How many speak their significant others Language?

[b_fowler 0]

I was just wondering how many of you have started learning Russian, or have been or does you SO only know English?

I personally started learning bits and pieces two years before I met my fiance, I worked with a Russian who began teaching me Russian. He and his family moved here to the US on a diversity visa, and we worked together for about 2 years, he introduced my to my fiance and the rest is history. I began learning with him, picked up with my fiance, and am taking a college course in Russian.

Okay that is my story in a nutshell, let's hear yours!!

[russ 1]

I was just wondering how many of you have started learning Russian, or have been or does you SO only know English?

I made it up to Russian IV at the local university. Would like to continue, but no time. I can get the gist of conversations in Russia, though I miss a lot of words. We'll see how much I have forgotten this summer

Anyway, my Russian is good enough for my needs (reading news, basic conversation, buying stuff at a store, ordering food, etc.) Basically, I can hold a conversation with a 10 year old. Unless I were to live there, I doubt it will ever get much better.

We only speak English at home, except to the dog. He is usually in enough trouble that he needs to be yelled at in at least two languages. The poor dog also needs to answer to 20 various Russian declensions of his English name. No surprise, the vet wants to put him on Prozac. He is easily confused.

[K1researcher 0]

I speak russian and have a degree in russian history working towards Masters ..

I also speak chinese and czech.

We plan to speak both languages as she already knows English well and I want to become fluent

[russ 1]

We plan to speak both languages as she already knows English well and I want to become fluent

We tried that, lasted about 4 hours. Her (US) Masters in English trumps my 2nd year Undergrad Russian.

[Cixelsyd 1]

I don't even know the bad Russian words yet... and she refuses to teach me. At which point, I have to wonder what's the point of learning another language if you can't curse at your coworkers in a language they don't know.

No really, I've tried doing a little studying on my own and everything. I know a decent amount of words; I could just never keep up with how fast people talk.

I look forward to learning more though.

[amberdima 6]

i know less than 5 words in russian; however, he plans to teach me more upon arrival, as i will certainly have to teach him more english!

[lee b 2]

I was taking lessons and will pick them back up in a few weeks. I have to get a stupid tonsillectomy next week. My plan is to be fluent enough that I can say my wedding vows in russian by the time the visa is approved.

[mox 298]

I don't even know the bad Russian words yet... and she refuses to teach me. At which point, I have to wonder what's the point of learning another language if you can't curse at your coworkers in a language they don't know.

You need this book, my friend.

[eekee 182]

I don't even know the bad Russian words yet... and she refuses to teach me. At which point, I have to wonder what's the point of learning another language if you can't curse at your coworkers in a language they don't know.

You need this book, my friend.

You have to keep in mind, though, that Russian curse words are MUCH stronger. I understand mat well, but I never ever EVER use it myself in daily life, except for the occasional "pizdets." I am a "khoroshaya devushka." If your fiancee refuses to teach you, she probably doesn't want you using them. I have Russian girl friends who are deeply offended when a man uses curse words around them. As a non-native speaker, it's hard for you to gauge when it is appropriate and when it is not, so I suggest you shy away from them, especially if your woman does not walk around going "ahh pizdets suka na hui."

Edited April 8, 2009 by eekee

[meowmeowmeow 1]

i love that word pizdets it's my favorite word! i studied russian for 7 years and lived in russia when i was a kid, but i forgot a great deal of it from not practicing. but to answer the OPs question: yes i do. but i am from a minority from southern russia. russian grammar is incredibly hard, so good luck...

and for bad words, i can tell you some if you like, but they are really really disrespectful. not like ones in english....

suka is a good one, basically means ######

blyat...

nahui... to hell or on my ####

[Cixelsyd 1]

You have to keep in mind, though, that Russian curse words are MUCH stronger. I understand mat well, but I never ever EVER use it myself in daily life, except for the occasional "pizdets." I am a "khoroshaya devushka." tongue.gif If your fiancee refuses to teach you, she probably doesn't want you using them. I have Russian girl friends who are deeply offended when a man uses curse words around them. As a non-native speaker, it's hard for you to gauge when it is appropriate and when it is not, so I suggest you shy away from them, especially if your woman does not walk around going "ahh pizdets suka na hui."

Well, what else am I going to say when I come home drunk and throwing beer bottles around like small kittens?

I figure the least I could do is use bad words she knows...

[Nasturtium 500]

I learned a bit of Russian in the second grade and may or may not have basically forgotten all of it. As far as knowing my SO's language, yes, I know enough to understand about 30-100% of what is going on, depending on the subject, read the newspaper, and generally surprise him by speaking to him in it sometimes.

[eekee 182]

You have to keep in mind, though, that Russian curse words are MUCH stronger. I understand mat well, but I never ever EVER use it myself in daily life, except for the occasional "pizdets." I am a "khoroshaya devushka." tongue.gif If your fiancee refuses to teach you, she probably doesn't want you using them. I have Russian girl friends who are deeply offended when a man uses curse words around them. As a non-native speaker, it's hard for you to gauge when it is appropriate and when it is not, so I suggest you shy away from them, especially if your woman does not walk around going "ahh pizdets suka na hui."

Well, what else am I going to say when I come home drunk and throwing beer bottles around like small kittens?

I figure the least I could do is use bad words she knows...

Even if they don't know anything else in English, Russians generally know bad words. And Russian cursing is complex, so even if you knew the basic words, you still wouldn't be able to curse like a true Russian man who is drunk as all hell, so don't even try.

(Although act like that, and you will learn very fast because you will be screamed at a lot.)

Edited April 8, 2009 by eekee

[russ 1]

russian grammar is incredibly hard, so good luck...

Russian grammar is not hard. It is very regular, and very structured. You just need to learn the rules (cases, genders and number for every word). There are only a few spelling rules (memorize them, they don't matter for conversation though). If you spell with "и" where you should have "ы", or "у" where you should have "ю" - it is still readable. Just looks silly to a native speaker.

We have the same spelling rules in English, but they are much worse. The Russian ones can all be explained with the spelling rules, with almost no exceptions. English has millions of exceptions.

Without understanding cases and declensions, you will not have any prayer of understanding written or spoken Russian. I used the Golosa books - I thought they were pretty good.

[LvivLovers 39]

I speak dog commands and a few other important words like those for beer, food, etc.