Jump to content

18 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Posted
Can someone tell me what this word is? устаканились

It is sort of a slang term that means "things have settled down". Literally, it is "the glass has settled". You may recognize the root word стакан or glass.

2007-01-19 Marriage

2007-10-15 K3/K4 Issued in Moscow

2008-04-17 Permanent Resident Card issued in Chicago

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

I recognized the "stakan" part, but the rest didn't make much sense to me. I looked it up in my official dictionary and it didn't say squat about this word. So, I waited for my "unofficial" dictionary, a.k.a. my Russian wife to come home and asked her about it. She said she's never heard of it before and when I told her what the others on here said, she said "OK. I guess it can be used like this, but I've never heard this word before."

Seems that some Russian slang is regional.

Русский форум член.

Ensure your beneficiary makes and brings with them to the States a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination form)

If the government is going to force me to exercise my "right" to health care, then they better start requiring people to exercise their Right to Bear Arms. - "Where's my public option rifle?"

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

You can guess some of the meaning of устаканились

у - prefix, often meaning away, or an aspect variation

стакан - glass

или - past tense, plural

сь - reflexive (acting on itself)

Looking at the word without knowing its meaning, you can say "The glass has taken away itself' The "y" prefix doesn't have an "away" meaning here (that happens with motion verbs, or the genative case), and you can't guess how a prefix changes a word exactly.

This can help with making an more accurate translation, though the word is idomatic enough that it is insufficient for a correct translation.

Does anyone know of a good book of Russian idioms?

I recognized the "stakan" part, but the rest didn't make much sense to me. I looked it up in my official dictionary and it didn't say squat about this word. So, I waited for my "unofficial" dictionary, a.k.a. my Russian wife to come home and asked her about it. She said she's never heard of it before and when I told her what the others on here said, she said "OK. I guess it can be used like this, but I've never heard this word before."

Seems that some Russian slang is regional.

2004-08-23: Met in Chicago

2005-10-19: K-1 Interview, Moscow (approved)

2007-02-23: Biometrics

2007-04-11: AOS Interview (Approved)

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
You can guess some of the meaning of устаканились

у - prefix, often meaning away, or an aspect variation

стакан - glass

или - past tense, plural

сь - reflexive (acting on itself)

Looking at the word without knowing its meaning, you can say "The glass has taken away itself' The "y" prefix doesn't have an "away" meaning here (that happens with motion verbs, or the genative case), and you can't guess how a prefix changes a word exactly.

Wow! :thumbs: I never analyzed words this way.

Filed AOS from F-1
Green Card approved on 01/04/07
Conditions removed 01/29/09

Citizenship Oath 08/23/12

Posted
у - prefix, often meaning away, or an aspect variation

стакан - glass

или - past tense, plural

сь - reflexive (acting on itself)

Care to try that with another one?

УКОЛБАСИЛИСЬ :devil:

Aug 2003 first icebreaker ;-)

2003 - 2006 letters, letters, letters

Aug 2006 met at regatta in Greece

03/20/2007 I-129f mailed to TSC

08/06/2007 NOA-2, 118 days from the 1st notice.

10/24/2007 Interview in Moscow, visa approved

12/06/2007 Entered at JFK, got EAD stamp.

01/25/2008 Married in St. Augustine, FL

02/19/2008 AOS package mailed

09/30/2008 AOS interview - APPROVED!

10/11/2008 Green card in the mail

01/14/2009 Our little girl, Fiona Elizabeth, was born on Jan. 14, 2009 :-)

Filed: Other Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
у - prefix, often meaning away, or an aspect variation

стакан - glass

или - past tense, plural

сь - reflexive (acting on itself)

Care to try that with another one?

УКОЛБАСИЛИСЬ :devil:

Great word! I have a good combination too:

Сопритюхнуться и вздребезнуться.

Variants, anybody?

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

I've got a good book for curse words, but if it's not a "bad" word, then I'm #$%%A@Q!

Russ, you've got a good jump on finding the meaning with your system, but like determining English words based on their Latin roots, it's a crapshoot. And to quote my man Caesar... "the die is cast."

Русский форум член.

Ensure your beneficiary makes and brings with them to the States a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination form)

If the government is going to force me to exercise my "right" to health care, then they better start requiring people to exercise their Right to Bear Arms. - "Where's my public option rifle?"

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
Russ, you've got a good jump on finding the meaning with your system, but like determining English words based on their Latin roots, it's a crapshoot. And to quote my man Caesar... "the die is cast."

It isn't "my system" - just the grammar of the Russian language.

You always need to be aware of false cognates. (words that are similar in two languages, but mean something totally different). Blues Fairy's point is similar - just because a word appears to have a root you know, the word may mean something else. This is more true of colloquial language and slang, but also occurs with dictionary words.

English words do not all have latin roots - there are plenty with Greek and French roots, as well as borrow words from other languages. And some German as well (English is a germanic language).

Even slang in Russian will agree in Case, Number and Gender -- knowing the grammar is still important. It doesn't matter if you know what the rules are called, you just need to use them correctly. As a non-native learner of the language, that usually means that learning the grammar is easier than learning from context.

2004-08-23: Met in Chicago

2005-10-19: K-1 Interview, Moscow (approved)

2007-02-23: Biometrics

2007-04-11: AOS Interview (Approved)

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
Great word! I have a good combination too:

Сопритюхнуться и вздребезнуться.

Variants, anybody?

What in the world does it mean?? :blink: I've never heard anything like it. :help:

Filed AOS from F-1
Green Card approved on 01/04/07
Conditions removed 01/29/09

Citizenship Oath 08/23/12

Filed: Other Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
Great word! I have a good combination too:

Сопритюхнуться и вздребезнуться.

Variants, anybody?

What in the world does it mean?? :blink: I've never heard anything like it. :help:

It's actually a toast that my professors back in Russia loved! It means literary to clink glasses.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
Russ, you've got a good jump on finding the meaning with your system, but like determining English words based on their Latin roots, it's a crapshoot. And to quote my man Caesar... "the die is cast."

It isn't "my system" - just the grammar of the Russian language.

You always need to be aware of false cognates. (words that are similar in two languages, but mean something totally different). Blues Fairy's point is similar - just because a word appears to have a root you know, the word may mean something else. This is more true of colloquial language and slang, but also occurs with dictionary words.

English words do not all have latin roots - there are plenty with Greek and French roots, as well as borrow words from other languages. And some German as well (English is a germanic language).

Even slang in Russian will agree in Case, Number and Gender -- knowing the grammar is still important. It doesn't matter if you know what the rules are called, you just need to use them correctly. As a non-native learner of the language, that usually means that learning the grammar is easier than learning from context.

You've almost got me sold on your "proper" learning. Each time you add a little bit, I see it's probably the part that I'm lacking to take me to the next level. This post has illuminated to me why I've been thinking to myself "You don't need grammar. Grammar is useless without knowing the other stuff first." I realize up to this point, I haven't needed grammar because all (or the significant part) of the Russian language I've learned and used has been learned/used in context, not in a formal study setting.

I've picked up a little here and there from chitayu moi slovar (which isn't all the way right but it works for communication purposes.... now I need some endings!) because my goal has only been to be understood in an informal setting and to bridge the gap in communications between non-fluent speakers of either language. Now that I'm among fluent speakers of both languages (my wife is so much better than me!) it's time for me to step my game up. Guess I'm going to Princeton!

Русский форум член.

Ensure your beneficiary makes and brings with them to the States a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination form)

If the government is going to force me to exercise my "right" to health care, then they better start requiring people to exercise their Right to Bear Arms. - "Where's my public option rifle?"

  • 2 months later...
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
You've almost got me sold on your "proper" learning. Each time you add a little bit, I see it's probably the part that I'm lacking to take me to the next level. This post has illuminated to me why I've been thinking to myself "You don't need grammar. Grammar is useless without knowing the other stuff first." I realize up to this point, I haven't needed grammar because all (or the significant part) of the Russian language I've learned and used has been learned/used in context, not in a formal study setting.

I've picked up a little here and there from chitayu moi slovar (which isn't all the way right but it works for communication purposes.... now I need some endings!) because my goal has only been to be understood in an informal setting and to bridge the gap in communications between non-fluent speakers of either language. Now that I'm among fluent speakers of both languages (my wife is so much better than me!) it's time for me to step my game up. Guess I'm going to Princeton!

There was a question a while back about where the Princeton course went. Apparently the guy who wrote it is no longer at Princeton, so it too is gone.

Fortunately, he got permission to put it up on BitTorrent. Here: http://www.mininova.org/tor/904728

Masterrussian.net has links to just about anything else you might want.

I also still recommend the Голоса series as well (what I used in class). Less suited to self-study, but the exercises are very good.

If anyone remembers who was asking about the, PM me or them.

2004-08-23: Met in Chicago

2005-10-19: K-1 Interview, Moscow (approved)

2007-02-23: Biometrics

2007-04-11: AOS Interview (Approved)

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...