Friends and family members greet each other with a simple "Привет". for those who want to 'Copy'+'Paste' : - Привет, Эмили. - Привет, мам. Use "Здравствуйте" with people you barely know, with much older folks (unless they are your relatives) or with government officials. - Здравствуйте, мисс Наталия. - Здравствуй, Эмили. Remember, "Practice makes perfect". Your e-mails with questions and comments are welcome. If you are brave enough, you can e-mail me an audio file with your greeting in...

Just to change the pace a little, my daughter Emily and I are trying our hand at covering one of the most popular contemporary Russian songs originally performed by Alla Pugacheva and her daughter Kristina. Those two don't need introduction.

Today I fill a request of one of my Podcast listeners/ YouTube subscribers by reciting a short poem written by one of Russia's greatest talents - Anna Akhmatova. Лотова Жена - Анна Ахматова (Lot's Wife - Anna Akhmatova). To view the text: http://youtu.be/2fEWD9bqAWk

The video that goes with this episode can be found on my YouTube channel: Episode 031 Toasting is a huge thing in Russia. Has been for ages. A full glass must be drunk to the bottom after every toast, because “a toast without wine is like a wedding without a bride!” A traditional Russian drinking party usually includes a sequence of several standard toasts. You can refresh them by watching my Most Common Russian Drinking Toasts/Phrases video. The most common first toast is... To our meeting!...

Russian accented vowels sound much richer and fuller than their English equivalents. That is because Russian is spoken much more vigorously than is English - there is greater muscular tension throughout the organs used in speech production.

Lesson on bilabial stop consonants [p] [b] and dental consonants [n] [t] [d] 1. Greeting by a subscriber (Thank you, Jeanette, and Happy Birthday!) - Спасибо! С днём рождения! 2. Recommendation of recording apps - Voice Record Pro (for iOS) - Hi-Q mp3 Voice Recorder (for Android) Another way - Google voice 209-980-RUSS (209-980-7877) BIG thanks to all who show their support by: - purchasing authentic Russian food at Russiantable.com also via a banner 3. Lesson - bilabial stop consonants [p]...

Subscribers spoke. Some of you mentioned you would enjoy listening to Russian spoken without thinking of grammar. I've been thinking of doing it for a while now. Auditory training is an integral part of any foreign language learning. Thus, I created a dedicated playlist within my YouTube channel. I hope to fill it with masterful creations of Russian poets.  Question: would any of the parents of young kids out there be interested in Russian fairy tale/poetry/short stories recorded by 'yours...

Inspired by last night's thunderstorm, our next poem is by Ф.И. Тютчев "Весенняя Гроза". English translation by Dmitri Obolensky

Learn some sport-related vocabulary words in Russian.

Russian Stress Patterns ( Accented Vs Unaccented Vowels) 1. Greeting by a subscriber (Thank you, Emily) - Спасибо! 2. BIG thanks to all who show their support by: - purchasing authentic Russian food at Russiantable.com also via a banner 3. Lesson - Russian Stress Patterns ( Accented Vs Unaccented Vowels) 4. Contact Twitter @russianspoonful Email:  [email protected] Website: speakrussian.blogspot.com You can also leave a voicemail by dialing 209-980-RUSS (209-980-7877) and I will...

Learn some Russian words related to weather, seasons, and pets. Twitter @russianspoonful Email:  [email protected]

Russian Poems series. "Stars" by Sergei Esenin.

Part 2 of Крокодил (The Crocodile) by Korney Chukovsky. Крокодил (часть 2) Корнея Чуковского. 

Final Part 3 of Крокодил (The Crocodile) by Korney Chukovsky.

Borrowing: The best way to think about the borrowed words in Russian is from a historical perspective. The influx of foreign words came in waves depending on what country or culture had influence in Russia: • Byzantine influence and conversion to Christianity: influx of Greek words • The reign of Peter the Great: influx of German and Dutch words (e.g. шлагбаум,  гастарбайтер, бутерброд and so on) • End of 20th century, perestroyka (перестройка) and post-soviet Russia, globalization: influx of...

Little Fir Tree (В Лесу Родилась Ёлочка).   This is the most popular Russian New Year's song. Every Russian knows it. It's something that no winter holiday can do without. The song was born in 1903 and since then it brings joy and excitement to Russian kids just like that little fir tree from the song. Автор текста (слов): Кудашева Раиса Адамовна Композитор (музыка): Бекман Леонид Карлович "В лесу родилась елочка" В лесу родилась елочка, В лесу она росла, Зимой и летом стройная, Зеленая была....

Most Common Russian Drinking Toasts. There are more, but these will get you started:)

Many of you probably know that Russians have always been big on celebrating the New Year rather than Christmas. After the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It wasn't until 75 years later, in 1992, that the holiday was openly observed. Today, it's once again celebrated in grand fashion, with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in incense-filled Cathedrals amidst the company of fellow believers and the painted icons of...

Almost everybody has a book that they read and re-read in their childhood. When we read it again as adults it takes us back into the wonderful world of childhood fantasies and dreams. I have a book like that too. In Russian it was called "О чём думает моя голова". Translated into English "What's on My Mind". It's a collection of short stories about 2 elementary school girls, the best of friends. About their everyday adventures, how they made friends, how they took revenge on enemies, tried to...

Ever wanted to know how to call your family members in Russian? I don't mean nicknames:) I mean official titles.  

Ever wanted to pronounce the days of the week in Russian like a native? Piece of cake!

The video that goes with this episode can be found on my YouTube channel: Episode 030 Asking questions in Russian can be quite a daunting and intimidating task, especially if you try to follow the proper grammar rules of declention, gender agrement, etc. What if you are a beginner? Should you not even try? Of course not. By knowing basic Russian interrogatives, you'll be able to express your questions, even without an extensive vocabulary or grammar knowledge. Lots of times you don’t even...