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- <title xmlns:ng="http://docbook.org/docbook-ng">Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</title><meta xmlns:ng="http://docbook.org/docbook-ng" name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.79.2"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="The RUSSIAN Fast Course"><link rel="up" href="ch03.html" title="Chapter 3. Lesson 3"><link rel="prev" href="ch03s03.html" title="When to use Вы and Ты"><link rel="next" href="ch03s05.html" title="Examples of names and patronymics"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch03s03.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">Chapter 3. Lesson 3</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch03s05.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="section"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="d5e6319"></a>Addressing friends and acquaintances in Russian</h2></div></div></div><p>The first name is the most common form of address between persons who enjoy a close
- relationship. The use of the various forms of the first name (similar to our American
- nicknames) is influenced by the degree of intimacy in the relationship. The greater the
- intimacy, the more variety in these forms. For example:</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term">A</span></dt><dd><p>Full forms of the first name <span class="bold"><strong>(</strong></span><span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Влади́мир</em></span>, <span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Татья́на</em></span>)</strong></span>are the most neutral forms of
- address between individuals who are on either <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Вы</em></span></strong></span> or <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ты</em></span></strong></span> terms.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">B</span></dt><dd><p>Shortened forms without suffixes <span class="bold"><strong>(</strong></span><span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дя</em></span>,<span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Та́ня</em></span>)</strong></span> indicate a certain degree of
- closeness. These forms are often used interchangeably with those in category A and are
- appropriate when the relationship is either <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Вы</em></span></strong></span> or <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ты</em></span></strong></span>.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">C</span></dt><dd><p>Nicknames with the suffix -ка (<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дька</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Та́нька</em></span></strong></span>) imply intimacy which may be
- without affection. The younger generation prefers these very informal forms and
- depending on the situation, they could also be interpreted as condescending.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">D</span></dt><dd><p>Only if the individuals are on <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ты</em></span></strong></span> terms should the "diminutive" or"affectionate" forms
- of the name be used. Nicknames with these suffixes, -<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ечка</em></span></strong></span>, -<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">енька</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong>-<span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">юша</em></span>,</strong></span>-<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">юшка</em></span></strong></span> (<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дечка</em></span></strong></span>,
- <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́денька</em></span></strong></span>,<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Та́нечка</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Таню́ша</em></span></strong></span>) have a very
- specific coloring and non-native speakers of Russian will want to take care in using
- them. Russian women seem to favor the use of diminutive forms more than men and as you
- might suspect, men will use diminutive forms when addressing women, but not when
- addressing other men.</p></dd><dt><span class="term">E</span></dt><dd><p>Nicknames with a "zero" ending (<span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Воло́дь</em></span></strong></span>, <span class="bold"><strong><span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Тань</em></span></strong></span>) belong almost exclusively to the
- younger generation and non-native speakers should avoid them. They are used as a type of
- <span class="italic">vocative </span>case, that is, when trying to get
- someone's attention.</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch03s03.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="ch03.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch03s05.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">When to use <span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Вы</em></span> and <span lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">Ты</em></span> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> Examples of names and patronymics</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
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