Russian/Lesson 1

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Describing language skills[edit | edit source]

Read the dialogue of two well-acquainted people - Ivan (male) and Olga (female):

Cultural note

Russian has a variety of ways to address a person. Personal names have at least 3 forms:
full (Константин),
short (Костя)
and pet (Костик, Костенька).
Other possible forms are vulgar (Костян) and familiar (Костька).
Note that Russians almost never use full forms of personal names.

Иван: Привет, Ольга.

Ivan: Hi, Olga.

Ольга: Привет.

Olga: Hi.

Иван: Слушай, ты хорошо говоришь по-китайски?

Ivan: Listen, do you speak Chinese well?

Ольга: Да, а что?

Olga: Yes; why?

Иван: К нам партнёры из Китая завтра приезжают, а переводчик заболел. Не могла бы ты его заменить? Мы заплатим.

Ivan: We have an appointment with partners from China tomorrow, but our interpreter has fallen ill. Could you please replace him? We'll pay.

Ольга: Да, конечно.

Olga: Sure.
Cultural note

Привет is the most popular informal greeting. Expression "Привет. Как дела?" (Hi, How are you?) is often used to begin conversation.