Thread: introdution

Hello! I found this site while trying to learn Russian (duh) And it's helped. I almost know the entire alphabet, but I'm confused with some letters.

I also found this interesting fact that I had a Great Great grandpa that fought in world war 1 on the Russian side. That's about all I know about him.

well, I hope this will be a good stay!

Здравствуйте.

Make sure you have the alphabet down and covered before doing anything else otherwise it will cause you confusion with grammar and pronounciaton rules later on.

What makes these certain letters confusing?

Hello and welcome Riko!

welcome )

Originally Posted by волк

What makes these certain letters confusing?

hard to pronounce. ъ, ь, x, ж and й are the ones that are hard for me to pronounce.

And I recongnize Здравствуйте. Does it mean how do you do?

ъ and ь make no sound at all, which may be why you have trouble pronouncing them unless you mean pronouncing the names of them which I don't think is very important when you're just beginning.

Honestly I haven't yet figured out the difference between x and k. I'm sure the more experienced guys can clear this up.

ж is just the zh sound in 'pleasure'. Its very easy for an american to pronounce.

I haven't quite figured this one (й) out either.

Здравствуйте means hello. Hopefully this is the most difficult word in russian, Its very hard for me to say.

Originally Posted by Riko

hard to pronounce. ъ, ь, x, ж and й are the ones that are hard for me to pronounce

Й is pronounced like a very short "Yuh" where the h is silent. Like the word "Yukon"

Ж is pronounced "ZH" as well as "Juh". Think of it like a J with a Z sound.

Ъ is the "hard sign". This affects the consonant after it. It has no sound.

Ь is the "soft sign". This affects the consanont before it. This also has no sound.

Х is pronounced "Huh" as in the word "Hotel" It is very breathy.

You might want to study voiced and voiceless consonants and vowels.



Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.

thanks, that cleared everything up a lot This place seems to be very friendly.

Originally Posted by Layne

Здравствуйте means hello. Hopefully this is the most difficult word in russian, Its very hard for me to say.

There are a lot more tougher words.

Originally Posted by Layne

Здравствуйте means hello. Hopefully this is the most difficult word in russian, Its very hard for me to say.

yeah, I've been working on that

This forum is the place you called friendly? And you are from California??? You must be from L.A.

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

This forum is the place you called friendly? And you are from California??? You must be from L.A.

haha Nope, California. It's almost the same (if you know what goes on here) There's been 3 shootings near my house, one of witch a few people got some lead to the head.

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Originally Posted by Layne

Здравствуйте means hello. Hopefully this is the most difficult word in russian, Its very hard for me to say.

There are a lot more tougher words.

Yeah I know right. Здравствуйте is nothing next to чмо.

Originally Posted by Riko

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

This forum is the place you called friendly? And you are from California??? You must be from L.A.

haha Nope, California. It's almost the same (if you know what goes on here) There's been 3 shootings near my house, one of witch a few people got some lead to the head.

Ahh, Pismo Beach! How I love the place
I am in the bay area

Originally Posted by BlackMage

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Originally Posted by Layne

Здравствуйте means hello. Hopefully this is the most difficult word in russian, Its very hard for me to say.

There are a lot more tougher words.

Yeah I know right. Здравствуйте is nothing next to чмо.

Yup. Have fun with сельскохозяйственный!

Классицистический!

Originally Posted by Riko

And I recongnize Здравствуйте. Does it mean how do you do?

If you put it through certain translators it does.

Originally Posted by Layne

Здравствуйте means hello. Hopefully this is the most difficult word in russian, Its very hard for me to say.

Please let me quote you on that if you plan on sticking around...

"Классицистические сельскохозяйственные достопримечательности". - трудновыговариваемое суперпредложение.

Здравствуйте, классицистические сельскохозяйственные достопримечательности

So what does Здравствуйте actually mean if not hello? Some translators say it is 'how do you do?'. Is it a question as in 'how do you do?' or a declaraion like 'hello'?

And please feel free to quote me on anything, unless it contradicts something else I say.