so I have no idea about your level.

You can say Я чуть чуть понимаю. Sounds natural and has the meaning you're looking for.

Originally Posted by it-ogo

I believe it is enough to start speaking (no matter what) in Russian and everybody will get the idea about your level of Russian (even if not about the topic of conversation ).

Interesting way to go about it Can't help but see the logic in this.

BTW You almost don't use Russian here in forum so I have no idea about your level.

Потому что если я буду использовать русский язык, каждый вопрос будет взял слишком много время сочинять. В придачу, и главное, если я сочиняю по русский, я могу причинять много недоразумений, к несчастью...

You can say Я чуть чуть понимаю. Sounds natural and has the meaning you're looking for.

I'll remember that, thanks

So you refuse to listen to bad Hebrew but want people to listen to your bad Russian ?

Originally Posted by Doomer

So you refuse to listen to bad Hebrew but want people to listen to your bad Russian ?

That depends who speaks what worse

For your problem "Я предпочитаю говорить по-русски - для тренировки" will do.

So the problem is they want to practice their bad Hebrew or English and you want to practice your bad Russian. You can reply in Russian and those one with more insistence will win. Just be sure that your vis-a-vis does speak Russian.