KZBlog

Something a dear friend send me that’s going around the Russian Internets 20 phrases in Russian That Will be of Use to English Football Fans during the Champion League Finals in Moscow. It appears to have originated with Prosports a popular Russian sports journal, but I can’t find it linked there. It’s very funny and obviously a joke, but also actually useful for learning some slang. It is however quite useless if you don’t already speak Russian.

I liked this one about swearing:

CHYORT POBERI! [CHORT pa-bee-REE] – expression of disappointment.
Synonims [sic]: Blin gorely! [BLEEN ga-REHlyl, Mat’ moya zhenshchina [MAT ma-YAH ZHENshchee- nal, Vot zhopa, obidno, da? [vot ZHO-pa, a-BEED-na, DAH?].

and

MATRYOSHKA [mat-RYOSH-ka] and USHANKA [ooh- SHAHN-ka] – most popular Moscow souvenirs. As soon as your suitcase is filled up with wooden dolls and big ‘hairy’, hats, you will need a phrase: ‘spasibo, mne bolshe nichego ne nuzhno v vashei strane’ [spa-SEEba, mne BOL-sheh neeche- GOH ne NOOZH-na v VAH-shei strah-NEH].

The last phrase translates as: Thank you. I don’t need anything else from your country now.

And of course,
“If your suitcases have been lost, if your hotel room has a view over a rubbish heap and in all of Moscow you can’t find an English speaking person, say bardak and you immediately will feel better.”

It’s true. It does make you feel better.