question about slang

[Katya Jordan]

"Bratan" or "bratel'nik" (with the stress on the second syllable) would work 
in this context, both when addressing someone and when talking about him. 
 Remember that in Russia the difference between a brother and a cousin is 
not huge, i.e. one is "rodnoi" and the other is "dvoiurodnyi," but most 
importantly they both are brothers.

"Chuvak" implies that the person is a stranger.


Katya Jordan
Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
University of Virginia
109 New Cabell Hall / PO Box 400783
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4783
Tel: (434) 924-3548   FAX: (434) 982-2744

-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Janey Haynes
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 12:50 AM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: [SEELANGS] question about slang

Nashville, here, with a specific word question.  My first year (high school)
Russian students are getting ready to perform a skit about going shopping,
buying clothes for a function, etc.  They stumped me today with "Ioanna
Bobyevna, how do you say 'Cuz'--not 'Cousin', just Cuz?"  That was followed
by "And how do you say 'Bro' or 'Bra', like "Yo, Bra!' "  I had to confess I
had no idea. So, you brilliant minds out there, especially those who've been
around Russians recently, I'd love to know!

Janey Haynes
Nashville, TN

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------