{"id":1215,"date":"2017-07-31T21:40:50","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T21:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/?page_id=1215"},"modified":"2025-10-22T19:13:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:13:34","slug":"lesson-7","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/chapter-1\/lesson-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson 7"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Alphabet – Last Two Letters<\/h3>\n

Letters Without Sounds<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u042c – soft sign<\/span><\/td>\n\u042a – hard sign<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
These signs do not have sounds of their own but are used for modifying neighboring sounds only.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Listen I<\/h3>\n

\u201c\u042c\u201d – There are two functions to the soft sign.<\/h4>\n
\n

One is reflected by its name: it makes a preceding consonant soft (palatalizes it).
\nThis sign may be used either at the end of a word:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0434\u0435\u043d\u044c<\/strong>
\nday (m)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0433\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c<\/strong>
\nguest (m)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0441\u043e\u043b\u044c<\/strong>
\nsalt (f)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043e\u0301\u0441\u0435\u043d\u044c<\/strong>
\nautumn (f)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0442\u0435\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0434\u044c<\/strong>
\nnotebook (f)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043f\u043b\u043e\u0301\u0449\u0430\u0434\u044c<\/strong>
\nsquare, plaza (f)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0437\u0434\u0435\u0441\u044c<\/strong>
\nhere<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c<\/strong>
\nvery<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c<\/strong>
\npain\/ache (f)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0434\u043e\u0436\u0434\u044c<\/strong>
\nrain (m)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044c<\/strong>
\nline (of people) (f)<\/span><\/td>\n		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
It may also be used within a word:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0446\u0430<\/strong>
\nhospital<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0442\u043e\u0301\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e<\/strong>
\nonly<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0439<\/strong>
\nbig (m)<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043f\u0438\u0441\u044c\u043c\u043e\u0301<\/strong>
\nletter<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u043f\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0442\u043e\u0301<\/strong>
\ncoat.<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043c\u0430\u0301\u043b\u044c\u0447\u0438\u043a<\/strong>
\n(little) boy<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0434\u0435\u0301\u043d\u044c\u0433\u0438<\/strong>*
\nmoney<\/span><\/td>\n		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The other function of the soft sign \u201c\u042c\u201d<\/strong> is to add a ‘Y-quality’ to the vowel that follows it while keeping the softness of the consonant before<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\u0431\u0443\u043b\u044c\u043e\u0301\u043d<\/strong>
\nbroth\/bullion<\/span><\/td>\n		c\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044f\u0301<\/strong>
\narticle<\/span><\/td>\n		c\u0435\u043c\u044c\u044f\u0301<\/strong>
\nfamily<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043f\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c\u0435<\/strong>
\ndress<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043a\u043e\u043d\u044c\u044f\u0301\u043a<\/strong>
\ncognac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Words ending in \u201c\u042c\u201d can be either feminine or masculine<\/span> and you have to look them up in a dictionary to know the gender. Compare for example \u0434\u0432\u0435\u0440\u044c<\/strong> (f. \u2013 door) and \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0440\u044c<\/strong> (m. \u2013 dictionary). However, when \u201c\u042c\u201d<\/strong> follows \u201c\u0416,\u201d \u201c\u0427,\u201d \u201c\u0429\u201d<\/strong> at the end of a word, it is a sure indicator of feminine gender:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u043b\u043e\u0436\u044c<\/strong> (f.)
\nlie<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0432\u0435\u0449\u044c<\/strong> (f.)
\nthing<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0434\u043e\u0447\u044c<\/strong> (f.)
\ndaughter<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043d\u043e\u0447\u044c<\/strong> (f.)
\nnight<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u043d\u043e\u0436<\/strong> (m.)
\nknife<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0447<\/strong> (m.)
\ndoctor<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0442\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0440\u0438\u0449<\/strong> (m.)
\nfriend\/comrade<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The absence of the soft sign after \u0416, \u0427, \u0429 signals that they are all masculine:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u042a\u201d – the hard sign is used in a small number of words. Its only function is to add ‘Y-quality’ to the vowel that follows, while keeping the hardness of the consonant before:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n
\u043f\u043e\u0434\u044a\u0435\u0301\u0437\u0434<\/strong>
\nentrance, porch<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043e\u0431\u044a\u044f\u0432\u043b\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/strong>
\nadvertisement or announcement<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Caution:<\/strong> Don\u2019t confuse the soft sign \u201c\u042c\u201d or a hard sign \u201c\u042a” with the vowel \u201c\u042b\u201d- they are all different letters.<\/p>\n

Now you have been introduced to the entire Russian alphabet. You may master reading within 2-3 weeks. Don’t get discouraged if it takes longer. it’s the quality of reading that matters, after all. Besides, the more time you devote to mastering reading Russian, the more words you will learn by repetition alone.
\nNote:<\/strong> It’s important to know the letters in the alphabetical order, so you can look up words in a dictionary.<\/p>\n

Reading Practice – p.51<\/h3>\n

Listen, Read and Translate<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
    \n
  1. \u0418\u0437\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435, \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0446\u0430 \u0431\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0437\u043a\u043e? \u2013 \u041f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435, \u044f \u043d\u0435 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u044e, \u0433\u0434\u0435 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0446\u0430.<\/li>\n
  2. \u0413\u0434\u0435 \u0447\u0435\u043c\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0301\u043d? – \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043e\u043d. – \u0413\u0434\u0435 \u0440\u044e\u043a\u0437\u0430\u0301\u043a? – \u041e\u043d \u0442\u043e\u0301\u0436\u0435 \u0437\u0434\u0435\u0441\u044c.<\/li>\n
  3. \u0417\u0434\u0435\u0441\u044c \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0445\u043e\u0301\u043b\u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e, \u0430 \u0442\u0430\u043c \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0436\u0430\u0301\u0440\u043a\u043e.<\/li>\n
  4. \u041c\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0301\u043d \u0442\u0443\u0442 \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0434\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043a\u043e\u0301? \u2013 \u041d\u0435\u0442, \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0431\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0437\u043a\u043e, \u0432\u043e\u043d \u0442\u0430\u043c.<\/li>\n
  5. \u041e\u043d\u0430 \u0436\u0435\u043d\u0430\u0301, \u0430 \u0442\u0430\u0301\u043a\u0436\u0435 \u043c\u0430\u0442\u044c (mother \u2013 formal)<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  6. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043e\u0431\u0435\u0301\u0434. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0441\u0443\u043f, \u0432\u043e\u0442 \u043c\u044f\u0301\u0441\u043e, \u043a\u0443\u0301\u0440\u0438\u0446\u0430 \u0438 \u0440\u044b\u0301\u0431\u0430. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043b\u043e\u0301\u0436\u043a\u0430, \u0432\u0438\u0301\u043b\u043a\u0430 (fork)<\/span> \u0438 \u043d\u043e\u0436 (knife)<\/span>. \u2013 \u0410 \u0433\u0434\u0435 \u0441\u043e\u043b\u044c? \u2013 \u0421\u043e\u043b\u044c \u0442\u0443\u0442 \u0438 \u0445\u043b\u0435\u0431 \u0442\u043e\u0301\u0436\u0435 \u0442\u0443\u0442. \u2013 \u041a\u0430\u043a \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u0432\u043a\u0443\u0301\u0441\u043d\u043e! \u0411\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438\u0301\u0431\u043e!<\/li>\n
  7. \u0412\u0441\u0451 \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e? – \u0414\u0430, \u0432\u0441\u0451 \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e\u0301, \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438\u0301\u0431\u043e.<\/li>\n
  8. \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0301 \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c, \u043e\u0301\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0439 \u0433\u043e\u0301\u0440\u043e\u0434. \u2013 \u042f \u044d\u0301\u0442\u043e \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u044e.<\/li>\n
  9. \u0413\u0434\u0435 \u043c\u044b\u0301\u043b\u043e (soap)<\/span>? – \u041c\u044b\u0301\u043b\u043e \u0437\u0434\u0435\u0441\u044c \u0438 \u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0442\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0446\u0435 (towel)<\/span> \u0437\u0434\u0435\u0441\u044c. \u2013 \u0421\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438\u0301\u0431\u043e. – \u041d\u0435\u0301 \u0437\u0430 \u0447\u0442\u043e.<\/li>\n
  10. \u0413\u0434\u0435 \u0434\u0435\u0301\u043d\u044c\u0433\u0438? – \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043e\u043d\u0438\u0301.<\/li>\n
  11. \u0412\u0430\u0301\u043d\u044f – \u043c\u0430\u0301\u043b\u044c\u0447\u0438\u043a, \u0430 \u0422\u0430\u0301\u043d\u044f – \u0434\u0435\u0301\u0432\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0430 (little girl)<\/span>. \u041e\u043d\u0438\u0301 – \u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442 \u0438 \u0441\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0301.<\/li>\n
  12. \u041c\u043e\u044f\u0301 \u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u044f\u0301 \u043d\u0435\u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0430\u0301\u044f – \u0442\u043e\u0301\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043c\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0430, \u043f\u0430\u0301\u043f\u0430 \u0438 \u044f.<\/li>\n
  13. \u0421\u043a\u0430\u0436\u0438\u0442\u0435, \u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430, \u0433\u0434\u0435 \u043c\u0443\u0437\u0435\u0439?<\/li>\n
  14. \u0427\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u0443\u0440\u043e\u043a N 3.<\/li>\n
  15. \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0435\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0435 \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0442, \u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430\u043b\u0443\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0430.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Survival Kit<\/h3>\n

    Asking “What’s the English for…?” and “What’s the Russian for…?”<\/h3>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \u041a\u0410\u041a \u041f\u041e-\u0410\u041d\u0413\u041b\u0418\u0301\u0419\u0421\u041a\u0418 “\u0421\u041e\u041a”?<\/td>\nWhat’s the English for “\u0441\u043e\u043a?”
    \n(Lit: How is in English \u201c\u0441\u043e\u043a\u201d?)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u041f\u041e-\u0410\u041d\u0413\u041b\u0418\u0301\u0419\u0421\u041a\u0418 “\u0421\u041e\u041a” – “JUICE”.<\/td>\nThe English for \u201c\u0441\u043e\u043a\u201d is \u201cjuice.\u201d
    \n(Lit: In English \u201c\u0441\u043e\u043a\u201d is \u201cjuice.\u201d)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u041a\u0410\u041a \u041f\u041e-\u0420\u0423\u0301\u0421\u0421\u041a\u0418* “ROOM”?<\/td>\nWhat’s the Russian for “room?”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u041f\u041e-\u0420\u0423\u0301\u0421\u0421\u041a\u0418* “ROOM” – “\u041a\u041e\u0301\u041c\u041d\u0410\u0422\u0410”.<\/td>\nThe Russian for \u201croom\u201d is \u201c\u043a\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0430.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    *Please notice the hyphenated spelling of \u201c\u043f\u043e-\u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u201d<\/strong> and \u201c\u043f\u043e-\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u201d<\/strong> (which mean: \u201cin English\u201dand \u201cin Russian\u201d). They are adverbs in Russian and are different from adjectives \u201c\u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439\u201d and \u201c\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439\u201d (\u201c\u0430\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439\/\u0440\u0443\u0301\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0443\u0447\u0435\u0301\u0431\u043d\u0438\u043a\u201d- Eng.\/Russ. textbook).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The Alphabet – Last Two Letters Letters Without Sounds \u042c – soft sign \u042a – hard sign These signs do not have sounds of their own but are used for modifying neighboring sounds only.   Listen I \u201c\u042c\u201d – There are two functions to the soft sign. One is reflected by its name: it makes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2300,"featured_media":0,"parent":970,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"coauthors":[5],"class_list":["post-1215","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2300"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1215"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2104,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1215\/revisions\/2104"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}