Thread: the way Russians speak English

I apologize if anyone told this joke before somewhere in the forum. I honestly searched through it in case it really was once told. But I do not see it, so the following is more than joke - because I know lots of Russians who speak dirrectly that way :

so two Russians talk in English :

First: Which time is now?
Second: Without five six.
F: Such much??
S: Whom-how...
F: End MGU??
S: Ask!!

and this is how it sounds in Russian :

F: Который теперь час?
S: Без пяти шесть.
F: Так много??
S: Кому-как...
F: Закончил МГУ?
S: Спрашиваешь!

It was a year ago in the thread "Double-meaning, strange-sounding and other fun words/phrases" but it mysteriously disappered.

Now how bout a correct English translation.

I can't believe you really need it!

What time is it?
It's five to six.
So late??
You better know...
Graduated from MGU? (Московский Государственный Университет)
Never ask! Sure!

something ike this

I know this version:
-Which watch?
-Six watch.
-Such much?
-Whom how.
-MGIMO* finished?
-Ask!


*- Московский Государственный Институт Международных Отношений

I don't get кому-как

Why does спрашиваешь mean "dont ask?"

A riddle:
What is "too-tee-too-too-too"?
Answer: Two russian tourists in a hotel a trying to order tea to the room 22.

Originally Posted by basurero

I don't get кому-как

Why does спрашиваешь mean "dont ask?"

Actually, "кому как" means "it can be so if you're think it is, but I think differently".

"Спрашиваешь" here is the exclamation meaning that the second interlocutor could have never say the thing he has said already because it's a plain fact.

Originally Posted by wanja

A riddle:
What is "too-tee-too-too-too"?
Answer: Two russian tourists in a hotel a trying to order tea to the room 22.

A nice riddle!

Originally Posted by Leof

I can't believe you really need it!

What time is it?
It's five to six.
So late??
You better know...
Graduated from MGU? (Московский Государственный Университет)
Never ask! Sure!

something ike this

That's not proper English.

I'm sure it's not! I am not so strong in it
However I thought I reflected the sense in general.
Ok. Help me translate it in proper English!

I think it should be "What's the time?". Am I right?

Originally Posted by pranki

I think it should be "What's the time?". Am I right?

No that was the only part that was OK. :P

What's the time / What time is it = same same

Originally Posted by Leof

I'm sure it's not! I am not so strong in it
However I thought I reflected the sense in general.
Ok. Help me translate it in proper English!

You ask, you shall receive:

What time is it?
It's five to six.
It's so late??
not to me it isn't!
Have you graduated from MGU? (Московский Государственный Университет)
Why ask?

Thank you!

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??

It's correct.[/quote]

Originally Posted by basurero

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??

It's correct.

Is it that late?

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Originally Posted by basurero

but is it all right with "It's so late??"
I mean I used to think that in questions I always should put IS first.
So would I be wrong saying : Is it so late??

It's correct.

Is it that late?

Also correct, and more natural I think.

What about just 2 words: So late?

That was my first translations - "So late??"
But it seems it's not a proper English.
I thought nobody talks properly in such alike situations...