As a Soviet kid, I was mesmerized by my first encounter with Barbie, a glamorous doll unlike our childish Soviet toys. Brought by my friend Vika from Germany, Barbie’s elegance and bendable knees captivated our gang. We worshipped her, but when Vika moved away, leaving Barbie behind felt like losing a piece of our childhood dreams.
Unravel the mystery of Russian’s short phrase “так и не” in this insightful post! Far from simple adverbs, these words convey unfulfilled expectations, as in “Она ему так и не позвонила” (She never called him). Learn how “так и не” reflects norms and hopes through vivid examples, revealing the communicative depth of Russian speech.
In Russia, the beard transcends style, embodying cultural and political significance. Rooted in Proto-Indo-European bhar-dha, борода symbolized sacred tradition after 988, with shaving fines. Peter the Great’s beard tax aimed to modernize, possibly due to hygiene or insect fears. By the 19th century, beards marked Russian identity for Slavophiles. In Soviet times, they evoked outdated peasantry, yet 1960s intellectuals embraced them.
In this episode of “Пять минут,” I, Евгения Власова, explore the timeless topic of age and life phases. From newborns to the elderly, I discuss terms like “toddler,” “teenager,” and “matured,” alongside cultural stereotypes about age. Reflecting on my IELTS exam experience, I debate ageism, realizing talent, like Mick Jagger’s, defies age. Happiness, it seems, depends on the person, not their years.
Wiktionary, a multilingual dictionary by Wikimedia, is my daily go-to for language learning and teaching. Beyond translations, it offers pronunciation (IPA and audio), grammar tables for Russian words, stress markers, multiple meanings, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, etymology, and categorized word lists. Explore these features to deepen your Russian vocabulary and understanding effortlessly.
In this episode of “Пять минут,” I, Евгения Власова, speak about the Soviet New Year. Once overshadowed by Christmas, it became Russia’s main holiday post-revolution, replacing bourgeois traditions with Soviet cheer. By the 1960s, ideology faded, leaving vibrant school celebrations with spinning Christmas trees and lavish feasts. Despite shortages, people created joy with loved ones, proving a holiday needs heart, not abundance.
Привет! Это подкаст “Пять минут” и я, Евгения Власова. В декабре лингвисты в разных странах определяют “Слово года”. По мнению
Привет! Это подкаст “Пять минут” и я, Евгения Власова. Сегодня я хочу поговорить о писателе Викторе Пелевине, которому 22 ноября
Привет! В эфире “Пять минут” – подкаст для тех, кто почему-то учит русский язык. Меня зовут Евгения Власова. Я преподаю
A few years ago, I explored one of the popular online learning platforms, and found two music courses. I don’t
Чем отличается английский звук T и русский звук Т Моя учительница английского однажды попросила произнести фразу на русском с английским
метро /mʲɪˈtro/ noun, neuter — subway, underground Хорошо, что я в метро езжу: есть время читать. It’s good that I
