Russian for beginners | Russian podcast | Episode 2 | Russian with Olya Dee Russian podcast for beginners | Russian with Olya Dee

Hi everyone. This is Olya Dee from sunny England. Today, you are going to listen to the second episode and learn how to introduce yourself in the Russian language. There are a few ways to say your name. 



First, we are going to learn the easiest way to introduce yourself. You should just say ‘I am’ and your name. Let’s hear the examples.



Я Анна.

I am Anna.



Я Борис.

I am Boris.



Ты Елена.

You are Helen.



Ты Марк.

You are Mark.



It was easy, wasn’t it? The second way to say your name is to say the phrase ‘My name is’. Listen to the examples and repeat after me. 



Моё имя Анна.

My name is Anna.



Моё имя Борис.

My name is Boris.



Твоё имя Елена.

Your name is Helen.



Твоё имя Марк.

Your name is Mark.



Good job, guys, I am so proud of you! Now, it is time to learn the longest way to say ‘My name is…’ which literally means ‘I am named…’. So this way is pretty popular so it is worth to remember it. 



First, you will hear the phrase.

Меня зовут Анна.



Which means:

My name is Anna.



Меня зовут Борис.

My name is Boris.



Тебя зовут Елена.

Your name is Helen.



Тебя зовут Марк.

Your name is Mark. 



Я Анна.

I am Anna.



The second one was:

Моё имя Анна.

My name is Anna.



And the third one was:

Меня зовут Анна.

My name is Anna.



Good, I have a question for you my lovely ones. Have you thought about Russian names? Where do they come from? What are the most common names in Russia? You probably have heard the most common names for girls. 



The first one is:

Анна = Аня 



We used it today. Анна is a full form of the name. However, there is a short name of it. It is Аня. You can also transform it into a sweet form using some bits at the end of the word like Аннушка (Annushka) or Анюта (Anuta). 

Анастасия is Настя in short.

Катерина is Катя

Татьяна is Таня

and Мария is Маша 



So, Настя is going to be Настюша or Настенька, 

Катя - Катюша or Катенька

Таня would sound like Танюша or Танечка

And then, they have got ‘Маша’ which can be ‘Машенька’.



Максим which is Макс is short

Александр would be Саша as a short form.

Дмитрий is Дима

Иван is Ваня in short.

Андрей It doesn’t have a short form.



You could also say the sweet Максик, Сашуля, Дамочка, Ванечка or Андрюша. 



Как тебя зовут?

What’s your name?



Как вас зовут?

Which is also ‘What’s your name?’



Как тебя зовут?

What’s your name?



Как вас зовут?

What’s your name?



In the Russian-speaking countries, you will often notice that people tend to have three names. The first name is their actual name, like Anna. The last name ‘фамилия’(their surname) which ends mostly in ов/ова like Иванов or Иванова. But how about the third name ‘отчество’ like ‘Петровна’ / ‘Петрович’. This name is called a patronymic name, which is derived from their father’s name. For example, you use ‘Петровна’ for a girl, and then you know that her father’s name is Пётр like Peter. And it is something like ‘the daughter of Пётр’.



And the dialogue time! I am going to read a few dialogues. Try to translate the phrases right after me. This method will help you review the things you have learnt today.


Привет. Как тебя зовут?
Привет. Меня зовут Анна.




Как вас зовут? (What is your name?)
Я Максим. А вас? ( I am Maxim. And you?)
Я Анастасия.  (I am Anastasia)



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