Russian names. Female names. Part 1

Usually Russian names are known from the most famous novels. It's great that the names like Natasha Rostova or Jury Zhivago are familiar. But still in RUssia we have much more beautiful names. Let's learn some of them. 

Besides, in Russia we have a nice traditions to use millions of short and tender names instead of the official one. A name may have up to 15 variants, which are often used. Once I was told a story when a guy could not understand a Russian novel just because instead of a 'main' official name , the hero was called in other ways, more 'domestic' and tender. so poor guy thought 'oh, how many people are there in the novel?!'  That's why here we will also tell you most common short and spoken variants of Russian names. 

photo by Evgeniy Potanin

from www.500px.com 

Female names, part 1

АЛЕКСАНДРА - ALEXANDRA – АЛЕКСАНДРА . Helpful, reliable (Greek). Spoken variants – Sasha - Саша, Shura - Шура, Sachenka - Сашенька

АЛЛА -   ALLA. Other (gothic). Bright, "invincible." Spoken variants: Alia Аля

АНАСТАСИЯ   ANASTASIA. Resurrection (Greek). Spoken variants: Настя, Ася
АННА ANNA. Gracious (Hebr). Spoken variants: Ania, Anuta, Nura, Annushka
АНТОНИНА - ANTONINA Extensive (Latin). Spoken variants: Tonia, Tosia
ВАЛЕНТИНА -  VALENTINA. Strong (Latin). Spoken variants: Valia, Valusha

ВАРВАРА - VARVARA - Barbara. Spoken variants: Varia, Varusha

ВАСИЛИСА - VASSILISSA. Regal (Greek). Idol. Spoken variants: Vasia
ВЕРА - VERA. Means Faith. Spoken variants: Verochka
ВИКТОРИЯ -  VICTORIA. The winner (Latin). Spoken variants: Vika, Vikulia
ГАЛИНА - GALINA Clarity (Greek). Spoken variants: Galia
ДАРЬЯ -  DARIA. Great Fire (Persian). Short variant: Dasha
ЕВГЕНИЯ -  EUGENIE. Noble (Greek). Zhenya, Zhenechka
ЕКАТЕРИНА -   CATHERINE. Hope the real, ever-pure (Greek). Short variants: Katia, Katyusha, Katenka

ЕЛЕНА -  ELENA. Solar (Greek). Short variant: Lena, Alyona, Alyonka

ЕЛИЗАВЕТА - ELIZABETH. Revering God (Hebr). Short and spoken variants: Лиза, Лизонька

ЗИНАИДА -  ZINAIDA. Divine (Greek). Short and spo ken variants:Zina, Zinochka

ЗОЯ -   ZOYA. Life (Greek). Short and spoken variants: Зоечка, Зоюша

IRINA. peace (Greek). Short and spoken variants: Ира, Ириша, Ирочка
КИРА -  CYRUS. Mistress (Greek). Short and spoken variants: Кира, Кирочка
КСЕНИЯ - Xenia. Wanderer (Greek). Short and spoken variants: Ксеня, Ксюша


to be continued

Our little mite, or a little report about the charity of the RLC and Saint Apostles Peter and Paul Orthodox church in Hong Kong

As you remember, during the Russian Language Day we organized the Russian Market, which had a charity mission - to collect money for the charitythe association of volunteers "Волонтеры в помощь детям-сиротам" (volunteers held orphans) - this is a charity foundation (web-site http://www.otkazniki.ru) - and one of their projects 'Children in need' - "Дети в беде"

Thanks to the guests of the festival, we have collected 1770 HKD, which recently were transferred to pay the debt for the work of a nurse who took care of a small orphan Dasha, born in 2007.

This is what we know about this girl born in Krasnoyarsk.

Beautiful bright girl with chubby cheeks and lips. Dasha is calm, friendly girl.She loves to communicate with others and is eager to do it.
Dasha needed to have a complicated operation. Such operations are made  only in Moscow. Surgeons, the most-the most wonderful, give good predictions for further recovery. After the operation Dasha got two organs, but that's not enough, and later she will need several difficult surgeries!



Still Dasha is a normal child. She was a good walk, run, perhaps in the future it will be possible to go in for a dancing! She also will be able to swim in the pool. Dasha is very smart and she likes logic puzzles, riddles, puzzles. It is well developed for his age.


Dasha is very patient because of illness and all that survived. She understands her situation and is eager to recover. We all hope that doctors will be able to help Dasha.

(source http://www.otkazniki.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=18538 ) 

We also published the info about the help to people in need after floods in Krymsk, Russia. Topic is here 

And we are happy to tell you that the parish of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul Orthodox church in Hong Kong collected 2,000 HKD for people in need in Krymsk. Thanks everyone! 

Common mistakes in Russian that native speakers often do or Проверь себя!

Do you think that Russian is difficult? And always wonder how do the RUssians manage to memorize ALL THAT ?

Well, today I will make you happy. Russians MAKE mistakes in their native language. Here is the list of most common mistakes nowadays

99% of  the users of BКонтакте (Russian Facebook) often do the following mistakes  

1. You doubt how to spell 'to come' - "приДТи" или "приЙТи"? Remember right now  - "приЙТи". 

2. ordered "экспрессo'? by the way, coffee is called "ЭСПРЕССО"! 

3. TO say 'I win' - what's the right variant  "ПОБЕДЮ" или "ПОБЕЖДУ"? None!! the verb "победить" has no form of 1 person singular (perfective) Options:  "Одержу победу", "сумею победить" 

4. Careful! There is no word  "вообщем" neither "вобщем"! There are "ВООБЩЕ" (actually) и "В ОБЩЕМ" (so, generally) 

5. In the document we put "ПОДПИСЬ" (signature),  but the fresco on the wall in a cathedral is a "РОСПИСЬ". 

6. Indeed the combination "самый лучший" (sounds like 'the most best') is nonsense, as well as "более красивейший" (sounds like 'more beautifulest') 

7. "В_течениЕ" (while, during), but "в_течениИ" (the current, flow of the river). 

8. What would be the imperative form for 'ехать' (to go)  "едь" или "ехай" или " езжай"? None of that! The only correct variants are  "ПОезжай" или "ЗАезжай", "Приезжай". Usage of "езжай"  without prefixes is possible but not desirable in colloquial language 

9. The way to write 'Excuse me' ("извЕни" instead of "извИни") is so rude that it'd be more correct to make a penalty for breaking this law! 

Useful information about the help to those in need in Krymsk after the flood

Famous charity-worker and a doctor Doctor Liza writes in her blog what exaclty is needed now in Krymsk. You may send the stuff. If you are in Russia, Russian Post says tat they send stuff for Krymsk FOR FREE (proof link http://www.russianpost.ru/ and http://www.russianpost.ru/rp/collective/ru/home/vnimanie).

• MEANS OF PROTECTION (rubber gloves, Working gloves in different sizes, Insect repellent, adhesive tape, means for repelling mosquitoes and rodents, Gauze bandage, respirators, Mosquito nets, gauze)
• MATERIALS AND TOOLS FOR CLEANING
• COTS, Bedding, BABY FOOD, FOOD, WATER

Here you may find information who exactly need help and what exactly they need http://flood.rynda.org/pomogite

Huge list of what is needed as well (In Russian. Feel free to ask our assistance for translation) http://krimsk-help.livejournal.com/1057.html#comments

Here is the list of point of collections the stuff (Moscow) http://slon.ru/russia/kak_pomoch_postradavshim_ot_navodneniya_den_pyatyy-810485.xhtml

Information from their web-site
NEEDED: Toys and stationery for children (inflatable balls; bubbles; crayons, coloring books; puzzles; paint; picture books).


Now we are clearifying WHERE exactly you may send it, if you want to send some stuff. Perhaps the best way would be to send it to 'friends of friends', so the volunteers who live in the nearest towns and may carry all things themselves. 


As for the money, you may transfer it through the charity foundation Predanie http://predanie.ru/blago/104710/

Krasnodar Department of Red Cross
р/с 40703810330000000106, 
в отделение № 8619 Сбербанка России, г. Краснодар, 
к/с 30101810100000000602, 
БИК 040349602, 
Краснодарское краевое отделение Общероссийской общественной организации «Российский Красный Крест», 
ИНН 2309030678 КПП 230901001. 
Назначение платежа: добровольное пожертвование гражданам, пострадавшим от наводнений в Краснодарском крае в 2012 году


If you want to help but not really inderstand how, please feel free to ask us here or in facebook in our group Learning Russian in Hong Kong

Cinema club: July, 17 at 7 pm, 'Hipsters'/ "Стиляги"

RUSSIAN LANGUAGE CENTER invites you to the 

RUSSIAN CINEMA CLUB

July, 17 at 7 pm

HIPSTERS / Cтиляги

(2008, Russia,120 min)

Director Valery Todorovsky Starring Anton Shagin, Oksana Akinshina Stilyagi (Стиляги) is a 2008 film, named Hipsters for its American release. It is a musical that deals with Soviet youth subculture "hipsters" or literally "obsessed with fashion" of the 1950s. Mels, a member of Komsomol (the youth wing of Soviet Communist Party), helps break up a hipster’s party. He briefly meets and is intrigued by a hipster girl named Polly, who invites him to hang out with her friends on "Broadway." Mels is drawn to Polly and seeks to win her over by becoming part of their world of colorful fashions, dancing, and loud music. He begins to adopt their fashions and even purchases a saxophone off the black market which he learns to play in the illicit jazz style…

• audience favorite at the Toronto International Film Festival,
• audience favorite at the Nashville Film Festival,
• audience favorite at the the Cleveland International Film Festival, winner of the Audience Choice Award at the Anchorage International Film Festival
• Golden Eagle Awards
• Best Film at the Nika Awards

VENUE: the classroom of RLC, 701, 7/F, Arion Commercial Centre, No. 2-12 Queen's Road West, Sheung Wan

Admission is free, however please write to us (2teacher@rlc.hk) or call us (2598 8389) to book a seat.

Help to those who suffered from the flood in Krymsk, Krasnodar region

Город Крымск в Краснодарском Крае почти полностью уничтожен наводнением. Неизвестно точное число погибших, но их счёт идёт на сотни. Уцелевшие жители лишены самого необходимого - еды, одежды, воды, лекарств и крыши над головой.  Этим людям помощь нужна очень сильно.


Средства будут собиратся в течение 2 недель в фонде "Предание". Мы купим необходимые для пострадавших ресурсы  и передадим организациям, непосредственно осуществляющим помощь. 
Времени очень мало - в течение суток мы определимся как именно будет оказана помощь и что мы закупим


информация от фонда Предание http://predanie.ru/blago/104710/




Krymsk town in the Krasnodar region is almost completely destroyed by flood. It is not known that the exact number of victims goes into the hundreds. The surviving inhabitants are deprived of basic necessities - food, clothing, water, medicine and shelter. These people need help very much.


The funds will be assembled into a 2 weeks in the fund 'Predanie' ("Tradition").  We will buy the necessary resources for the victims and give to organizations directly involved in care.
During the day we will determine exactly how the assistance will be provided and that we will buy.

information from the fund Predanie  http://predanie.ru/blago/104710/

If you want to help, please follow the link.

The fund Predanie is fully reliable and decent fund, I may assure you as my good friends work there. 

Irina 

Diary. Trans-Siberian journal, entry 30. Moscow!

1 Dec.

Moscow! Well, not quite. About to set off from the flat and catch the train to the capital for my city-break holiday with Sam. I’m told by Evgenii that it is -25C today – WTF. I am literally scared to step out.

Made it to Vladimir station – about as ugly as they come. Before that I stopped off at the Torgovy Center and bought a pair of brown leather winter shoes with a fluffy lining. Hopefully these will achieve the dual purpose of preventing my toes from falling off with frost bite, and allowing me to gain entrance to Moscow’s exclusive clubs and bars. Somehow I think my walking boots wouldn’t go down to well with the ‘face-control’ policy.

That was tense! Made it onto the train but not without a stressful few minutes running between the platforms trying to locate the correct one! It was bloody confusing seeing as the departures board said platform 3 but the train to Moscow actually arrived on platform 2 where it stopped for all of 1 minute. Wouldn’t want to miss a train at this stage in my trip! I am now sitting opposite a rather large woman with an incredibly ugly rat of a dog. Now just need to get to Moscow, pick up the keys, located the apartment, by vodka, lemons & tomato juice, have a big old drink and wait for Sam to arrive from London.

Made it! Sam’s done well in choosing this place! Big old apartment, smartly furnished on Tverskaya St, close to Mayakovskaya metro. I went out and had a little look round our area. Bought some provisions at the local, very swanky (expensive), supermarket. It seems we are staying in quite a swish part of town. I suppose we should expect to pay 3 times as much for everything here. Moscow is certainly massive, that’s for sure.

(c) Richard Breeson,
photos are taken from Richard's archive

The diary. Trans-Siberian journal, entry 29. Vladimir

30 Nov.

Chicken, rice, tomatoe, smoked salmon – my breakfast. Delicious! There’s no way I would normally eat that much at 8am, or indeed anything for that matter. But I feel a lot more healthy for is. I’m actually trying to delay going out as long as I can for fear of the cold. Colder than yesterday apparently. I really hope it isn’t like this all the time in Moscow – barely three weeks ago it was almost +15oC apparently. Strange to think that tomorrow I will be in Moscow already.

Can’t see how a warmer coat would really help more in this weather as it’s really my face that’s taking a battering here. Had a real high earlier though when I succeeded in getting my watch fixed at this little place near the entrance to the ‘Torgovy Centre’. All it needed was a replacement battery in the end – took about 5 mins of this very friendly skin-head attacking my Seiko with a pair of pliers and a hammer and all is well again (if a little scratched). I agreed to meet a mage of Ivan’s later on tonight called Tanya who works as a English teacher here.

The Crystal Museum was closed unfortunately so opted to go visit the Vladimir history museum where I saw a very famous, very old Andrei Rublev icon called the ‘Holy Virgin of Vladimir’ - Владимирская икона Божией Матери. Actually the best bit of the museum was the children’s not least because it was easier for me to understand the captions. Got some great chat from each of the lovely old dears who worked as the assistants on each exhibition. One was a pre-historic display with lots of mammoth tusks and old bones. The attendant mate me sit down on a rock and try to make a fire by rubbing two sticks together – I didn’t succeed but nor did I mind at all acting like an idiot since there was nobody else in the museum. In another exhibition I was take through a lesson in old Slavonic Script – occasionally being asked questions along the way. I found it really interesting even though I probably understood less than 10%. I think I’ll stick with modern Russian for now before moving on to Old Slavonic.

Well what an interesting evening (I seem to be using that adjective a bit too much I find – both in English and in Russian. Oh well, it was interesting). I went to meet Tatyana – a friend of Ivan’s who was keen to meet me. Based on our brief phone conversation I was expecting someone about 30 years young but no worries. She certainly had a lot more to say than the last Russian I met who wanted to practice English (back in Nizhny Novgorod). She invited me to her flat where we shared an ice-cold bottle of red wine in her kitchen. She lived alone in a 3 bedroom flat she had previously share with her father and sister. She was a very open person and her stories were quite poignant in many places. We spoke about many things. Some of her views were a bit wacky. Such as the one about how Russian is Helium and Arabic is Hydrogen and all the other languages are chemical elements too which derive from these two sources… or something. There were many other pseudo intellectual and philosophical exchanges between us – most of which went over my head. She was very friendly and offered for me to stay with her next time I was passing through Vladimir. She said that Russians like to revel in a gloomy inferiority complex which has existed since the age of Peter the Great. Thought for the day from Tanya: Americans are peaches – soft on the outside hard on the inside. Russians are coconuts – hard on the outside soft on the inside. Ok.