Szczepanska Kathryn. Russian: A Self-Teaching Guide

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the articulation of the sound [ch] to the front of the mouth, toward the teeth, to

more accurately reflect the correct pronunciation. In other words, start to pro-

nounce [t] and then immediately follow with [ch].

As for the hard consonants, there is no way to represent on paper the whoosh-

ing sound of the letters ж and ш in the mouth of a native speaker. Focus your

attention on passing the air past your molars, in the back or your mouth, rather

than at your front teeth. But by all means, find a Russian who can produce for

your ear the true sound of these letters.

One further fact must be mentioned regarding the fricatives ш and щ. In the

Moscow (or Standard) pronunciation, the first is pronounced as a hard [sh], which

does not appear in English. But the second, the Russian щ, is pronounced as a soft

[sh], which corresponds exactly to the English. In the Petersburg pronunciation,

however, the letter щ is pronounced with a further articulation as [shch].This pro-

nunciation is actively discouraged not only by the faculty of the Language

Department of Moscow State University but also by teachers of Russian abroad,

who find that students have a most difficult time with this letter. The sound itself

occurs in English within a word (for instance, question) or between words ( fresh

cheese) but does not occur in initial position.

Voiced or Devoiced

Russian consonants may be either voiced or devoiced. This phenomenon is

observed only in the pronunciation of Russian words but serves to explain one of

the peculiarities of the Russian accent that is occasionally encountered in English.

Voiced consonants are pronounced with the vocal cords, and devoiced consonants

without.The following six pairs comprise the voiced/devoiced consonants of Rus-

sian: б/п, д/т, в/ф, з/с, г/к, and ж/ш.

The environment in which devoicing operates is word-final position. (Conso-

nants may also be devoiced within a word in consonant clusters, but this is not of

great significance for introductory remarks on phonetics.) Thus, to Russian speak-

ers, the English words bank and bang are pronounced absolutely identically, as are

the pairs mob and mop, have and half, mad and mat, raze and race. If you cannot

remember to devoice consonants, you will have an accent in Russian similar to the

Russian who says in English, “Fife bucks,” when he wants to say, “Five bugs.”

There are several letters that represent voiced or devoiced sounds in Russian

that do not have corresponding letters to depict their counterparts. One such

example is the devoiced sound represented by the letter ч. The voiced counter-

part phonetically would be the sound represented in English by the letter j, but

this sound has no letter in Cyrillic. Nonetheless, the sound exists in certain envi-

4 RUSSIAN: A Self-Teaching Guide

ronments. In order to represent this sound in the transcription of foreign words,

the combination дж is used: Джон (John), Джóрджия (Georgia), Нью-Джéрси

(New Jersey). Similarly, the letters х, ц, and щ are devoiced only. Russians resort

to various means to represent voiced variants for foreign words that contain these

sounds. The voiced variant of ц, for instance, which occurs in surnames from

Georgia, is represented by the letters дз: Шеварднáдзе, Орждоникñдзе. The

voiced variant of щ appears only rarely in spoken Russian and is usually spelled

by the letter combination зж or a double ж: éзжу (I drive), дрóжжи (yeast),

уезжáть (to depart).

The letters м, н, р, л are voiced only.

Pronunciation Rules for Vowels

Whereas there are ten letters in the Cyrillic alphabet that represent vowels, there

are a different number of actual vowel sounds because of the following pronunci-

ation rules.

1. The letters а and о are pronounced as а and о when under stress. When not

stressed, they are reduced to the following values:

а: Whenever the vowel а occurs after a stressed syllable or more than one

syllable before the stressed syllable, except for initial position, it is pronounced as

the u in but or the a in about or sofa. Sometimes books use the symbol e (also

called a schwa) to represent this reduced sound.

Thus, a multisyllabic word with the letter а in all vowel positions would be

phonetically represented as а_e_а_á_e_e.

о: The vowel о is pronounced as а in the first pretonic position (the syllable

immediately before the stressed syllable) and at the beginning of a word. In all

other positions it is pronounced as e (see above).

The same theoretical multisyllabic word with the letter о in all positions

would be shown as а_e_а_ó_e_e.

Examples

хорошó [kherasho] (three distinct vowel sounds,

but one vowel letter!)

бородá [berada]

окнó [akno]

обстанóвка [abstanofke]

отстоûть [atstayat’]

поговóрка

[pegavorke]

The Russian Alphabet 5

Examples

отрóсток [astrostek]

отворотñть [atveratit’]

достопримечáтельность [desteprimichatil’nest’]

2.The letters е and я are pronounced with their full value only under stress. In

all other positions their value is reduced to a sound approaching the vowel и.

Examples

язπк [yizyk]

дéсять [desyit’]

пятьдесûт [pyit’disyat’]

интерпретáция [intirpritatsiye]

беспокóиться [bispakoyitse]

Transliteration

When a Russian word is written in the Roman alphabet, it is said to be transliter-

ated. This is an attempt not to reproduce the correct pronunciation but rather to

render the letters from one alphabet into another. The system of transliteration

used in this book is close to the phonetic value of the letters, with a few exceptions.

1. The soft vowels я, ё, and ю are written ya, yo, and yu in all positions. The soft

vowel е is written ye initially and after vowels but e after consonants.There is

no special symbol for the vowel э, which is written in all positions as e.

2. The vowels и and ы are transliterated respectively as i and y in all positions.

3. To avoid needless punctuation, the consonant ш is written as sh and the con-

sonant щ as shch.

4. The soft sign is indicated by a single apostrophe; the relatively rare hard sign

by a double apostrophe.

NOTE: In the reverse process when Russian adopts foreign names that

begin with an h, which does not exist in Russian, the h is replaced by the

letter г. Thus, the following proper names are the correct transliteration

into Russian: Гавайи (Hawaii), Гомер (Homer), Галифакс (Halifax),

Голландия (Holland), and Голливуд (Hollywood).

6 RUSSIAN: A Self-Teaching Guide

Practice

In the following tables, you will see words of varying degrees of familiarity. Try to

pronounce them aloud before you scan your eye to the English version.

Typical Russian Names for Women

Full Name Nickname English

Áнна Áня Anna

Алекcáндра Сáша, Шÿра Alexandra

Анастасñя Áся, Нáстя Anastasia

Вéра — Vera

Валентñна Вáля Valentina

Виктóрия Вñка Victoria

Галñна Гáля Galina

Евгéния Жéня Eugenia

Екатерñна Кáтя Katherine

Елéна Лéна Yelena, Ellen, Helen

Елизавéта Лñза Elizabeth

Зóя — Zoya, Zoë

Ирñна Ñра Irene

Ларñса Лáра Larisa

Любóвь Лîба Lyubov, Amy

Лñдия Лñда Lydia

Марñ

на (various) Marina

МарñяМáша Maria, Mary

Надéжда Нáдя Nadezhda, Hope

Натáлья Натáша Natalie, Natasha

Нñна — Nina

Óльга Óля Olga

Раñса Рáя Raisa

Светлáна Свéта Svetlana

СофñяСóня Sophia, Sonia, Sophie

Тамáра Тóма Tamara

Татьûна Тáня Tatiana, Tania

Îлия Юля Julia, Julie

Unusual names for both men and women in Russian are most often associated

with the names of obscure saints from the Russian Orthodox calendar or are bor-

rowings from exotic, non-Slavic languages.

The Russian Alphabet 7

Some Unusual Russian Names for Women

Full Name Nickname English

Авдóтья Дÿня —

Агáфья Агáша —

Василñса Вáся Vasilisa

Владлéна

Лéня —

Дáрья Дáша Daria

Евдóкия (various) —

Евфросñнья Фрóся —

Зинаñда Зñна Zinaida

Кñра — Kira

Ксéния Ксáна —

Лукéрья Лÿся —

Матрёна Матрёша —

Нинéль

Нéля —

Праскóвья (various) —

Серафñма Сñма —

Фёкла ——

Most of these names have no direct counterpart in Modern English. Many were

popular in the nineteenth century, especially among the peasantry. Thus, Тётя

Даша sounds to the Russian ear something like Auntie Millie. They are widely

encountered throughout Russian literature.

Some Typical Russian Names for Men

Full Name Nickname English

Алексáндр Сáша Alexander

Алексéй Алёша Aleksei

Анатóлий Тóлик Anatoly

Андрéй Андрîша Andrei, Andrew

Антóн Антóша Anton

БорñсБóря Boris

ВадñмДñма Vadim

Васñлий Вáся Vasily

8 RUSSIAN: A Self-Teaching Guide

Contracted from Vladimir Lenin.

“Lenin” backward.

Full Name Nickname English

Вñктор Вñтя Victor

Владñмир Волóдя Vladimir

ВячеслáвСлáва Vyacheslav

Глеб — Gleb

Григóрий Грñша Gregory

Давñд — David

Дмñтрий Дñма Dmitry

Евгéний Жéня Eugene

ИвáнВáня Ivan, John

Ñгорь — Igor

Ильû Ильîша Ilya

КонстантñнКóстя Constantine

Лев Лёва Leo

Максñм Макс Maxim

МихаñлМñша Michael

НиколáйКóля Nicholas

Олéг — Oleg

Пáвел Пáша Paul

Пётр Пéтя Peter

Семён Сéня Simon

Сергé

й Серёжа Sergei

Степáн Стёпа Steven

Фёдор Фéдя Theodore

Îрий Îра Yuri

Ûков Ûша Jacob

Some Less Frequently Encountered Russian Names for Men

Full Name Nickname English

Аврáм Аврáша Abraham

Аполлóн Аполлóша Apollo

Аркáдий Аркáша Arcady

Артём Тёма —

Афанáсий Афóн Athanasius

ВиссариóнВñся Vissarion

ВладлéнВлáдя —

Всéволод Волóдя —

The Russian Alphabet 9

Full Name Nickname English

ГавриñлГáня Gabriel

Генáдий Гéна —

ГерасñмГéра —

ДаниñлДáня Daniel

Демьûн Дёма —

Евдокñм Евдóша —

ЕмельûнЕмéля —

Ермолáй Ермóша —

Захáр ——

ИпполñтПóля Hippolytus

Кирñлл Кñра Cyril

Кузьмá Кÿзя —

Лаврéнтий Лáврик Laurence

Лукá Лукáша Luke

Макáр ——

Никñта Нñка —

ПлатóнТóша Plato

Порфñрий Фñрик

Porfiry

РодиóнРóдя —

Терéнтий Терёха —

ТимофéйТñма Timothy

ТихóнТñша —

ТрофñмТрóша —

ФиллñпФñля Philip

Фомá — Thomas

Харитóн ——

Typical American Names in Russian

Russian English Russian English

Джон John Пол Paul

Джéннифер Jennifer Мœри Mary

Бéтти Betty Кœтрин Catherine

Шон Sean Сáра Sarah

Кéлли Kelly Тñффани Tiffany

Джек Jack Джордж George

10 RUSSIAN: A Self-Teaching Guide

Russian English Russian English

Крис Chris Эдуáрд Edward

Стив Steve Пñтер Peter

Дайáна Diana Сáндра Sandra

Дœйвид David Джеф Jeff

Луñза Louise Лéсли Lesley

Дóнна Donna Сñнтия Cynthia

Some Countries of the World in Russian

1. Фр áнция 13. Бразñлия 25. Китáй

2. Итáлия 14. Чñли 26. Экуадóр

3. Вьетнáм 15. Болгáрия 27. Чéхия

4. Áвстрия 16. Алжñр 28. Гермáния

5. Афганист áн 17. Япóния 29. Пóльша

6. Аргент ñна 18. Казахстáн 30. Эфиóпия

7. Ир áк 19. Изрáиль 31. Тÿрция

8. Ирлáндия 20. Дáния 32. Голлáндия

9. Канáда 21. Швейц

áрия 33. Арáвия

10. Мéксика 22. Пакистáн 34. Украñна

11. Португ áлия 23. Грéция 35. Узбекистáн

12. Ñндия 24. Австрáлия 36. Корéя

Some Countries of the World in English

1. France 4. Austria 7. Iraq

2. Italy 5. Afghanistan 8. Ireland

3. Vietnam 6. Argentina 9. Canada

The Russian Alphabet 11

10. Mexico 19. Israel 28. Germany

11. Portugal 20. Denmark 29. Poland

12. India 21. Switzerland 30. Ethiopia

13. Brazil 22. Pakistan 31. Turkey

14. Chile 23. Greece 32. Holland

15. Bulgaria 24. Australia 33. Arabia

16. Algeria 25. China 34. Ukraine

17. Japan 26. Ecuador 35. Uzbekistan

18. Kazakhstan 27. Czech Republic 36. Korea

The following are arranged alphabetically according to their position in the Rus-

sian alphabet. See how quickly you can recognize them. Some of them you will

spot immediately, but some are truly opaque. Note that the correct Russian

spelling does not necessarily correspond to the English pronunciation.

American States

Áйдахо Калифóрния Нью-Йóрк

Áйова Канзáс Нью-Мéксико

Алабáма Кентÿкки Нью-Хœмпшир

Алûска Колорáдо Огáйо

Аризóна Коннéктикут Оклахóма

Арканзáс Луизиáна Орегóн

Вайóминг Массачÿсетс Пенсильвáния

Вашингтóн Миннесóта Рóд-Айленд

Вермóнт Миссисñпи Сéверная Дакóта

Виргñния Миссÿри Сéверная Каролñна

Вискóнсин Мичигáн Теннессñ

Гавáйи Монтáна Техáс

Дéлавэр Мэн Флорñда

Джóрджия М

œриленд Îжная Дакóта

Зáпадная Виргñния Небрáска Îжная Каролñна

Иллинóйс Невáда Îта

Индиáна Нью-Джéрси

12 RUSSIAN: A Self-Teaching Guide

The Cyrillic Alphabet

Below you will find the Russian alphabet in upper and lower case, with phonetic

transcription.

Letter Transcription Letter Transcription

Аа [a] Рр [r]

Бб [b] Сс [s]

Вв [v] Тт [t]

Гг [g] Уу [u]

Дд [d] Фф [f]

Ее [ye/e] Хх [kh]

Ёё [yo] Цц [ts]

Жж [zh] Чч [ch]

Зз [z] Шш [sh]

Ии [i] Щщ [sh’]

Йй [y] — ъ hard sign

Кк [k] — ы [y]

Лл [l] — ь soft sign

Мм [m] Ээ [e]

Нн [n] Юю [yu]

Оо [o] Яя [ya]

Пп [p]

The Russian Alphabet 13