All episodes of The Word's Worth

The Word's Worth

Episodes

Plug It, Mute It, or Hear It

The words for things that shut out sound and let you hear it are the same in Russian. Of course they are.

Published 08/11/23

The Word's Worth

Published 08/11/23

Alexei Navalny and the Secret List of Forbidden Words

It's hard to know where general language ends and criminal slangs begins.

Published 08/04/23

And Yet It's Nevertheless, All the Same, After All

The joy of particles (not).

Published 07/28/23

A Guide to Giving a Bribe in Russian

What you say when you bribe depends on whether you want something or they want something.

Published 07/21/23

Who is Gulya and Why Do We Care About Her Nose?

The preposition "c" has some weird constructions.

Published 07/14/23

Spitting, Eating Your Teeth and Other Weird Gestures

When a person eats his teeth, is that bad or good? Or even possible?

Published 07/07/23

Take Your Pick: Mutiny, Coup, Uprising or Nothing

What happened last week is a changing story that depends on speaker, day, mood and the subjunctive.

Published 06/30/23

Wait - What Russian Month is This?

If you thought you knew the names of the months in Russian, think again.

Published 06/23/23

What's in a Name? With Russian Holidays - Everything

This week Russia celebrated Russia Day. If you have no idea what that holiday is, join the gang.

Published 06/16/23

A Gathering of Witches, Dues, Herbs and Classmates

Сбор and сборы are unusual words: sometimes the singular and plural forms have unrelated meanings.

Published 06/09/23

Buy a Brilliant and Applaud an Artist

Oh, those false friends... every translator's nightmare.

Published 06/02/23

Tricks of the Trade

Using the right verb and the right case to express changing and exchanging is a big headache.

Published 05/12/23

Under the Mighty Oak I Sit, Stupidly

Sitting on stumps, falling out of trees and stepping in rotten logs figure prominently in Russian expressions.

Published 05/05/23

The Cat Cried and Ran By

Cats are popular pets In Russia but unpopular in folk expressions.

Published 04/28/23

Serving and Not Serving in the Military

The confusing terminology of conscripts, reservists and draft dodgers.

Published 04/21/23

Two Words, Three Letters and Ten Meanings

Oh, the joy of little Russian words.

Published 04/14/23

How a Saint Becomes a Sinner

How some Russian words change meaning in and out of church.

Published 04/07/23

Of Courtyards, Grifters and Days Off

All about things and people that pass by, pass through, and ought to pass off forever.

Published 03/31/23

Shame That is Cringeworthy

Understanding teenagers is a struggle that makes you cringe.

Published 03/24/23

Of Ear Noodles and Maniacal Printers

How you can spend a day translating three words.

Published 03/17/23

Please Don't Hit on Me, Bug Me, or Harass Me

How everyone from gangsters to presidents keep people calm and in their place.

Published 03/10/23

A Pocketful of Somethings

How can I say something? Let me count the ways.

Published 03/03/23

A Year of the Language of War

A new set of language norms have taken hold in Russia.

Published 02/24/23

The Ears Have It

Russian ears are more athletic than English ears.

Published 02/17/23