Layers of speech
The same idea, “great”, at four levels of formality. The further right you go, the narrower the group of people it suits.
Colloquial words everyone uses
Not slang exactly: people of every age say these in relaxed speech. The right column gives the neutral word to use in writing.
| Colloquial | Meaning and use | Neutral |
|---|---|---|
| норм ▸norm | fine, OK; from норма́льно. “Как дела́? — Норм.” | норма́льно, хорошо́ |
| ла́дно ▸LAD-na | OK, fine (agreeing); also “come on” when doubtful: Да ла́дно! | хорошо́, договори́лись |
| коро́че ▸ka-RO-che | literally “shorter”: “anyway, basically”, used to start a story. | в о́бщем |
| класс ▸klas | great, brilliant: Класс! or Кла́ссно! | отли́чно |
| кру́то ▸KRU-ta | cool, impressive; literally “steep”. | замеча́тельно |
| прико́льно ▸pri-KOL’-na | funny, fun, cool. | интере́сно, смешно́ |
| блин ▸bleen | literally “pancake”: a mild “damn!”, polite enough for most company. | — |
| ва́ще ▸VA-shche | how вообще́ (generally, at all) sounds in fast speech; “totally”. | вообще́, совсе́м |
Clipped words
Long words get cut down, often with a new suffix like -ха or -ка. They behave like normal nouns: в универе, на днюхе.
2020s youth slang
Most new slang comes from English and gaming, then gets fully Russian grammar: nouns take case endings, verbs get -ить. Slang ages fast; these were current in the early 2020s.
кринжfrom “cringe” · something embarrassing E-ta POL-ny kreensh Э́тоthisпо́лныйtotalкринжcringe That’s totally cringeworthy.
крашfrom “crush” · a person you fancy on moy krash Онheмойmyкрашcrush He’s my crush.
вайбfrom “vibe” · atmosphere, mood u E-ta-va MYES-ta a-SO-by vaip Уatэ́тогоthisме́стаplaceосо́быйspecialвайбvibe This place has a special vibe.
рофли́тьfrom “ROFL” · to joke, to make fun ni a-bi-ZHAY-sya, ya PROS-ta raf-LYU Неdon’tобижа́йсяbe offendedяIпро́стоjustрофлю́am joking Don’t be offended, I’m only joking.
и́зиfrom “easy” · easy, no problem ek-ZA-min byl EE-zi Экза́менexamбылwasи́зиeasy The exam was easy.
чи́литьfrom “chill” · to relax, hang out my vyes’ VYE-chir CHEE-li-li DO-ma Мыweвесьallве́черeveningчи́лилиchilledдо́маat home We chilled at home all evening.
агри́тьсяfrom “aggro” · to get angry chi-VO ty a-GREESH-sya Чего́whyтыyouагри́шьсяare getting angry Why are you getting so worked up?
гоfrom “go” · let’s (do something) go f ki-NO VYE-chi-ram Гоlet’s goвtoкино́cinemaве́черомin the evening Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
Filler words
Like English “like”, “you know” and “basically”, these fill pauses. A few in your own speech make you sound natural; too many sound careless.
- ти́паОнheти́паlikeнеnotзналknew like, kind ofSoftens or hedges: “he, like, didn’t know”. From тип (type).
- коро́чеКоро́чеanywayмыweопозда́лиwere late anyway, basicallySignals the point of a story is coming.
- как быЯIкак быsort ofнеnotпро́тивagainst sort of, kind ofMakes a statement vaguer or more polite.
- в о́бщемВ о́бщемall in allвсёeverythingхорошо́fine all in all, basicallyMore neutral than коро́че; fine in most speech.
- зна́ешьЗна́ешьyou knowяIпере́думалchanged my mind you knowDraws the listener in before a personal remark.
- э́то са́моеДайgiveмнеmeэ́то са́моеwhatsitключkey whatsit, umUsed while searching for a word.
A chat, translated into neutral Russian
On the left, what two students actually type. On the right, the same message in neutral Russian you could say to anyone.
SlangNeutral
Ли́за Приве́тhiПойдёмshall we goвonсуббо́туSaturdayнаtoдень рожде́нияbirthdayкatМа́шеMasha’sHi! Shall we go to Masha’s birthday on Saturday?
Ди́ма Совсе́мat allнеnotмогу́canуatменя́meсро́чнаяurgentрабо́таworkвсёeverythingо́ченьveryпло́хоbadI really can’t, I’ve got an urgent deadline, it’s a disaster.
Ли́за Ну что тыoh come onтыyouка́жетсяit seemsвсё вре́мяall the timeрабо́таешьworkOh come on, you seem to be working all the time.
Ди́ма В о́бщемanywayе́слиifуспе́юI manageнапишу́I’ll writeНеdon’tсерди́сьbe crossAnyway, if I make it in time I’ll message you. Don’t be cross.
Ли́за Хорошо́OKждуI’ll waitБу́детit will beзамеча́тельноwonderfulOK, I’ll wait. It’ll be great!
Check yourself
What does the slang word mean?
кринж
уни́вер
краш
коро́че