Post: #51

There are different versions of so called translit (writing russian in Latin letters) I was using translit.com and this is how it looks there. Can't really tell you which one is right but both ja and ya sound the same.

Post: #52

What do you guys use as an online opener in russian?

Post: #53

If you talk about tinder then I suggest to keep it simple. If she liked you already she will reply. These should be good enough to start a conversation:

Hi, cool photos. Привет, классные фотки.
Hi, how are you. Привет, как дела?

Honestly I would advice to open in English. And then add a phrase in Russian, to suggest that you do speak some Russian. Being a foreigner in most FSU countries is still a DHV.

Post: #54

^ thanks Vinny.

Was doing what you advised but felt my response rate was too low, so figured maybe going russian would be better.

Post: #55

I don't have much luck with openers, but when a girl opens me it's like, in the bag already.
If a girl super likes me, it's already game over I win

But I have difficulty when I open.

As the saying goes, I do t get all the women I want, but I get all the women who want me

Post: #56

That is like saying "I can't sell but when someone begs me to buy my shit, I'm a great salesman".

Non-advice.

Post: #57

I wasn't trying to give advice, just sharing my experience. Easy fella

Post: #58

No offense, but it simply doesn't add anything. I lived for two years in Russia know, speak the language at a high level, attractive, dress well, know how to handle the local women. The only instance when they will open you is when they are shitfaced in the club and you talk obnoxiously loud in English.

Can only confirm what Vinny says, stick to the language you have the upper hand in. Unless your Russian is seriously good and you know conversational language, you don't wanna go there. If she speaks poor or no English and you know some Russian, that's a big bonus and will help you a lot but it's not the same thing. Simple screening that will save you a lot of time and nerves.

Post: #59

(05-05-2017 03:03 AM)Beirut Wrote:  What do you guys use as an online opener in russian?

I've got a Russian copy-paste routine I use for online. I can post it if you want.

It's pretty consistent for getting the number, then it's game-on to get to the bang from there.

Post: #60

(05-05-2017 04:59 PM)icrus Wrote:  No offense, but it simply doesn't add anything. I lived for two years in Russia know, speak the language at a high level, attractive, dress well, know how to handle the local women. The only instance when they will open you is when they are shitfaced in the club and you talk obnoxiously loud in English.

Can only confirm what Vinny says, stick to the language you have the upper hand in. Unless your Russian is seriously good and you know conversational language, you don't wanna go there. If she speaks poor or no English and you know some Russian, that's a big bonus and will help you a lot but it's not the same thing. Simple screening that will save you a lot of time and nerves.

What does a high level mean? Because it sounds like you are near fluent. In just two years? Adding words to my vocabulary has been the toughest since I only use so many words for every day conversation but then when I need that one extra word to complete a sentence, I don't have it because it is outside of my usual words.

Post: #61

My second maother tongue is Croatian so yes, I became almost fluent in about 18 months. Rest of the time I'm just learning slang. It's not a fair comparison though because the languages are very similar and I'm also pretty good at that.

Post: #62

(05-07-2017 06:17 AM)icrus Wrote:  My second maother tongue is Croatian so yes, I became almost fluent in about 18 months. Rest of the time I'm just learning slang. It's not a fair comparison though because the languages are very similar and I'm also pretty good at that.

Speaking a language of a same language group does help a lot. As a Russian Speaker I can understand Ukrainian easily and even speak it if I try. I get few words of Serbian and Polish. Learning Spanish opens door for learning Portugese etc.

Is there a big difference between Croatian and Serbian?

Post: #63

Almost none. They differ about as much as standard German and the Austrian variety. Slightly different pronounciation, a few different words, that's it. And Serbian also uses cyrillic, although young people, to my knowledge, write mostly in Latin.

Post: #64

Here is a tip of the day for those of you learning Russian, inspired by me learning Spanish.

Call girls on whatsApp!

I know it sounds simple, but most people don't do it these days. Just spoof your tinder to any Russian speaking country pipeline some girls beautiful or not and just call and try to talk to them no matter how bad your skills are. This helped me immensely when I was learning Spanish, and thanks to this technique, by the time I landed in Colombia I could already speak, shitty or not but I could convey my thoughts.

Currently out of south America for 10 days I am calling my regulars once in a while, to keep my Spanish fresh and even learn new words.

So do it today and report your progress.

Post: #65

(05-19-2017 12:46 PM)Vinny Wrote:  Here is a tip of the day for those of you learning Russian, inspired by me learning Spanish.

Call girls on whatsApp!

I know it sounds simple, but most people don't do it these days. Just spoof your tinder to any Russian speaking country pipeline some girls beautiful or not and just call and try to talk to them no matter how bad your skills are. This helped me immensely when I was learning Spanish, and thanks to this technique, by the time I landed in Colombia I could already speak, shitty or not but I could convey my thoughts.

Currently out of south America for 10 days I am calling my regulars once in a while, to keep my Spanish fresh and even learn new words.

So do it today and report your progress.

Already doing it. Tinder plus in moscow, tons of matches. Rather than call though, I send voice messages and receive voice messages, so I can play them a couple times and listen to them. The main one I'm talking to will correct my spoken grammar once in a while. Really helps with vocabulary and functional ability

Post: #66

OK... I need a little help here.

I'm in Ukraine, so maybe Russian or Uki would be in order?
But I am having trouble translating the concept of a girl who is
being a "brat".. as we would say in the US.

Just basically being a shit.. or a "stinker".. a BRAT.

All translations show brat as being a child. Hardly the same
thing you are trying to convey, when your girl is acting this way.


Thanks in advance..

Post: #67

Ты избалованная - you are spoiled.
Ты капризная - you are spoiled, capricuous.

This should convey the message. Can't think of a noun to define this, only adjectives.

Post: #68

(12-26-2016 11:03 AM)The Man w/ the Golden Gun Wrote:  Want to give Vinny's thread a bump, as well as an update:

I've switched over from watching Кухня to "The Dawns Here Are Quiet," both of which can be found on YouTube. Russian with English subtitles:





Vinny (or anyone else with Russian experience), what do you think of the following video on Russian cultural taboos? Accurate?





For convenience, I'll list some of the ones in the video below:
-When you finish your drink, place it under the table.
-Don't sit at the corner of a table. More importantly, don't let girls sit at the corner of a table.
-Make sure to wish farewell to everyone you met when you leave a venue.
-Don't whistle indoors.
-Remove glove before shaking hands.
-Take off shoes before entering.
-Never give odd # of flowers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(10-26-2016 10:50 AM)crudeloyalist Wrote:  Just seen the first episode of Кухня. Quite funny and well put together. Only option of subtitles are auto generated so the translations seem bad, even in Russian (maybe someone could verify usefulness?). I was able to follow the plot quite well although it's hard to tell if that's due to my listening skills or good cinematic story telling.

There seems to be mixed opinions on the viability of watching TV shows/films to learn languages. Sort of off topic but a rule of good filmmaking/screenwriting is that your audience should understand most of the plot through visuals alone. Show, don't tell. I have seen a few Russian TV shows online with english subtitles and I'm not particularly convinced it's helped improve my Russian.

Vinny, you said being able to understand 2 for every 5 words in your lazy language thread is good enough. That's probably where I'm at. This show seems fun so I'll give it a try.

So there is no way of watching Кухня with English subtitles besides the youtube auto-shitytranslating? I have only found the first 7 episodes with proper subtitles.
And it is kind of addictive so I would like to continue to watch it with English.

Post: #69

Could you link the first 7? Or are they easy to find?

I only found the first when i looked for it a while back.

Post: #70

(06-19-2017 07:54 AM)Beirut Wrote:  Could you link the first 7? Or are they easy to find?

I only found the first when i looked for it a while back.

First 7 Episodes

There they are

Post: #71

Hey vinny,

When Russians are talking about Сутка or сутки I get the impression they're talking about a day, or a shift, but the meaning to me is foggy

They have trouble explaining it to me as well

Can you shed some light?

If it means day, how does it differ from день?

Thanks in advance to anyone who has some clarification

Post: #72

I am Croat, will Duolingo Russian course together with the fact that I am Slav help me? I can read Serbian cyrillic, would that also help?

Post: #73

Beijong afaik it means 24 hours. It was in my memrise course and i also just asked someone and they said the same

Post: #74

@Beijong: Yea Beirut is right. That means 24 hours.

@Sterling: This will definitely help. I am sure you can learn russian in couple months if you are serious.

Post: #75

(08-10-2017 03:44 AM)Vinny Wrote:  @Beijong: Yea Beirut is right. That means 24 hours.

@Sterling: This will definitely help. I am sure you can learn russian in couple months if you are serious.

Is it the same as saying shifts ?