Abbreviations still in use
Some are read as words (вуз, ЗАГС), others letter by letter (ЖКХ: zhe-ka-KHA). Tap a row to hear how it is said.
| Abbreviation | Short for | What it means today |
|---|---|---|
| вузvus | вы́сшее уче́бное заведе́ниеhigher educational institution | Any university or college. |
| ЗАГСzaks | за́пись а́ктов гражда́нского состоя́нияregistry of civil status acts | The registry office, where couples marry. |
| ЖКХzhe-ka-KHA | жили́щно-коммуна́льное хозя́йствоhousing and communal services | Utility bills and building maintenance. |
| МВДem-ve-DE | Министе́рство вну́тренних делMinistry of Internal Affairs | The police ministry. |
| ГАИga-EE | Госуда́рственная автомоби́льная инспе́кцияState Automobile Inspectorate | Traffic police. Officially renamed ГИБДД in 1998, but everyone still says ГАИ. |
| колхо́зkal-KHOS | коллекти́вное хозя́йствоcollective farm | Today also slang for anything amateurish and chaotic. |
| спецна́зspits-NAS | войска́ специа́льного назначе́нияspecial-purpose forces | Special forces; borrowed into English as Spetsnaz. |
| СССРes-es-es-ER | Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́бликUnion of Soviet Socialist Republics | The USSR; often said as «в Сою́зе», “back in the Union”. |
Words for a way of life
These words describe how people lived and coped in the Soviet period. Most are still used, some with a new or ironic meaning.
A small house with a vegetable plot outside the city. Millions of families still spend summer weekends there. Мы на выходны́е е́дем на да́чу.Мыweнаforвыходны́еweekendе́демgoнаtoда́чуdachaWe’re going to the dacha for the weekend.
Getting things through personal contacts rather than official channels: once essential, still common. Он устро́ился по бла́ту.Онheустро́илсяgot a jobпоthroughбла́туconnectionsHe got the job through connections.
In Soviet shops many goods were scarce. Today the word means any shortage. Сейча́с дефици́т вре́мени.Сейча́сnowдефици́тshortageвре́мениof timeTime is short right now.
A flat where several families each have a room and share the kitchen and bathroom. Some still exist in St Petersburg. Ба́бушка жила́ в коммуна́лке.Ба́бушкаgrannyжила́livedвinкоммуна́лкеshared flatGranny lived in a shared flat.
A cheap prefab block built under Khrushchev in the 1960s; still a huge share of city housing. Они́ живу́т в хрущёвке.Они́theyживу́тliveвinхрущёвкеkhrushchyovkaThey live in a Khrushchev-era block.
From аво́сь, “just in case”: you carried it in case you found something to buy. Возьми́ аво́ську.Возьми́takeаво́ськуstring bagTake a shopping bag.
From това́рищ to today
After 1917, the old titles господи́н (sir) and госпожа́ (madam) were replaced by това́рищ (comrade). When the USSR ended, това́рищ went out of use, but nothing fully replaced it, and Russian still has no neutral way to address a stranger.
- DYE-vush-ka, MOZH-na vasДе́вушкаyoung ladyмо́жноmay Iвасyou Excuse me, miss!To a waitress or shop assistant of any age.
- ma-la-DOY chi-la-VYEK, vy vy-KHO-di-tyeМолодо́йyoungчелове́кmanвыyouвыхо́дитеare getting off Excuse me, are you getting off?On a crowded bus, to a man of any age.
- grazh-da-NEEN, prid-ya-VEE-tye da-ku-MYEN-tyГраждани́нcitizenпредъяви́теshowдокуме́нтыdocuments Citizen, show your documents.Still used by the police. It sounds official and cold.
- u-va-ZHA-ye-my-ye pa-sa-ZHY-ryУважа́емыеrespectedпассажи́рыpassengers Dear passengers!Announcements address groups with уважа́емые.
- ga-spa-DEEN pi-TROFГосподи́нMrПетро́вPetrov Mr PetrovOnly in formal writing, diplomacy and business letters.
Film quotes everyone knows
Soviet comedies are shown on television every New Year, and their lines have become ordinary phrases. Russians drop them into conversation without naming the film.
Иро́ния судьбы́ (1975) ka-KA-ya GA-dast’ E-ta VA-sha ZA-liv-na-ya RY-ba Кака́яwhatга́достьmuckэ́таthisва́шаyourза́ливнаяjelliedры́баfish What a disgusting thing, this jellied fish of yours! Quoted about any unappetising dish, especially at New Year.
Бриллиа́нтовая рука́ (1969) TSEE-gil’, TSEE-gil’, ai-lyu-LYU Ци́гельhurry (mock German)ай-лю-лю́(nonsense) Hurry up, hurry up! Mock foreign gibberish; said to rush someone, jokingly.
Ива́н Васи́льевич меня́ет профе́ссию (1973) ya TRYE-bu-yu pra-dal-ZHE-ni-ya ban-KYE-ta ЯIтре́буюdemandпродолже́нияcontinuationбанке́таof the banquet I demand the banquet continue! Said when a party is ending too soon.
Кавка́зская пле́нница (1967) zhyt’ kha-ra-SHO! a kha-ra-SHO zhyt’ i-SHCHO LUCH-she Житьto liveхорошо́goodАandхорошо́wellжитьto liveещёevenлу́чшеbetter Life is good! And living well is even better! A toast that plays on word order.