Russian is a beautiful, complex language, but it's very different from English! Russian speakers often "swallow" articles and use reflexive verbs where English doesn't. Here are the most common mistakes we hear.
1
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"I feel myself good today."
🤔 Why learners say this:
In Russian, 'to feel' is reflexive ('chuvstvovat sebya'). In English, we NEVER say 'feel myself' unless it's a doctor's exam!
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
Very awkward! It sounds like you are touching your own body, not talking about your emotions.
✅ Natural English version:
"I feel good today."
2
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"I go to shop." / "I go to bank."
🤔 Why learners say this:
Russian has no articles (a/an/the). Speakers often delete them in English.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like a caveman robot is speaking. "Me go shop."
✅ Natural English version:
"I am going to THE shop."
3
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"How to say...–
🤔 Why learners say this:
Direct translation of 'Kak skazat'. It's missing the subject and auxiliary verb.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you are reading an instruction manual, not asking a question.
✅ Natural English version:
"How do you say...–
🎯 Practice: Fix the Sentence
"I feel myself tired so I go to bed."
4
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"Please, close the light."
🤔 Why learners say this:
Russian uses 'zakryt' (close) for lights. English uses 'turn off' or 'switch off'.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
It sounds like you want me to put the lightbulb inside a box and close the lid.
✅ Natural English version:
"Please, turn off the light."
5
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"It depends from the weather."
🤔 Why learners say this:
Russian 'zavisit ot' usually translates to 'from'. English uses 'depends ON'.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
Just a foreign preposition mistake.
✅ Natural English version:
"It depends on the weather."
6
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"I am agree."
🤔 Why learners say this:
Standard error: 'Ya soglasen' translates to 'I am agree'.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
Grammatically painful! Agree is a verb, not an adjective here.
✅ Natural English version:
"I agree."
🎯 Practice: Which Word?
You want to make the room dark. You say:
7
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"I went to a club with friends." (Pronounced 'vith')
🤔 Why learners say this:
Russian lacks the 'W' sound, so speakers use 'V'.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
The 'V' sound makes you sound like a vampire! "I vant to go." Round your lips for 'W'.
✅ Natural English version:
"I went to a club with friends." (Round lips!)
8
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"I have a normal life."
🤔 Why learners say this:
In Russian, 'normalno' means 'fine' or 'okay'. In English, 'normal' means 'standard/average'.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
It sounds like you are saying "My life is not weird," which is a strange thing to say!
✅ Natural English version:
"I have a good life." / "Life is fine."
9
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"I called to him."
🤔 Why learners say this:
Russian 'zvonit komu-to' uses a preposition. English 'call' takes the person directly.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you stood on a mountain and shouted his name, rather than using a phone.
✅ Natural English version:
"I called him."
10
❌ Typical learner sentence:
"For what– (Intonation dropping)
🤔 Why learners say this:
Direct translation of 'Zachem'. But Russian intonation goes down, which sounds rude in English.
🇬🇧 What it sounds like to a Brit:
It sounds very aggressive! Like you are challenging me to a fight.
✅ Natural English version:
"What for– or simply "Why–
🎯 Practice: Fix the Sentence
"How to say this word–
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