Top 10 most common Russian expressions (2024)

FAQs

Top 10 most common Russian expressions? ›

Бычить — To be angry

If you're feeling frustrated or angry with a friend, you can use this Russian slang word. It literally translates to 'to be like a bull,' but is usually used amongst friends who might be in a bit of a fight or aren't speaking to each other.

Бычить — To be angry

If you're feeling frustrated or angry with a friend, you can use this Russian slang word. It literally translates to 'to be like a bull,' but is usually used amongst friends who might be in a bit of a fight or aren't speaking to each other.

Как дела? (Kak dela?) —“How are you doing?” in Russian. This is the most common question to start a conversation. This is used by everyone.

Privet (Привет)

This is the most basic Russian greeting, simply meaning “hello.” This is an informal way to address anyone from friends to family members, and has the same usage as “hi” or “hey.” The response is usually the same back, but you can also mix it up with any of the other greetings below!

The derogatory sign in Russia is the fig, a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers pointed at the opponent to mean rude refusal.

What is considered disrespectful in Russia? ›

It's not always appreciated to assume familiarity before you are close with them. For example, calling someone by a nickname or using an informal pronoun to talk to someone you are not close with is disrespectful. Russians are generally punctual; however, they tend to see time as rather fluid.

Toska - noun /ˈtō-skə/ - Russian word roughly translated as sadness, melancholia, lugubriousness. "No single word in English renders all the shades of toska. At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause.

Due to its association with the war in Ukraine, the Z has become a militarist symbol in Russian propaganda and is used by Russian civilians to indicate support for the invasion, further adopted later by Russian far-right organizations.

Russian Proverbs: A Glimpse of Russian Wisdom

“Better late than never.” “Don't judge a book by its cover.”

A firm, almost bone-crushing, handshake is typical Russian greeting etiquette when meeting someone (although the handshake between women and men is less firm). Russians also maintain direct eye contact while giving the appropriate greeting for the time of day.