Ten Russian phrases that are well worth knowing

To coincide with BBC Radio 4’s Russia-themed season, marking the centenary of the October Revolution, we’ve put together ten helpful expressions that should stand you in good stead if you find yourself in conversation with a Russian speaker over tea, or a glass of vodka...

By Alexander Kan, BBC Russian Service

1. “For health!”

За здоровье! [za-zda-rO-vye]

One of the most common misconceptions foreigners have about Russians and their drinking toasts is the phrase "Na Zdorovie" [na-zda-rOvye]. Unlike the English "Cheers!" there's no universal toast in Russian: there's an infinite multitude of toasts – you can toast every guest at the table separately and then all together; you can toast friendship, love, good weather, your home town or country and on and on and on. To avoid having to grasp the difference between them all and commit them to memory (especially after a few drinks), you’re safest sticking to За здоровье! [za-zda-rO-vye]

2. "Cool!"

Круто! [krOO-ta]

This brusque and very expressive word has come into wide usage as an almost universal expression of admiration and endorsement. Easy to remember, you'll find it useful and usable in an infinite multitude of situations.

3. "Crap!"

Отстой! [at-stOi]

A direct opposite to Круто [krOO-ta]! If you dislike/hate something to the extent you feel you ought to express your feelings in a (very) emotive way Отстой! is the way to go. Just make sure you’re standing at a safe distance once you’ve unleashed it.

4. “You’ll never wheedle snow out of him (her) in winter”

У него (нее) зимой снега не выпросишь [oo nee-vO (ni-YO) zee-mOi-snE-ga ne vY-pra-sish]

Snow is never in short supply during the Russian winter, so this expression is an excellent way of describing a particularly stingy individual. Along the lines of our own, delightfully colourful "tight as a duck’s… ahem… rear end".

5. “A rebellion on a ship”

Бунт на корабле? [bOOnt-na-ka-ra-blE]?

This sarcastically inquisitive phrase is used when there's a sign of insubordination or disagreement within a working team, a group of friends or even a family. When your children are not particularly enthusiastic and whine about your idea of going to a museum on a weekend, to which instead of lecturing or forcing them into submission, you just say with a sneer: What is it? A rebellion on a ship?

6. "Tea is not vodka – you can't drink much of it"

Чай не водка, много не выпьешь [chAi-nie-vOdka-mnO-ga-nie-vY-pish]

Tea and vodka are by far Russia's most popular drinks. Their juxtaposition in this phrase is an excellent self-mocking way of expressing Russian attitude to the national predilection for the latter. If you're capable of memorising and outing it at the right moment when offered another cup of tea, you'll be a roaring success amongst your Russian hosts. Beware, however: your linguistic brilliance may result in copious amounts of the stronger drink in front of you which you will be expected to consume.

7. “On a voluntary-obligatory basis”

Добровольно-принудительно [da-bra-vOlna-pree-nu-dEE-tel-na]

This oxymoronic pairing is a perfect way of describing Soviet-era attitude to a zillion things that you had to do supposedly voluntarily, but in fact… Imagine you are trying to get your child enrolled into a prestigious school and during the admission process parents are told that the school is collecting – on an absolutely voluntary basis! – donations for the upcoming renovation. You may ignore the appeal but heed the consequences…

8. “Sorry, move over”

Извини-подвинься [eez-vee-nEE pad-vEEn-sia]

This phrase is a slightly irritated, but still jokingly friendly way of expressing your dissatisfaction or disagreement. An excellent way of loosening tension during tough negotiations: if at a tense moment you say Извини-подвинься [eez-vee-nEE pad-vEEn-sia] your Russian partners will be shocked but inevitably burst into admiring laughter.

9. "Don't teach me to live better – help me financially"

Не учите меня жить, лучше помогите материально [nee-oo-chEE-tee-mee-nIA-zhEEt lOO-chee-pa-ma-ghEE-tee ma-tee-rIAl-na]

This is one of the many popular and widely used quotes from The Twelve Chairs, a universally-known and loved 1927 novel by Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov. It’s a tongue-in-cheek way of refuting an unwelcome lecturing.

10. "Living well is not forbidden"

Красиво жить не запретишь! [kra-sEE-va-zhEEt-nee-za-pree-tEEsh]

A great colloquial phrase which expresses a complex mix of feelings: admiration, jealousy, irony and even disapproval when seeing someone's luxurious abode or belongings. Literally it means "Living well is not forbidden" with the closest English equivalent being "If you've got it, flaunt it!"