How to say: "Hello again, (person's name). How are you doing?" and "Thank you" in formal Russian?

Here is a small lesson for you, which includes both an mp3 teaching the phrases as well as written instructions below:

http://www.box.net/shared/1benndub7v

Hello again + person's name = [ye-schyo rahs zdrah-stvooy-tye] + person's name = Еще раз здравствуйте + name

How are you doing? (formal) = [kahk oo vahs dye-lah] = Как у вас дела?

Thank you. = [spah-see-bah] = Спасибо.

Happy Birthday Poem in Russian

Does your friend or relative have birthday?! Learn how to write and pronounce a short Russian birthday poem!

С днём рожденья тебя поздравляю!
Здоровья, радости желаю,
И чтоб жил(а) ты много лет
Без слёз, без горести, без бед!

Literal translation into English:
I congratulate you with your birthday!
I wish you health and happiness,
And to live for many years
With no tears, with no sadness, with no troubles!

To learn the pronunciation listen to an mp3 I recorded: http://www.box.net/shared/egifx0fmho
Note: use "жил" when addressing male and "жила" when addressing female.

Russian Dessert - CRANBERRY MOUSSE - КЛЮКВЕННЫЙ МУСС

This cranberry mousse if one of my fondest memories from early childhood when I tasted it at our dacha/country house for the first time.

You will need:
- One and a half cups fresh cranberries
- Two and a half cups plus 1/3 cup of water
- 1/4 cup uncooked cream of wheat (not instant)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- lingonberry preserve for topping
- whipped cream for topping

Step 1:
Place the cranberries in a medium-size saucepan, add the 1/3/ cup of water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until cranberries pop open, 8-10 minutes.

Step 2:
Remove from the heat, let cool, then mash the cranberries thoroughly. Pass them through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan. Add the 2 and a half cups water and bring to a boil.

Step 3:
Reduce heat to low and gradually add cream of wheat and sugar, stirring constantly. Simmer stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved and mixture has thickened, 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Step 4:
Put the mixture in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer set on the highest speed until the mousse doubles in size, 7-10 minutes. Transfer to individual serving bowls and refrigerate until chilled. Serve with lingonberry preserve and whipped cream.

What is the difference between ПОЧЕМУ and ЗАЧЕМ?

A dear friend and student of mine, Gale suggested this as one of many topics for the blog answering a question many students face: What is the actual difference between the words ПОЧЕМУ and ЗАЧЕМ?

The first interrogative word ПОЧЕМУ = why and can have a couple different meanings with first one being just "why" as in "what is the reason".
E.g.: Почему ты не читаешь? = Why aren't you reading?
Не понимаю, почему он еще не здесь. = I don't understand why he is not here yet.

The second meaning of ПОЧЕМУ is an equivalent to WHY NOT, an objection used as an affirmative answer to questions starting with "don't you" or "haven't you".
E.g.: Ты не сделал домашнее задание? = Haven't you done your home work?
Почему, сделал. = Why not, I have. / Why not, I have done it.

The second interrogative word ЗАЧЕМ = why as in "what's the purpose" or "what for". It is used when the idea of the question is "With what purpose?" or "What is the goal?"
E.g.: Зачем ты готовишь ужин? Мы ужинаем сегодня в ресторане. - Why / what for are you cooking dinner? We are having dinner at a restaurant today.

VOICE MAIL in RUSSIAN

The standard voice mail in Russian says:

Здравствуйте, с вами говорит автоответчик. Оставьте, пожалуйста, ваше имя и номер телефона после звукового сигнала. Мы вам перезвоним.

Literal translation: Hello, it's voice mail talking with you. Please leave your name and your phone number after audio signal. We'll call you back.

Learn how to pronounce it and record it as your own voice mail: http://www.box.net/shared/6ajv00puc3

Beautiful Russian Song by ВИТАС / VITAS

Enjoy the song and see below words in both Russian and English languages.

День рождения моей смерти Я сегодня на рассвете Потерял надежды тень, Сам себя запутал в сети, А выпутываться лень. И как будто наважденье, Я забыл порядок дней, Ведь сегодня день рождения Или смерти день моей. Я один на этом свете, Впереди лишь пустота, Под ногами то ли крыша, То ли тонкая черта. Я почти, что равен Богу, Я главнее короля. Я на край поставлю ногу, И скажу: "Привет, Земля!" И тогда одним я махом Все проблемы разрешу. И своим нетленным прахом Напоследок согрешу. Знаю, рано или поздно, Верьте мне или не верьте, Все равно ведь ОН приходит, День рождения нашей смерти…

The Birthday of My Death Today at daybreak I lost a shadow of my hope I entangled myself in the nets Being too lazy to disentangle though And as if under the spell I forgot the order of days Is it my birthday today Or the day of my death? I am all alone in this world Only emptiness awaits me ahead Is it roof or a thin line Under my feet? I am nearly God's equal I am higher than the king I will put my foot on the edge And say: "Hello, Earth!" And then at one stroke I will solve all my problems And in the end I will sin By my imperishable ashes I know that sooner or later Whether you believe me or not It will come anyway - The birthday of our death...

Russian Punctuation, when do we use commas?

Early Russian punctuation was based on Greek practice, since the Cyrillic alphabet is derived from the Greek; and by the 17th century several quite elaborate systems had evolved in different areas. Since the 18th century Russia has used a form of western European punctuation that has much in common with German practice: notably an even wider obligatory use of commas with subordinate and indeed coordinate clauses, and letter spacing (as well as italics) for emphasis. German quotation marks, French guillemots, and dashes may be used for direct speech.

However, you need to understand at least the basic rules.

Comma is used:

1. After the name of the one you address to: Оля, принеси мне чай. Olya, bring me some tea.

2. When enumerating something or describing something: У нас были белые, синие и красные карандаши. We had white, blue, and red pencils. Mind that you should not put a comma before the last item if there is an "и" copulative conjunction.

3. After a parenthetic word: Однако, он бросил эту затею. However, he gave up the idea.

4. Between two or more simple sentences consisting of a composite sentence if there is a conjunction between them. Нам удалось найти ключ, но мы не смогли открыть ворота. We managed to find the key but we failed to open the gate.

5. Before and after the dangling participle: Он шел вдоль дороги, напевая какую-то мелодию. He walked along the road, singing some song.

6. After an interjection: А, это ты... Oh, it's you...

How to say "RUSSIA" in Russian

Russia = Россия = [rah-see-ya]

also referred to by its formal name:
the Russian Federation = Российская Федерация = [rah-see-skah-ya fye-dye-rah-tsee-ya]

Listen to the recording to learn how to pronounce it correctly: http://www.box.net/shared/cd9zv5pzac

"Thank You" in Russian

"Thank you" in Russian is СПАСИБО = [spah-SEE-bah].

"Thank you very much" in Russian is СПАСИБО БОЛЬШОЕ = [spah-SEE-bah bahl-SHOH-ye]

Listen to the audio to learn how to pronounce it correctly: http://www.box.net/shared/9etpymlpio