Borrowings from the Russian Language into the English vocabulary

Borrowing from the Russian language in the English vocabulary NTL Alekseeva Nurguiaana

The English vocabulary has a significant number of words borrowed from the Russian language, which will require special consideration.

The earliest borrowing from the Russian language is the word sable, which is not surprising, since the exceptional quality of Russian fur, and especially sable, was highly valued in Europe. In English dictionaries, this word is already recorded in the XIV century, and, besides the meaning of the noun “sable”, it is also given in the meaning of the adjective “black”.

More Russian borrowings in the English language appears in the XVI century, after the establishment of more regular economic and political ties between Russia and England. Russian words that penetrated into the English language at that period are different names for items of commerce, names of ruling, class, official and subordinate persons, establishments, names of household items and place names. During this period and somewhat later, such Russian words as boyar, Cossack, voivoda, tsar, ztarosta, muzhik, beluga, starlet, rouble, altyn, copeck, pood, kvass, shuba, vodka, samovar, troika, babushka, pirozhki, verst, telega, sirniki, maslenica (Shrovetide,ShroveTuesday),blinchiki , kasha ,shchy ,olivye ,okroshka, golubci,pelmeni and many others. More Russian borrowings in the English language appears in the XVI century, after the establishment of more regular economic and political ties between Russia and England. Russian words that penetrated into the English language at that period are different names for items of commerce, names of ruling, class, official and subordinate persons, establishments, names of household items and place names. During this period and somewhat later, such Russian words as boyar, Cossack, voivoda, tsar, ztarosta, muzhik, beluga, starlet, rouble, altyn, copeck, pood, kvass, shuba, vodka, samovar, troika, babushka, pirozhki, verst, telega, sirniki, maslenica (Shrovetide,ShroveTuesday),blinchiki , kasha ,shchy ,olivye ,okroshka, golubci,pelmeni and many others.

In addition to the above-mentioned words, in the XVIII-XIX centuries other Russian words penetrate into the English language. Many of them, such as, for example, ispravnik (warrant officer), miroed (peace-eater), obrok (dues), barshina (boon), and others, are now in Russian historical terms, and in English are found only in historical descriptions in historical novels. In addition to the above-mentioned words, in the XVIII-XIX centuries other Russian words penetrate into the English language. Many of them, such as, for example, ispravnik (warrant officer), miroed (peace-eater), obrok (dues), barshina (boon), and others, are now in Russian historical terms, and in English are found only in historical descriptions in historical novels.

Let us give more examples of the most well-known (and used in modern English) borrowings from the Russian language, as well as cripples balalaika, bortsch, borzoi (greyhound), byelorussian (Belarus), crash (crash), dacha (summer cottage), glastnost (publicity), kalashnikov , karakul (astrakhan, astrakhan fur), KGB ,Kremlin (Kremlin), Molotov (cocktail) (Molotov cocktail ), perestroyka (perestroika), pogrom (pogrom), Russian roulette, Russian salad (vinaigrette), samizdat (samizdat), Samoyed (Samoyed), shaman (shaman), sputnik (satellite) , stakhanovit (Stakhanovite), TASS. Let us give more examples of the most well-known (and used in modern English) borrowings from the Russian language, as well as cripples balalaika, bortsch, borzoi (greyhound), byelorussian (Belarus), crash (crash), dacha (summer cottage), glastnost (publicity), kalashnikov , karakul (astrakhan, astrakhan fur), KGB ,Kremlin (Kremlin), Molotov (cocktail) (Molotov cocktail ), perestroyka (perestroika), pogrom (pogrom), Russian roulette, Russian salad (vinaigrette), samizdat (samizdat), Samoyed (Samoyed), shaman (shaman), sputnik (satellite) , stakhanovit (Stakhanovite), TASS.

Immediately I recall such well-known English music bands like Moloko and Devotchka. Why the English did not give the name of their musical groups in their native language? Perhaps because sometimes Russian words attract English-speaking musicians so much that they are taken for names, even if they are not always considered in meaning. Immediately I recall such well-known English music bands like Moloko and Devotchka. Why the English did not give the name of their musical groups in their native language? Perhaps because sometimes Russian words attract English-speaking musicians so much that they are taken for names, even if they are not always considered in meaning.

The word in English The word in Russian Agitprop Агитпроп Apparatchik Аппаратчик Babushka Бабушка Beluga Белуга Bolshevik Большевик Commissar Комиссар Cossack Казак Dacha Дача Duma Дума Glasnost Гласность Gulag ГУЛАГ Intelligentsia Интеллигенция Kopeck Копейка Mammoth Мамонт Menshevik Меньшевик Perestroika Перестройка Pogrom Погром Politburo Политбюро Ruble Рубль Sable Соболь Samizdat Самиздат Samovar Самовар Sputnik Спутник Taiga Тайга Troika Тройка