Thread: Speaking to children

Лёха is much more informal than Алёша, I'd even say it's a bit crude (well, at least to my tender ears ). For example, it's natural for a schoolteacher to call a student Алёша but she won't call him Лёха unless she intends to be informal or humorous. But, yes, it's very common, there's even a stupid song that has the line: "Ах, Лёха, Лёха, Лёха, мне без тебя так плохо" .

Я бы не называла ребенка "Лёха". Мне бы это тоже резало слух.
"Лёха" звучит как уличное обращение. (street name)
Ребенок живёт в Америке и Алекс ему подойдет лучше всего.
Вот с Любой сложнее. Может быть Линда?

Ну если Лёха кажется вам грубым, то тогда уж Лёша. Алёша это детский сад какой-то.

Originally Posted by alexei

Ну если Лёха кажется вам грубым, то тогда уж Лёша. Алёша это детский сад какой-то.

Тебе лучше знать, devil in disguise.

Well my friend's twin brother's name is that, and they call him "Алёша", but I don't know him personally.

Originally Posted by Линдзи

Oh, I know that Александр is also a distinct Russian name. But aren't the two from simliar roots?

Yes, they came from the Greek root "alex". Александр means "defender of people" and Алексей means "defender"(source: Лев Успенский "Ты и твоё имя")

And I can't help recalling Лёха Попович, Илюха Муромец and Добрыняха ( ) Никитич.

Originally Posted by Friendy

And I can't help recalling Лёха Попович, Илюха Муромец and Добрыняха ( ) Никитич.

What's about Лёха Поп, Ильюха Муромский и Никита Добряк?

Originally Posted by BETEP

Originally Posted by Friendy

And I can't help recalling Лёха Попович, Илюха Муромец and Добрыняха ( ) Никитич.

What's about Лёха Поп, Ильюха Муромский и Никита Добряк?

Great! Only why did Добрыня replace his first name with his father's?

Originally Posted by Friendy

Great! Only why did Добрыня replace his first name with his father's?

Try to explain the way how Вячеслав Иваньков became Япончик.

Originally Posted by BETEP

Try to explain the way how Вячеслав Иваньков became Япончик.

Иваньков->Иванчик-Япончик

Originally Posted by JJ

Иваньков->Иванчик-Япончик

Following these trails Japan is a subject of Ivanovo.

Originally Posted by Friendy

Originally Posted by Линдзи

Oh, I know that Александр is also a distinct Russian name. But aren't the two from simliar roots?

Yes, they came from the Greek root "alex". Александр means "defender of people" and Алексей means "defender"(source: Лев Успенский "Ты и твоё имя")

I still doubt it for some reason, maybe because of my ignorance maybe because of my in intuition. Don't know really. I just have a hunch.
Friendy, do you believe that guy anyway?

Originally Posted by alexei

Friendy, do you believe that guy anyway?

He seemed logical to me but I'll try to find out some more.

Edit: This link for example.
http://www.wco.ru/biblio/sprav/AngDay/main.htm?mos
Actually, I think that name origins and meanings of the Greek roots must be pretty well known.

Wow, I guess I started a big discussion over names! It was really just curiosity that made me ask. Just an update...my niece Lubov and nephew Alexey are really adjusting to American life. Alexey survived is first 2 weeks of first grade and can now count to 50 in English. He's starting to use sentences that are half English and half Russian - pretty cute! His dad was tickling him and he said, "nee nah da, PLEASE!" Yesterday Luba said her first English word - pumpkin! She learned it in her preschool class because they're talking about Halloween.

An interesting note regarding names and nicknames - Luba calls her brother "Loych." Her parents decided to take the "y" out of her name because it'll be easier for Americans to guess at the pronunciation.

My first english word was "Ewubeta" - Elevator

Originally Posted by Friendy

Edit: This link for example.
http://www.wco.ru/biblio/sprav/AngDay/main.htm?mos
Actually, I think that name origins and meanings of the Greek roots must be pretty well known.

Oh, OK Friendy, I'll be just a defender :)

When I was in Ukraine in the orphanage I pronounced "машина" as "машини" and I said "собака" as "шапака". Also I always used to say this world like: лепка, something sort of like that. Not exactly. They thought I was speech delayed, hmph.

my first word was "no"....
all i said was "no" lol.

I heard that little russian kids often say

люблю. Is it a common mistake? or?

The first word I uttered was a four letter one. (c) Пить, курить и говорить я начал одновременно.