Gender of Russian loan words

[Olga Meerson]

Dear Francoise,

Of course you were TAUGHT that kofe was masculine: everyone has been taught that, who still happens to be alive. ORIGINALLY, however, the masculine was the declinable "kofij:. while "kofe" was neuter when used at all. It is one of those grammar-rules-by-decree things, very Soviet in origin (not that there is a way to counter this new standard...) Just one of the examples of switching genders with time.

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