One idea, five registers
Pick a situation. Each message says the same thing, from an official notice down to slang between friends. Tap a line to hear it. The same choices exist in English; compare with our guide to formal letters in English.
Word ladders
Many everyday ideas have a bookish word, a neutral word and a colloquial one. The neutral word is always safe. Bookish words suit essays and speeches; colloquial ones suit friends and family.
| English | Bookish | Neutral | Colloquial |
|---|---|---|---|
| home, housing | жили́ще zhy-LEE-shche | кварти́ра kvar-TEE-ra | ха́та KHA-ta |
| to eat | вкуша́ть fku-SHAT’ | есть yest’ | по́есть PO-yist’ |
| face | лик leek | лицо́ li-TSO | физионо́мия fi-zi-a-NO-mi-ya |
| money | сре́дства SRYETST-va | де́ньги DYEN’-gi | ба́бки BAP-ki |
| to go away | удали́ться u-da-LEET’-sa | уйти́ uy-TEE | смы́ться SMYT’-sa |
| friend | сподви́жник spad-VEEZH-nik | друг druk | дружба́н druzh-BAN |
| eyes | о́чи O-chi | глаза́ gla-ZA | гляде́лки gli-DYEL-ki |
| to sleep | почива́ть pa-chi-VAT’ | спать spat’ | дры́хнуть DRYKH-nut’ |
| very | весьма́ vis’-MA | о́чень O-chin’ | жу́тко ZHUT-ka |
The five functional styles
Russian schools teach five functional styles (стили ре́чи): the kinds of language used for different jobs. Exam writing tasks at C1 and C2 ask you to write in a named style.
Official официа́льно-делово́й a-fi-tsy-AL’-na-di-la-VOY Fixed formulas, nouns from verbs, passives, no emotion. Precision over style. Found in: laws, contracts, CVs, applications
Academic нау́чный na-UCH-ny Terms, long sentences, participles, linking words like сле́довательно. Found in: papers, textbooks, theses
Journalistic публицисти́ческий pub-li-tsys-TEE-chis-kiy Facts plus opinion; rhetorical questions and set phrases from politics. Found in: news, opinion columns, speeches
Conversational разгово́рный raz-ga-VOR-ny Short sentences, particles (ну, же, ведь), dropped words, diminutives. Found in: chat, messages, family life
Literary худо́жественный khu-DO-zhist-vin-ny Can mix all the others for effect: imagery, rhythm, characters’ own voices. Found in: novels, poetry, drama
Grammar that marks register
Register is not only vocabulary. These grammar features push a sentence towards formal writing or towards everyday speech.
Pushes towards formal
Pushes towards colloquial
Check yourself
Which register does each sentence belong to?
Доводи́м до ва́шего све́дения… da-va-DEEM da VA-she-va SVYE-di-ni-ya
Ну ты даёшь! nu ty da-YOSH
Как ва́ши дела́? kak VA-shy di-LA
Настоя́щим подтвержда́ю… na-sta-YA-shchim pat-tvir-ZHDA-yu
Лады́, до за́втра. la-DY, da ZAF-tra
Позво́льте вас поблагодари́ть. paz-VOL’-ti vas pa-bla-ga-da-REET’
Пошли́ пожрём. pash-LEE pa-ZHRYOM
Вышеука́занные сро́ки vy-she-u-KA-zan-ny-ye SRO-ki