| Russian for English speakers ABC 04 |
| THE RUSSIAN ALPHABET (continue, page XIII) |
|
Russian |
Pronunciation Произношение |
English Английский |
AK-NOTE |
|
БРИГАДА, бригада |
brigadda |
brigade | |
| КОНСУЛ, консул | konsnoL | consul | |
| КАКАО, какао | kakah-o | cocoa | |
| МУЗЕЙ, музей | moozĕi | museum | |
| ПОЧТА, почта | potsh-ta | (the) post |
that's either the post office or mail, letters |
| Я, я (1) | ya | I |
"me" |
|
АЛЛЕЯ, аллея |
allĕ-ia |
alley, walk |
park lane |
| ФРАНЦИЯ, Франция | frantsee-ia | France | |
|
БЕЛЬГИЯ, Бельгия (2) |
bĕlghee-ia | Belgium |
|
|
АЛЬПАГА, альпага |
alpaga | alpaca |
"альпака" - it's a type of soft wool |
| АВТОМОБИЛЬ, автомобиль | avtòmòbeel | automobile | |
| ПРОФЕССОР, профессор | profĕssor | professor | |
|
ХАОС, хаос (3) |
Ha-oss | Chaos |
it's capitalized in the original book, but it's really not a name |
|
(1) Я
(which looks like a reversed R) is sounded ia as
in piano, but in one syllabic. (2) Ь (the soft sign) is not actually a letter, but a sign which softens the preceding consonant. E.g. in Бельгия, л is sounded as in lily, not as the much vibrated L of bell etc... So in альпага and автомобиль. (3) Х is not x but corresponds to the German hard ch, or the Spanish J. It is a guttural sound, produced by driving the air from the bottom of the throat. We shall note it as H. |
|
THE RUSSIAN ALPHABET (continue, page XIV) |
|
Russian |
Pronunciation Произношение |
English Английский |
AK-NOTE |
|
МЕХАНИКА, механика |
mĕHanika |
mechanics | |
| ХРИСТОС, Христос | Hreestoss | Christ | |
| ХРОНОМЕТР, хронометр | Hrònomĕtr | chronometer | |
| ФОТОГРАФИЯ, фотография | fòtògrafee-ia |
photograph, photography |
|
| ОФИЦЕР, офицер | offeetsĕrr | officer | |
| КОНЦЕРТ, концерт | contsĕrrt | concert | |
| ШАМПАНЬ, Шампань (1) | shampăgn (l) | Champagne |
The name of the Champagne wine is "Шампанское" |
| АНГЛИЯ, Англия | anglee-ia | England | |
| МИНУТА, минута | meenoota | minute | |
| БАГАЖ, багаж | baga(d)j |
baggage, luggage |
|
| ТОВАРИЩ, товарищ (2) | tòvareeshtch |
tovaritch : comrade |
|
(1) The softening sound of ь (softening sign) here transforms the final н (n) into the sound gn as in champagne, reign etc... AK-NOTE: That's not a nasal sound. Do not close your mouth and/or do not try to -ng it, like in English words.
AK-NOTE: That's a soft Ш,
if you like it this way. Compare:
ША / ЩЯ. NOTE: Every letter is pronounced in Russian. Consonants must be articulated distinctly. Vowel sounds are rather soft but consonants very clear and sharp. In particular the R must be rolled without fear of exaggeration, even at the end of words. |