Search by tag «languages» 97 results
6 Words With Unexpected Russian Origins
Balalaika, samovar, matryoshka – ask anyone which Russian words are known around the world and they’ll bring up one of these. But there are many words in English and other languages that we use on an everyday basis without even suspecting that they originated from, or were popularized by, the Russian language. Let’s learn more about them!
28.04.2025
The Four Lost Letters of the Russian Alphabet
If you’ve ever seen any text printed or written in Russian over a hundred years ago, you might’ve noticed that the letters are quite different from the ones in use today. And it’s not all about the fonts – the alphabet itself has undergone a number of changes over the decades. So, which letters have we lost along the way?
03.03.2025
What’s in a Name: 4 Russian Words With Unexpected Origins
One of the best parts of learning a language is the opportunity to dig deep into etymology – the study of words and their origins – and discover all sorts of lucky accidents, historic events, and incredible connections between distant cultures. Here are a few Russian words that conceal within themselves some truly fascinating stories.
20.01.2025
The 5 Rarest Languages of Russia
Did you know that some Russians speak the language of the Vikings? Or that there are quite a few unwritten languages still around, though previously considered extinct? This list contains five little-known languages in Russia that are spoken by a small number of people – including by just one person.
23.08.2024
5 Phrases to Master the Russian Language
Despite the general belief, memorizing Russian grammar and phonetic rules can be simple and also fun. The secret is… Learn these five amusing yet helpful phrases to slay the Russian case system, tricky word endings, and, worst of all, stresses.
19.02.2024
The Most Puzzling Letter of Russian Alphabet
Today, February 2, is the birthday of Ы – one of the most mysterious letters in the Russian alphabet. How did the letter come about? Is it true that no Russian word starts with ы? And what is its pop-culture impact? Let’s find out.
02.02.2024
Express Your Emotions Like a Russian
What would you say if you stubbed your toe? And what about if you saw a cute little cat or doggo? And which words do you dread leaving your mouth the most when you’ve already clicked “send?” In this article, we will look into some common interjections that will help you describe the multitude of your emotions and feelings the Russian way.
22.01.2024
To Dot or Not To Dot: Letter Ё in Russian Alphabet
The letter ё (yo), which is currently found in over 15,000 Russian words, not counting names and surnames, was added to the Russian alphabet 240 years ago – but disputes over its usage have persisted ever since.
28.11.2023
Learning Russian: Beyond the Classroom
It's no secret that learning Russian can be hard, but who says it has to be? Here's our rundown of great out-of-class activities, lovingly picked by our Russian teachers, learners, and yours truly, to help you make progress while having fun.
29.08.2023
Songs in Languages We Don’t Speak
There’s something beautiful about songs in foreign languages, isn’t there? You can’t understand the lyrics, so you pay more attention to the melody or, perhaps, you try to guess the words. Please welcome our musical favorites in mysterious – to us, anyway – tongues.
25.11.2022