Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: The word something

  1. #1
    Подающий надежды оратор
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    25
    Rep Power
    13

    The word something

    Can somene explain why Pimsleurs 1 gives the pronunciation of the word "something" as ( shtonybutdz) they say "something to eat" as (shtonybutdz pa yeast)

    The dictionary I have shows "something" to be (shto-ta)

    I find this very confusing. Is Pimsleurs not accurate sometimes.
    Scott

  2. #2
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    13
    Something is что-то (shto-ta) or что-нибудь (shto-nibut'). I guess your shtonybutdz is что-нибудь
    My English isn't so good, зато с русским все в порядке ))
    I'll be very thankful, if you correct my mistakes.

  3. #3
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Montreal, QC
    Posts
    479
    Rep Power
    13
    This is a very interesting question. I know the russian person, who has lived in America for very long time, and when he speaks Russian, he makes this mistake: he mixes the words "shto-nybutdz" and "shto-ta", because they are both translated into English as "something".

    The difference is pretty subtle. You say: "shto-nybutdz" to eat (you don't really know, what exactly, it is unspecific, nobody knows yet what you will eat), but "he knows "shto-ta" - he knows something specific, he already knows what is it. So, "shto-nybutdz" - is a "something unspecific", "shto-ta" - is a "somthing specific".

    Maybe somebody can give a more accurate definition.

    P.S. We also has "koe-chto" - "something" as well. It's "something specific and I know, what is it". For example: "I know koe-chto <something> about him".
    Find your inner Bart!

  4. #4
    Подающий надежды оратор
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    25
    Rep Power
    13
    Ahh thank you both. I feel much better now. I always get good answers on this site. Little things like this question answered make a big difference to a beginner learning on his own. I was afraid I was learning something incorrectly. Literally. Thanks again. Scott

  5. #5
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    13
    Gerty, your explanation is fine, but I can't understand, why shto-nybutdz???
    My English isn't so good, зато с русским все в порядке ))
    I'll be very thankful, if you correct my mistakes.

  6. #6
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Montreal, QC
    Posts
    479
    Rep Power
    13
    Quote Originally Posted by pranki
    Gerty, your explanation is fine, but I can't understand, why shto-nybutdz???
    Well, I don't understant it either, but I just kept the spelling. I aldso think it's clother to "shto-nibud", but what do I know?
    Find your inner Bart!

  7. #7
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    c:\earth\usa\minnesota
    Posts
    819
    Rep Power
    13
    Nibutdz reflects the sound of the softened "d". Like with "Tb" its said like "ts"...kinda.

  8. #8
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Северо-Восточный Администритивный Округ.
    Posts
    3,471
    Rep Power
    18
    Bah! u guys make it so hard.

    Короче,
    shto-to - Something
    Shto-nibud' - Anything.

    Ya hochu chto to, no ne znau tochno - I want something, but i dont know what it is

    Hochesh chevo-nidud' (Shto-nibud') vypit' ? Do you want anything to drink?

    Easy as pie.

    Scott
    Is Pimsluers not accurate sometime?
    Haha, Pimsluer is not accurate all the time.
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

  9. #9
    Moderator Lampada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    СССР -> США
    Posts
    18,025
    Rep Power
    35
    Вот нашла свой старый пост:

    Что-то, кто-то, какой-то - unknown what or who
    Что-нибудь, кто-нибудь, какой-нибудь - it does not matter what or who.

    With -то it is something certain, definite, but unknown to a speaker or listener.
    With -нибудь it is something uncertain, indefinite and can be anything or anybody.
    "...Важно, чтобы форум оставался местом, объединяющим людей, для которых интересны русский язык и культура. ..." - MasterАdmin (из переписки)



  10. #10
    Старший оракул
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Здесь... С ложкой
    Posts
    783
    Rep Power
    13
    Lemme see if I got this

    Я хочу что-то пить. - I want something to drink (somethign defininte though like milk or water)
    Я хочу что-нибудь пить. - I want sometning to drink (could be gasoline for all I care)
    Я знаю
    Что делаю
    Вилкою
    Пирогу

    How to Post

    Last edited by Darobat on Mon Mar 5, 1759 1:19 am; edited 243 times in total

  11. #11
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Северо-Восточный Администритивный Округ.
    Posts
    3,471
    Rep Power
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by Darobat
    Lemme see if I got this

    Я хочу что-то пить. - I want something to drink (somethign defininte though like milk or water)
    Я хочу что-нибудь пить. - I want sometning to drink (could be gasoline for all I care)
    Right, as in english u could say "Im so thirsty, give me anything to drink"
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

  12. #12
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Montreal, QC
    Posts
    479
    Rep Power
    13
    Quote Originally Posted by Dogboy182
    Bah! u guys make it so hard.

    Короче,
    shto-to - Something
    Shto-nibud' - Anything.

    Ya hochu chto to, no ne znau tochno - I want something, but i dont know what it is

    Hochesh chevo-nidud' (Shto-nibud') vypit' ? Do you want anything to drink?

    Easy as pie.
    It's not quite right. Incorrect, I say. "Anything" is much closer to "Что угодно". In some situation you can translate it "что-нибудь", but the meaning is different:

    Do you want anything to drink? - Ты хочешь хоть чего-нибудь выпить?
    I can do anything for you. - Я для тебя что угодно сделаю.
    Take anything. - Возьми что угодно.
    Take something. - Возьми что-нибудь.
    He took something. - Он что-то взял (I don't know what).
    Find your inner Bart!

  13. #13
    Завсегдатай
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Северо-Восточный Администритивный Округ.
    Posts
    3,471
    Rep Power
    18
    Well it still anything.
    Вот это да, я так люблю себя. И сегодня я люблю себя, ещё больше чем вчера, а завтра я буду любить себя to ещё больше чем сегодня. Тем что происходит,я вполне доволен!

Similar Threads

  1. A word! My cottage for a word!
    By radomir in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: August 14th, 2009, 10:53 AM
  2. Word to Word translation
    By penguinhead in forum Getting Started with Russian
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: April 12th, 2009, 10:39 PM
  3. help with this word, please
    By mekemker in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: August 7th, 2006, 02:47 AM
  4. Word of the day
    By начало in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: July 17th, 2006, 09:01 AM
  5. Word for you
    By JKDMan in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: October 20th, 2005, 05:54 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary