Thread: Is there a word ...

So instead of "Mr" use "Господин"

Dimitri you sound like my TV!

And I agree that Mr=Господин, but, again, you heard this from TV REPORT and not from your window or in the street!!

Originally Posted by Leof

And please don't forget to take off your hat, make a deep bow and kiss the edges of her gloves, calling some strange woman госпожа.
Calling a strange man господин, be shure to stay aside to not meet his arm.

(Just in case)
Don't say babushka, it's babushka and dedushka

Hmmmmmm, yes, but if it's not someone you meet in the street (where you can cheat and just use no title at all ), but a person whose (last) name you know? Like in Dimitri's example?

I know the politest form would be to use first name and patronymic - but what if you don't know them?

And would there maybe be a difference between addressing a Russian - and one of us weird foreigners? Because here, I have also heard russians use "господин (something)" when addressing non-Russians.... but never when addressing Russians.

Difficult issue, this....

Originally Posted by BabaYaga

Hmmmmmm, yes, but if it's not someone you meet in the street (where you can cheat and just use no title at all ), but a person whose (last) name you know? Like in Dimitri's example?

I know the politest form would be to use first name and patronymic - but what if you don't know them?

Well, being a foreigner you can always use "господин Иванов" and no one would blame you. But it seems to me that in this case (if the person is not too old) a pretty polite form would be to use just his full first name (say, Dmitri, not Dima).

Originally Posted by BabaYaga

And would there maybe be a difference between addressing a Russian - and one of us weird foreigners? Because here, I have also heard russians use "господин (something)" when addressing non-Russians.... but never when addressing Russians.

I think we use "господин" when addressing non-Russians as an analogue to use first name and patronymic. When a foreigner is not too old or he's not a VIP, I think we would call him by name..

(Please correct my English)

Господин or госпожа are used as formal forms of address widely. When you, for example, want to sound official and estranged in some business, it's all right. I used it and people didn't look at me as if I had the third eye.

Originally Posted by Leof

Originally Posted by pisces

I don't think it is ever polite to address people as if they were your relatives. It offends me when people do so with me.
I think the most polite way is to avoid the vocative term altogether and start your speech with "извините, пожалуйста" or something like this.

I ask forgive me for my question, but why didn't you just quote me?

It's because I started writing the message before you did. Is it so hard to guess?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Господин sounds really really stupid when adressing a stranger. Please, don't do it.

Replace it with гражданин or дядя and you'll sound better.

Don't forget тётя.

and гражданочка...
I remember an old lady called me гражданчик on the metro when I bumped into her.

called me гражданчик on the metro

нет такого слова :о)

гражданочка есть

Originally Posted by Dimitri

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Originally Posted by Dimitri

Originally Posted by capecoddah

So what you're saying is: "господин" & "госпожа" are the eqivalent of "sir" & "ma'am" ?

В США говорят "Мистер Смит", а в России "Господин Смит".

Мистер - тоже можно говорить, но это редко или в ироническом смысле

Господин sounds really really stupid when adressing a stranger. Please, don't do it.

По телевизору то говорят? С чего ты взял, что это тупо?
По отношению к иностранцам говорят и мистер может-быть, но ГОСПОДИН точно говорят.
Господин Шрёдер, например - что не слышал никогда?

I mean adressing people in the street. I thought we weren't discussing official receptions.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Originally Posted by Dimitri

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Originally Posted by Dimitri

Originally Posted by capecoddah

So what you're saying is: "господин" & "госпожа" are the eqivalent of "sir" & "ma'am" ?

В США говорят "Мистер Смит", а в России "Господин Смит".

Мистер - тоже можно говорить, но это редко или в ироническом смысле

Господин sounds really really stupid when adressing a stranger. Please, don't do it.

По телевизору то говорят? С чего ты взял, что это тупо?
По отношению к иностранцам говорят и мистер может-быть, но ГОСПОДИН точно говорят.
Господин Шрёдер, например - что не слышал никогда?

I mean adressing people in the street. I thought we weren't discussing official receptions.

Вопрос был - как сказать по-русски "Мистер такой-то..." - в Америке на улице люди образаются друг к другу "мистер" ?

а у нас говорят "Товарищ" или "Гражданин"
а в ответ можно услышать "Тамбовский волк тебе товарищ"


а к дамам просто обращаются "Женщинаааааа"

хотя некоторые мужчинки называют женщин "Девушкааааа" (даже если ей за 40 лет)

Originally Posted by kasper

а к дамам просто обращаются "Женщинаааааа"

это уж слишком...

такова российская реальность СОВОК вообщем

Originally Posted by kasper

такова российская реальность СОВОК вообщем

В совке разве "женщинами" бросались?

В общем

ну там в основном "товарищами" бросались

Originally Posted by Rtyom

В общем

это ты меня исправил типа?

Originally Posted by kasper

Originally Posted by Rtyom

В общем

это ты меня исправил типа?

Ага. Через 48 минут вспомнила?

Вообщем - чё за зверь? Не самая распространённая ошибка, но вижу у многих.