Help with sending documents to Sochi

[Bobalouie 0]

Anyway, her name is her maiden name. Isn't an "A" only added when a girl gets married?

Normally the woman's last name is her father's (or her husband's) last name with an "a" at the end. There are possibly other feminine extensions, but "a" is the only one I've seen. So the daughter or wife of Petrov becomes Petrova, Mironov becomes Mironova, Volkov becomes Volkova, etc. It works this way with the woman's patronym as well. Alexander becomes Alexandra, etc.

Obviously there are exceptions, as in Tanya's case. Maybe it's regional?

How many documents were you sending? $60 is a lot cheaper than I was quoted for just a plain old document mailer. Maybe that too is regional.

It cost me $136 for a document mailer to Sochi via UPS.

[slim 1,533]

As far as I can tell, there have been no delays because the addresses were only in English. Maybe Russian postal workers have cursed the arrogant American who expects his letters and packages to be delivered without the consideration of using the native language for addressing, but I've never heard those curses

Most literate people around the world can read English letters and make sense of them; transliterating in their head into their native tongue and/or script. There is so much influence from pop culture and marketing; Hollywood, Coke, etc. etc. etc. that people are familiar with our alphabet and can make sense of it.

If you write all in English it will be delivered. However, if you have the know-how to write it in the native language of the place it's being sent to, why wouldn't you do it? It's not like it's going to slow it down!

If there is a question as to the correct way to write it, English only probably is the safest way to go. But you've got VJ!!! You're an expert already!

After having lost a couple packages in the mail, I started taking to writing her address and phone number in Cyrillic on all 4 sides of the package. Then I went to the post office, and watched a postal worker proceed to cover every single side that I'd written her address with a USPS sticker. Despite my protests they said it would confuse the postal workers. Seriously. So now I've taken to also writing it on the bottom of the package.

Now that's funny!

....And straight out of the SOP for govt. employees. "Even though this makes a lot of sense and would make our job easier.... we're not going to do it because it's not in our regs. We're not authorized to do that, and neither are you."

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

There are also some neuter last names in Russia that work for either gender, e.g., Nesterenko. Plus, it is always possible her father's family somewhere down the line was from a different country.

Just to correct you a bit, Kirk, daughter of Aleksander (patronymic) would be Aleksandrovna.

Anyway, her name is her maiden name. Isn't an "A" only added when a girl gets married?

Normally the woman's last name is her father's (or her husband's) last name with an "a" at the end. There are possibly other feminine extensions, but "a" is the only one I've seen. So the daughter or wife of Petrov becomes Petrova, Mironov becomes Mironova, Volkov becomes Volkova, etc. It works this way with the woman's patronym as well. Alexander becomes Alexandra, etc.

Obviously there are exceptions, as in Tanya's case. Maybe it's regional?

How many documents were you sending? $60 is a lot cheaper than I was quoted for just a plain old document mailer. Maybe that too is regional.

Edited March 24, 2008 by Kazan' Tiger

[slim 1,533]

-enko names aren't truly "Russian" are they?

And Rebenok as a last name sounds a little fishy...

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I should have clarified better! I meant neuter (as in neutral) in that there are some Russian last names that don't get the "A" to feminize them. Of course, Rebenok would be a masculine noun. Interesting name as it means a "small child" or "toddler" in Russian. I even knew a Russian family with the German last name Edelman. They did not make it Edelmana for the ladies.

There are also some neuter last names in Russia that work for either gender, e.g., Nesterenko. Plus, it is always possible her father's family somewhere down the line was from a different country.

But don't the neuter last names typically end in -o anyway? "Rebenok" doesn't sound neuter. I'm more inclined to believe that you're right about it not being a Russian last name.

Just to correct you a bit, Kirk, daughter of Aleksander (patronymic) would be Aleksandrovna.

"Keerk...eeeenncorrrect!"

[slim 1,533]

Doesn't it literally mean, "little fish?" (Which is used for someone close to you like a child or loved one?)

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I believe, "рыбка" would be little fish. Not sure about the literal definition of, "ребёнок".

Doesn't it literally mean, "Little fish?" (Which is used for someone close to you like a child or loved one?)

[eekee 182]

"Enko" is ukrainian in origin, i believe.

The only last names in russian which are declined are possessive form or adjectives--so ivanov/a is like "johnson." It's actually an alternative to the normal genitive to indicate possession--i.e., you CAN say muzh mamy or zhena papy for stepdad and stepmom, but i think a native speaker would always say mamin muzh and papina zhena. I believe this form is used a lot more with russian names/people words (mom/dad/brother/friend)/animals to show possession than the genitive. What specific possessive ending--ov/en, in/yn, or the one which is like in the title of the bulgakov story "sobach'e serdce" (heart of the dog) has always confused me and i loathe this topic in russian grammar. I also loathe how these names have a specific declension which differs from normal noun declension.

And of course adjective names decline normally.

Rebenok is a russian word last name, but not a proper Russian last name in the sense of ivanov or whatever. Interestingly, when I was studying some Pasternak my professor told us that Jews were given last names like Pasternak (turnip, i believe) as a kind of humiliation. Maybe Rebenok is the same? Rebenok is related to "guys," pebiata, i think, but i don't remember the entymology at the moment.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Interesting Eekee! I also found it interesting that some first names such as "Трактор" were once popular. Perhaps this was to indicate strength?

"Enko" is ukrainian in origin, i believe.

The only last names in russian which are declined are possessive form or adjectives--so ivanov/a is like "johnson." It's actually an alternative to the normal genitive to indicate possession--i.e., you CAN say muzh mamy or zhena papy for stepdad and stepmom, but i think a native speaker would always say mamin muzh and papina zhena. I believe this form is used a lot more with russian names/people words (mom/dad/brother/friend)/animals to show possession than the genitive. What specific possessive ending--ov/en, in/yn, or the one which is like in the title of the bulgakov story "sobach'e serdce" (heart of the dog) has always confused me and i loathe this topic in russian grammar. I also loathe how these names have a specific declension which differs from normal noun declension.

And of course adjective names decline normally.

Rebenok is a russian word last name, but not a proper Russian last name in the sense of ivanov or whatever. Interestingly, when I was studying some Pasternak my professor told us that Jews were given last names like Pasternak (turnip, i believe) as a kind of humiliation. Maybe Rebenok is the same? Rebenok is related to "guys," pebiata, i think, but i don't remember the entymology at the moment.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Russian version of "The Andy Griffith Show"-!!! :lol:

Interesting Eekee! I also found it interesting that some first names such as "Трактор" were once popular. Perhaps this was to indicate strength?

Maybe it just shows an affinity for agriculture.

(Or maybe it's the name of a character on the Russian version of Mayberry... (I would totally watch that show because you know the guy that's always in the drunk tank would be one of the normal ones.)

[visaveteran1 33]

"Enko" is ukrainian in origin, i believe.

The only last names in russian which are declined are possessive form or adjectives--so ivanov/a is like "johnson." It's actually an alternative to the normal genitive to indicate possession--i.e., you CAN say muzh mamy or zhena papy for stepdad and stepmom, but i think a native speaker would always say mamin muzh and papina zhena. I believe this form is used a lot more with russian names/people words (mom/dad/brother/friend)/animals to show possession than the genitive. What specific possessive ending--ov/en, in/yn, or the one which is like in the title of the bulgakov story "sobach'e serdce" (heart of the dog) has always confused me and i loathe this topic in russian grammar. I also loathe how these names have a specific declension which differs from normal noun declension.

And of course adjective names decline normally.

Rebenok is a russian word last name, but not a proper Russian last name in the sense of ivanov or whatever. Interestingly, when I was studying some Pasternak my professor told us that Jews were given last names like Pasternak (turnip, i believe) as a kind of humiliation. Maybe Rebenok is the same? Rebenok is related to "guys," pebiata, i think, but i don't remember the entymology at the moment.

Remember, "Johnson" can be the name of a person OR object! :lol:

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Hollywood waits-!!! :lol:

Russian version of "The Andy Griffith Show"-!!! :lol:

Opie: Hey Aunt Bea, where's pa?

Aunt Bea: That good for nothing drunk? You know he only comes around when he needs vodka money! (laugh track)

Opie: Well I just thought he'd be around for my birthday and all.

Aunt Bea: Well Barney will be here, that should be good enough, yes?

Opie: Yeah but he's only going to be here to haul me off for army service. (laugh track)

Aunt Bea: Don't worry, he said they stop beating you when you're unconscious. (laugh track)

Opie: Gee that's swell! Looks like you're busy, you need help?

Aunt Bea: Yes please! Here's a list of American men I met on the internet. See how many you can get to send money! (laugh track)

Opie: Oh Aunt Bea, you 'ol scammer you!

Opie and Aunt Bea: (Laughs together, fade out, key music)

[eekee 182]

"Traktor" glorifies agriculture. In the early soviet union it was a trend to name your kids not traditional russian names, but instead new modern names which glorified soviet ideals--traktor, elektron, marlen (for Marxist-leninist), etc. I was reading something the other day and came across an old woman named "Stalina"--i thought it was very unfortunate.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I met a "Stalina" in Kazan' and she is only 32 or so.

"Traktor" glorifies agriculture. In the early soviet union it was a trend to name your kids not traditional russian names, but instead new modern names which glorified soviet ideals--traktor, elektron, marlen (for Marxist-leninist), etc. I was reading something the other day and came across an old woman named "Stalina"--i thought it was very unfortunate.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Wonder how many W00ts have been born here?

"Traktor" glorifies agriculture. In the early soviet union it was a trend to name your kids not traditional russian names, but instead new modern names which glorified soviet ideals--traktor, elektron, marlen (for Marxist-leninist), etc. I was reading something the other day and came across an old woman named "Stalina"--i thought it was very unfortunate.

Ahhhh...y'know, now that you mention it I remember something about that as well. This country's done that too--lot of girls named "Reagen" were born in the late 80's, and there was another surge of the name in 2004-2005 when Reagen died. I also read a story a few years back that when the first space shuttle prototype was rolled out, a couple named their child "Enterprise."

Cool info, thanks for sharing that!