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Introduction
A Great Russian Conversation Starter: How Are You?

Formal Russian Formal English Informal Russian Informal English Vocabulary Phrase Usage Grammar Points Cultural Insight

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Formal Russian
Anna Erik Ka ? , c

Formal English
Anna Erik How are you? Good Thanks

Informal Russian
Anna Erik ? , c

2
Anna Erik

Informal English
How are you? Good, thanks.

Russian c Ka ?

Vocabulary
English ok, good, well, fine thank you, thanks How are you?

Class particle; adverb particle

Vocabulary Sample Sentences

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2030-12-12

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-. o, c.

He speaks Russian well. "Good, thanks."

Vocabulary Phrase Usage

The phrase " ?" (kak dela) means "How are you?" and literally translates from Russian as "How are the things?" The answer to this question as provided in the dialog is "" (horosho) or "Good" in English. You can also use different answers describing your mood, such as "" (otlichno) or "Wonderful", "" (super) or "Super", "" (normal'no) or "Ordinarily", "Normal", " " (ne ochen') "Not really good". "" (spasibo) means "Thanks" and is one of the most important words to remember.

3
Ka ?

Grammar Points
The focus of this lesson is Neuter noun in plural form

"How are you?"

The phrase " ?" literally translates as "How are the things?". Please notice that the noun "" is used in plural form here. It's sigular form is "", which in Russian has a neuter case. You can recognize

LC: INTRO_L1_121230

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the neuter case by the ending "-". So, when the singular noun in neuter case changes to plural form, we change the ending from "-" "-" (and sometimes to "-"). For example, "" changes to "". (Plural form of masculine nouns)

Masculine nouns in Russian usually do not have endings. However, when in plural, endings "-", "-" or "-" should be added to the nouns. Examples of your explanation go here: (if there are more than two examples we use a table: see below)

Construction (if Native Language Romanization necessary) such (only italicized for (of your as gender, tense, romanized example if person, etc. languages) necessary) Masculine noun in mal'chiki plural form stoly stulya

"English Translation"

boys tables chairs

Note: The table headings can vary but usually contain at least two of the headings above (Native language and English translation). This works very well when you have a lot of sample sentences, sample conjugations, etc. (Plural form of feminine nouns) Feminine nouns usually have the ending "-" or "-". So, in plural form the endings change to "-" or "".

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Examples of your explanation go here: (if there are more than two examples we use a table: see below)

Construction (if Native Language Romanization necessary) such (only italicized for (of your as gender, tense, romanized example if person, etc. languages) necessary) Feminine nouns in devochki Plural form jenshiny

"English Translation"

girls women

Note: The table headings can vary but usually contain at least two of the headings above (Native language and English translation). This works very well when you have a lot of sample sentences, sample conjugations, etc.

Cultural Insight

Asking your friends or relatives " ?" is a common part of greetings in Russia. In case you haven't seen your friends for ages, by asking how they are doing, you can get the idea what they were up to from the last time you saw each other. Also, Russians usually use this phrase when they meet their family members, for example at the end of the day, to learn how the day was for them. However, Russians do not usually expect being told a long story when they ask you " ?". If the things were not so good, you can answer: " " ("Ne ochen"), which means "not really good" and then if there is a follow up question like "?" ("Pochemu"), or "why", you can provide detailed explanation.

LC: INTRO_L1_121230

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2030-12-12