Questions about usage of a particular word
Questions tagged [словоупотребление]
654 questions
22
votes
12 answers
Why do some say "на Украине" and others "в Украине" and what is correct?
Can anyone explain? Is there some rule for when to use на and when to use в?
Ted
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18
votes
2 answers
Does “official Russian” language exist?
In the Soviet time, the speech of news-readers on radio and TV was considered a standard of the proper Russian language. The spelling in the newpapers was the standard of written language. To support editors and proof-readers, special dictionaries…
texnic
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13
votes
6 answers
Иметь vs у меня for physical things
I get that у меня is the most common pattern for showing ownership of things, say леопарда or самокат. What happens to the meaning were I to use Иметь instead? Does it mean the exact same thing?
(this Q seems to imply Иметь is for abstract things…
MatthewMartin
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13
votes
5 answers
What does «и» mean in the sentence like «Я и ртом надую»?
The и in both of these sentences appears extra. What is it doing?
— Зачем мне насос? — ответил Гена. — Я и ртом надую.
And from another children’s book:
Всех друзей я киселем вкусным угостила, не беда, что мне самой так
и не хватило.
Feel free…
MatthewMartin
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13
votes
2 answers
What is the Russian name closest to "Sideosha"?
When I was being adopted from an orphanage my mom claims that on several occasions, when calling for my little brother I called him by a nickname. I don't know how to spell the word or what it means I just know how to say it. I would call him…
D- lux
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12
votes
9 answers
"Деревья свалил ветер" vs "Деревья свалило ветром"
The former is a personal sentence and the latter an impersonal one, though both the sentences seem semantically (almost) equivalent.
Concerning personal and impersonal sentences, I have some idea how different they are in the light of the speaker's…
okazatsky
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12
votes
4 answers
What does the construction "У меня" mean in this joke?
Математик возвращается домой очень уставший, сердитый, и говорит жене:
– Какая ты у меня компактная!
– Что маленькая и миленькая?
– Нет замкнутая и ограниченная.
I understand the joke, but I specifically don't understand what "у меня" means in this…
chubbycantorset
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11
votes
3 answers
How to use the words "друг" and "подруга" properly? Как правильно описать отношения по-русски?
This question is related How to address a female friend, although somewhat different in its focus.
As far as I understand, the following is true:
If the speaker is female, then "подруга" means "friend" and "друг" means "boyfriend".
If the speaker…
Chill2Macht
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11
votes
3 answers
The meaning and usage of hyphenated suffix -с
I was reading a short story from Chekhov called "Который из трех?" when I came across a hyphenated suffix -с attached to certain words. Here are a few examples:
И при такой самой природе как приятно, знаете ли-с, любить такую
приятную особу, как…
rioru
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11
votes
6 answers
Meaning of "по ходу"
I've recently come across this expression in two sentences and the dictionaries are no help:
Слышь, сегодня лучше не попадайся на глаза шефу: он, по ходу,
озверел из-за чего-то там.
По ходу, нас кинули!
CocoPop
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10
votes
7 answers
Polite way to say I don't speak Russian?
When I was young, I learned that saying "I don't speak Russian." is as simple as
Я не говорю по-русски.
However, is this polite? Would it be more polite to say something along the lines of "I don't know how to speak Russian."? The difference being…
Etheryte
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10
votes
2 answers
Nuances of "мужик" versus "парень"
Парень is a word I'm comfortable using in Russian because I liken it to our guy in all its nuances. However, although I see and hear мужик all the time, I'm hesitant to use it because it seems that I've only ever heard it in negative contexts, e.g.…
CocoPop
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10
votes
4 answers
Reason for infrequent usage of оно
I have not seen оно many times when reading Russian, but it seems like это is used in its place a lot. Does оно serve a separate purpose? Because it does mean "it" and it seems as though it is seldom used.
casey
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9
votes
4 answers
Does "четверть" have a meaning in school topics equivalent to term, rather than quarter
Traditionally (as far as I know), schools have 4 quarters in Russia, and so they're called "1-я четверть, 2-я четверть". If a school only has three terms, is it still correct to call them "четверть", or should you use "треть"? I've never heard of a…
Kolichikov
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9
votes
5 answers
Meaning of "хитровыебанный"
What does it imply when someone describes or refers to another person as хитровыебанный? Is it a compliment or an insult? Also, what syllable is the stress on?
CocoPop
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