grapefruit or grape

My blog is help for authors which characters are Russian or speak Russian.

You can ask me about Russian language, help for translation phrases and sentences or smth else.

Ilya loves to make fun of Scott's age, calling him an old man and a dinosaur. I've compiled a list of Russian words Ilya might use against Scott.

1. Динозавр - dinozavr (dinosaur). I think no explanation is needed here)

2. Старик - starik (old man). A very old person. This word usually refers to someone gray-haired, wrinkled, and with a cane.

3. Старикашка - starikashka (old man). It also denotes an old man, but has a more cheerful and dismissive connotation.

3.1. Дурацкий старикашка - duracki starikashka (stupid old man). This phrase also has a humorous and dismissive connotation. Ilya can say it both ironically and with displeasure. For example: "That duracki starikashka won the cup because I felt sorry for him."

4. Старый - staryi (old). It's an adjective, but it can also be used to describe a person. For example: "Staryi went crazy and decided he is a good hockey player."

5. Пердун - perdun (old fart). Very funny word) Literally means a person who farts frequently. It is believed that the older a person gets, the more frequent and smellier their farts become.) Figuratively, the word "perdun" refers to a grumpy, perpetually dissatisfied person. It can also be used to describe a young person, but it's most often used as a derogatory term for someone who is grumpy and old. Example: "I don't care that this perdun doesn't like me. The main thing is that you like me."

6. Рухлядь - rukhliad (old furniture). Denotes an old person who is literally falling apart. His knees hurt, his back hurts, he moves slowly, he reacts slowly. But, honestly, I don't think Ilya would call Scott that, since the word is pretty rude, even as a joke. But perhaps he will address his 50-year-old self this way. For example: "A rukhliad like me can't even stand confidently on skates."

7. Маразматик - marazmatik (senile). Literally means a person suffering from senile dementia. In Russia, this is often the name given to an old person who behaves strangely and has no illnesses. Just a crazy old man. But this word is also too rude and offensive. For example: "This marazmatik decided that he could beat us."

Proverbs and catchphrases about old age

In honor of Pride Month, I want to tell you about the Russian Pride movement, Russian queers and homophobia. In Russia, homosexuality was not always prohibited by law, and there was not always a law on propaganda.

In 1993, after the collapse of the USSR, Russia repealed the Soviet anti-gay law. Thus, the official ban on being gay disappeared in Russia. And although many people convicted under dubious Soviet laws were pardoned and rehabilitated in the 1990s, queer people were not rehabilitated and remained in prison. Also in the 90s, a global medical standard was adopted, so homosexuality was removed from the list of mental illnesses.

In the 90s, queers actively fought for their rights, created organizations to protect their rights, created their own gay newspapers, and opened gay clubs.

In the early 2000s, LGBT began to be considered a subculture. Many gays in large cities formed groups and met in special places. In Moscow, such places were: "Pushka", Elena B's apartment, "12 Volt" and "Udar" clubs. Gays often found each other for dates and meetings on social networks such as ICQ and, much later, VK. Gays had their own forums, websites, and chat rooms. They had their own gestures, phrases, and clothing (for example, lesbians wore thumb rings).

The 2000s saw the emergence of numerous queer celebrities. For example, the group TaTu, which positioned itself as a duet of two lesbians; Zemfira, who is currently in a committed relationship with a woman; and Verka Serduchka, a Ukrainian drag singer. Since Russia had a more European policy in the early 2000s, the country tried to pretend that everything was fine and all that was allowed, but, of course, this is not true.

And although there were no prohibitive laws, society remained homophobic. When Moscow wanted to hold a gay pride parade in 2006, the authorities refused, and the homophobic public was extremely dissatisfied. When Russian and Belarusian activists later attempted to hold a gay pride parade in 2010, they were brutally dispersed by Russian police, with many being arrested.

If you're interested in learning more about LGBTQ+ culture in Russia, you can check out these article:

Slavs, including Russians, have several distinctive behavioral patterns with those they love. This is called the "language of love." I'll give you some examples of how this could be used in your fanfiction.

1. Apologies after a fight

It's not customary for Slavs to apologize after a fight. It's hard to imagine a Slavic mother approaching her child after a fight and apologizing for yelling. No. If a Slav feels guilty after a fight, they might call him to lunch.

For example, after a small squabble between Ilya and Shane, Ilya, feeling guilty, can approach Shane and simply say, “Let’s go to dinner, I cooked something,” and this will mean an apology and an end to the quarrel.

(It also happens that instead of inviting someone to dinner, the offender may bring an apple cut into slices on a plate)

2. Silence Together

Sometimes silence is more pleasant than speech. Silence means trust, slumber means trusting your life to the person you fall asleep next to.

For example, Ilya and Shane are sitting by the fire in silence (a scene from the series). This moment demonstrates complete trust and quiet happiness, when you don't have to try to maintain a dialogue, but simply share silence together.

3. Дурачок - durachok

It means "idiot, silly, stupid". When your loved one does something stupid and you want to tease him, you can say to him the tender word "durachok". It's not rude, it's not said out of malice and it doesn't mean anything bad.

In fanfiction authors often using "lubimiy" or "moya lubov" for Shane's nicknames, but I think Ilya can using more interesting Russian words for Shane.

Cute nicknames:

1. Солнышко - solnyshko (Sun, sunshine). A kind, smiling, pleasant person. He laughs often, smiles often, and literally warms everyone with his light.

2. Дорогой - dorogoy (Literally "darling") As in English, this is most often said to a husband or someone who is very dear to you.

3. Драгоценный - dragoceniy (darling) Same meaning as "darling," only more refined. Literally meaning "precious," as in a precious stone or a precious diamond.

4. Сладкий - sladki (sweetie) A gentle, playful name. It means a tasty person or a person who is good-looking, or simply a loved one.

5. Зайка, зайчик - zaika, zaichik (bunny)

6. Мой хороший - moi khoroshi (my lovely, literally my good). It can often be sarcastic. Outside of sarcasm, it can be said if someone has done something good, something amazing.

Cute Shane's name versions:

1. Шеня, Шаня - Shenya, Shanya

2. Шенюшка - shenushka (its look like a joke, but still cute)

3. Шанешка - shaneshka (its a russian bun with potatoes. I think Ilya could call Shane that as a joke)

Cute nicknames for Ilya:

1. Илюша - Ilyusha (A very tender meaning. This is how Ilya could have been called by his mother, Svetlana, Shane. It can also be used for sarcasm and anger. But I think any cute word can be used sarcastically)

2. Илюшка - Ilyushka (A more playful option. It's used either for a child or as Svetlana might call Ilya. It's affectionate, but with a little humor)

3. Илюшенька - Ilyushenka (A very soft form, probably the softest form of this name. Very tender, loving, sincere. If used with anger, it comes out very rude and unpleasant, the ultimate mockery)

4. Илюха - Ilyukha (Used exclusively by friends, most often male friends. This is not the way girl friends, relatives, or lovers address a friend, only bros)

Random words for nicknames

In the book, Ilya sometimes calls Shane strange Russian words, like газонокосилка - gazonokosilka (lawn mower). If you'd like to add some more words to your fanfic, here they are:

1. Береза - Bereza (birch)

2. Сова - Sova (Own)

3. Звезда - Zvezda (Star)

4. Поляна - Polyana

5. Лужа - Luza (puddle)