Everyday Slang from 'What's Up' Read online

wasted.

  bu-KHOI/bu-KHA-ya.

  already three sheets to the wind.

  u-zZHE le-TA-yet.

  feeling no pain.

  kho-ROSH/kho-ro-SHA.

  on a bender.

  v za-PO-ye.

  drinking like a Hussar.

  pyot kak gu-SAR.

  Which is apparently very fast.

  I’m fucked up beyond all recognition.

  mnye POL-nii piz-DYETS.

  This doesn’t just refer to being drunk but can mean “I’m total y fucked” in just about any sense.

  Drinkers

  PYU-schi-ye

  One thing it ain’t hard to find in Russia is someone to drink with.

  Drinking buddy

  so-bu-TIL-nik

  A drunkard

  PYA-ni-tsa

  A total sot

  A-lek

  An alcoholic

  al-ko-GO-lik

  A lousy, stinkin’ lush

  BU-khar

  A boozer

  si-NYAK

  This is also the word for “bruise”; it comes from синий (SI-nii), or “blue.”

  An alkie

  al-KASH

  That fucking alkie always wants to mooch drinks.

  E-tot YO-ba-nnii al-KASH vsyeg-DA KHO-chet na SHA-ru pit.

  The cops

  men-TI

  Although public drunkenness is common in Russia, attracting too much attention to yourself could run you the risk of an unpleasant encounter with some of Russia’s finest out trol ing for a little supplementary income. Have your passport on hand, carry some spare cash, and practice saying these words so that you can express your righteous indignation the next day among your comrades.

  Cops

  men-TI

  Pigs

  MU-sor

  This what the real badasses cal the po-po.

  Po-po

  lye-GA-vii

  The Fuzz

  myen-TYA-ra

  The pigs picked me up. Those bitches!

  mu-so-RA me-NYA za-gre-BLI. SU-ki!

  That new guy totally narc’ed me out to the 5-0.

  E-tot gni-LOI me-NYA za-svye-TIL dush-MA-nu.

  This term is mainly used by druggies.

  The cops made me pay a fine for being a public nuisance.

  men-TI za-STA-vi-li za-pla-TIT shtraf za khu-li-GAN-stvo.

  “Fine” being a euphemism for what it real y is:

  A bribe

  VZYAT-ka

  If you get caught with that shit, they’ll send you up the river.

  YES-li ob-na-RU-zhit te-BYA s E-toi DRYA-nyu, to te-BYA po-SA-dyat na kich-MAN.

  He did five years for possession.

  on si-DYEL pyat lyet za khra-NYE-ni-ye.

  Russia is just completely whack.

  v ro-SSII POL-nii byes-prye-DYEL.

  Byespryedyel is a slang word right out of the big house now used to describe the chaotic lawlessness and corruption pervading Russian society.

  The morning after

  s u-tri-TSA

  If you don’t find the fol owing phrases useful after a night of gettin’ your Russian groove on, then you ain’t doin’ it right.

  I drank like a pig yesterday.

  ya vche-RA na-PIL-sya kak svi-NYA.

  I made a real ass of myself.

  ya o-po-ZO-ril-sya.

  I’m ashamed of myself.

  mnye STID-no.

  I’m shocked.

  ya v SHOK-ye.

  I disgust myself.

  ya se-BYE pro-TI-ven.

  I got so drunk, I went cruising for some tail.

  ya tak na-PIL-sya, chto po-YE-khal za TYOL-ka-mi.

  I got so smashed, I woke up in the stairwell of some strange building.

  ya tak bu-KHAL, chto pro-SNUL-sya v pod-YEZ-dye chu-ZHO-vo DO-ma.

  I woke up in a train station outside Moscow without my pants.

  ya och-NUL-sya na vok-ZAL-ye v pod-mos-KOV-ye byez svo-IKH shta-NOV.

  I don’t know how I ended up here.

  ya nye ZNA-yu, kak ya syu-DA po-PAL.

  I fell asleep at the table.

  ya za-SNUL za sto-LOM.

  I got thrown out of the bar.

  me-NYA VI-per-li iz BAR-a.

  I pissed myself.

  ya us-TSAL-sya.

  I got into a fight.

  ya po-RAL-sya.

  I told him off and that asshole cold-cocked me.

  ya ye-VO po-SLAL i E-tot u-ROD dal mnye po MOR-dye.

  A hallucination-fueled rage brought on by heavy

  drinking

  BYE-la-ya go-RYACH-ka

  Also affectionately referred to as

  ( BYE-loch-ka).

  Forgive me, for I have sinned.

  pro-STI me-NYA, ya so-grye-SHIL.

  The hangover

  pokh-MYE-lye

  If you’re hanging with Russians, this is gonna be a familiar state to you. My advice? Do as the Russians do: Suck it up and drink it off. And then promise yourself that you wil never drink that much again. At least not until the weekend.

  I’m hungover.

  ya z bo-du-NA.

  I feel like shit.

  me-NYA kol-BA-sit.

  My liver hurts.

  PYE-chen bo-LIT.

  The room is spinning.

  u me-NYA ver-to-LYO-ti.

  Literal y, “I have helicopters”.

  I have dry mouth.

  u me-NYA sush-NYAK.

  I don’t remember a damn thing.

  ya ni fi-GA nye POM-nyu.

  I don’t remember a fucking thing.

  ya ni khu-YA nye POM-nyu.

  Foul breath after a night of hard drinking

  pe-re-GAR

  The hair of the dog

  klin KLIN-om

  I need to drink off this hangover ASAP. mnye NA-do SRO-chno o-pokh-mye-LIT-sya.

  It’s OK, I’ll sleep it off. ni-che-VO, ya o-to-SPLYUS.

  If you can’t handle a morning eye-opener, another tried-and-true Russian method of curing a hangover is drinking pickle brine, or

  (ra-SSOL).

  Alcoholics Anonymous

  klub a-no-NIM-nikh al-ko-GO-li-kov

  Alcoholism

  al-ko-go-LIZM

  I gotta cut down on my drinking.

  pit NA-do MYEN-she.

  It’s time to go on the wagon.

  po-RA za-vya-ZAT.

  I’m gonna quit tomorrow.

  ya ZAV-tra BRO-shu pit.

  To get treatment for a drinking problem

  lye-CHIT-sya ot za-PO-ya

  She’s already a lost cause.

  o-NA u-ZHE pro-PA-la.

  She’s drinking her life away.

  o-NA sbu-KHA-las.

  He drank himself to death.

  on SPIL-sya.

  I drank everything the fuck away.

  ya pro-PIL vsyo NA khui.

  Refusing a drink

  ot-KAZ

  If you’re a guy, you can’t refuse a drink. Sober people are not to be trusted, and if you’re not drinking like everyone else, you’re probably up to no good. But you can try the fol owing feeble protests:

  I’m not a drinker.

  ya nye-PYU-shii.

  I’m a teetotaler.

  ya TRYEZ-vye-nnik.

  I’ve got an ulcer.

  ya YAZ-vye-nnik.

  I’ve had enough.

  s me-NYA KHVA-tit.

  I’m good for now.

  mnye po-KA vsyo.

  I’m gonna sit this round out.

  ya pas.

  I’m too damn drunk to drink anymore.

  po-mu-TI-los v moz-GU.

  What, are you dissin’ me?!?!

  ti me-NYA nye u-va-ZHA-yesh?!?!

  Expect this as the standard Russian response to someone who has tried to sit out a round.

  Drugs

  nar-KO-ti-ki

  While drinking alcohol is stil the great Russian national pastime, drugs can be scored in just about any Russian city large or smal . They have become a b
ig part of the Moscow club scene in recent years, and ecstasy-fueled raves are some of the hottest tickets in town. But get caught with dope in Russia and you wil be royal y screwed. So if you don’t have the bal s for spending a few years sharing a shower with TBRAVAGED serial kil ers and rapists, you might want to stick to the bottle. But, hey, no one’s judging here. And so...

  Dope

  nar-ko-TA

  I’ve got the goods today.

  u me-NYA se-VOD-nya pro-DUKT.

  Shit! I can’t find my stash!

  blyad, nye mo-GU na-i-TI mo-YU za-GA-shu dur-NU-yu!

  Let’s get high.

  da-VAI po-kai-FU-yem.

  I’m jonesing hard.

  ya go-LOD-nii.

  How much for a bag?

  po-CHOM ba-LLON?

  I don’t know why he’s looking to score when he’s already holding. mnye nye po-NYAT-no, za-CHEM on v raz-VYED-kye kog-DA on u-ZHE za-TA-re-nnii.

  I’m sick of vodka—let’s get high for a change. mnye na-do-YE-la VOD-ka—da-VAI LU-chshe bakh-NYOM-sya.

  Every time he’s high he gets the ganoobies.

  KAZH-dii raz, kog-DA on v TOR-bye, on na khi-KHI pod-SA-zhi-va-yet-sya.

  I’m, like, totally stoned.

  ya, TI-pa, po KAI-fu.

  He gets baked every chance he gets.

  on LO-vit kaif pri lyu-BOI voz-MOZH-nosti.

  He gets bombed out every fucking day.

  on vye-RYOV-ku glo-TA-yet KAZH-dii YO-ba-nnii dyen.

  Man, I hate coming down.

  blin, ya nye-na-VI-zhu ot-kho-DYAK.

  Where to score

  gdye do-STAT

  Connection

  go-NYETS

  Dealer

  DI-ler

  In Russia, often someone from central Asia or the Caucasus, also sometimes cal ed a

  ( ba-BAI), or

  ( ba-sur-MAN), among other things.

  I need to find me a new candy man, mine doesn’t know jack about dope.

  mnye NA-do na-i-TI NO-vo-vo DOK-to-ra, moi—dva po KU-shu.

  I’m a total newbie; could you find me a guide?

  ya vo-ob-SHYE pi-o-NYER— ti MOZH-esh mnye na-i-TI

  a-ri-sto-KRAT-a?

  He didn’t have any cheese, so he had to pull a buy and fly.

  u ne-VO NYE bi-lo BA-shlei, tak pri-SHLIOS ot-VA-li-va-tsya ot kup-TSA.

  D.L. Spot

  TOCH-ka

  Do you know where I can score around here?

  ti nye ZNA-yesh gdye tut MOZH-no VI-ru-bat?

  Their hot spot is in an old communal apartment.

  ikh kon-TOR-a na-KHO-dit-sya v STA-roi ko-mmu-NAL-kye.

  They found a new shooting gallery near the

  university.

  o-NI na-SHLI NO-vo-ye BLYUD-tse VO-zle uni-vyer-si-TYET-a.

  Weed

  trav-A

  The funny thing about weed in Russia is where you’l find it growing. I once went to the Ryazan region dacha of a 60-year-old woman and saw a five-foot-tal plant, and there used to be a few smal er hemp shrubs not far from one of the embassy buildings in Ukraine. Honestly, most people don’t even know what it is, and those who do know general y don’t bother because the quality is such crap. If you want the good stuff, go for something from Central Asia or the Caucasus—native is total swag.

  Let’s smoke some…

  da-VAI po-KU-rim...

  Notice these words are al in the accusative.

  marijuana.

  ma-ri-khu-A-nu

  pot.

  a-na-shU.

  grass.

  ZYE-lyen.

  bud.

  pye-TRUSH-ku.

  Mary Jane.

  MAR-yu i-VA-nov-nu.

  Also sometimes cal ed

  (Lady Jane).

  cannabis.

  gan-dzhu-BAS.

  Russian golden leaf.

  A-tom

  Usual y imported weed from places south such as Central Asia.

  Hemp

  ko-no-PLYA

  Man, I’m not gonna toke that nasty-ass ditch weed.

  blin, ya nye BU-du za-bi-vAt E-tu dyer-MO-vu-yu byespon-TOV-ku

  This schwag ain’t good, but at least it’s cheap.

  E-tot ko-chi-BEI khrye-NO-vii, no khot dye-SHO-vii.

  These Russian potheads only smoke dirt grass. E-ti RU-sski-ye PLA-ne-ri KUR-yat TOL-ko KLYE-ver.

  Aren’t there any stoners in Moscow?

  nye-u-ZHE-li NYET-u u-PIKH-ti-shei v mosk-VYE?

  Wanna buy a dime bag?

  KHO-chesh ku-PIT GA-lich-ku?

  Where can I get some rolling papers?

  gdye MOZH-no do-STAT PO-pik?

  Anybody got a joint?

  u ko-VO-ni-BUD YEST ko-SYAK?

  He took a hit off the joint.

  on po-lu-CHIL doz-NYAK ot ko-sya-KA.

  Let’s roll a fatty and spark it up.

  da-VAI po-KRU-tim u-go-LYOK i po-pikh-TIM.

  Hey, G, let’s toke this roach.

  ei, pa-TSAN, da-VAI po-ku-MA-rim E-tot pye-GAS.

  Where did you put my feedbag?

  gdye ti po-lo-ZHIL moi pa-KYET?

  Let’s go buy some logs.

  poi-DYOM KU-pim BYE-li-ki.

  These are papirosy that can be hol owed out and fil ed with pot. The ful name is

  (bye-lo-mor-ka-NAL).

  Let’s kill this one.

  da-VAI PYAT-ku smi-NAT.

  I think I have a matchbox (of pot) in the glove

  compartment.

  po-MO-ye-mu u me-NYA yest ko-RAbL v bar-dach-KYE.

  He brought over a B, and we fired it up it together.

  on pri-NYOS ko-ro-BAR i mi VMYE-stye po-du-DYE-li.

  Another word for this is

  (ka-ra-BAS).

  Careful with my bong, dude.

  chu-VAK, a-kku-RAT-no s mo-IM bul-bu-LYA-tor-om.

  Also sometimes just cal ed a

  .

  Have you ever smoked pot through a hookah?

  ti kog-DA-ni-BUD ku-RIL tra-VU CHE-rez ka-LYAN?

  I’ve never seen anyone smoke from a steamroller

  before.

  ni-kog-DA nye VI-dyel, kak KUR-yat iz CHIL-la.

  If you shotgun weed with my girlfriend one more time,

  I’m gonna punch you in the mouth.

  YES-li e-SCHO raz SDYE-la-yesh pa-ro-VOZ-ik s mo-YEI DYE-vush-koi, to ya te-BYE dam v ROT.

  After smoking some ganny, he started buggin’ out. PO-sle to-VO kak VI-ku-ril af-GAN-ku, on SYEL na iz-MYE-nu.

  измену.

  I blew a stick and now I’ve got wicked munchies.

  ya do-ku-rll dol-BAN i tye-PYER MU-cha-yus ZHO-rom.

  Smack

  BYE-lii

  The hard-core addicts in Russia are general y smackheads, so heroin has something of the reputation of being the drug of lowlife user scum.

  There’s no dib and dab in Russia: If you use, you’re likely already hooked or wel on your way. But everyone chooses their poison, and if you need the Number 8, that’s your business. However, keep in mind that smack has also played a huge role in Russia’s AIDS epidemic. So if you do decide to shoot up in Russia, use your own needles.

  Heroin

  gye-ro-IN

  I don’t shoot up H.

  ya nye VZHA-ri-va-yus GYE-ru.

  He spends all his time mainlining.

  on vsyo VRYE-mya VMA-za-yet v BUL-ku.

  I’ve never seen so many track marks on one person

  before.

  PYER-vii raz VI-zhu STOL-ko svyer-SCHEI na od-NOM chye-lo-VYE-kye.

  He has so many tracks, he looks like a train station.

  u nye-VO STOL-ko do-ROG, chto po-KHOZH na sho-SSE.

  She’s a junkie.

  o-NA si-DIT na i-GLYE.

  Needle

  shprits

  If you’re gonna do up some brother, you better get a clean spike.

  YES-li BU-dyesh GRI-shu gnat po VYE-nye, t o LU-chshe vzyat CHI-stu-yu pya-TYEL-ku.

  Blow

  nyu-KHA-
ra

  Cocaine

  ko-ka-IN

  Do you know where I can score some snow around

  here?

  ti nye ZNA-yesh, gdye MOZH-no VI-ru-bat tut snye-ZHOK?

  Angie is too rich for my blood.

  myel mnye nye po kar-MA-nu.

  Let’s blow a line after the concert.

  da-VAI po-nyukh-TA-rim po-NYUSH-ku PO-sle kon-TSER-ta.

  I saw that cokehead in the bathroom snorting flake.

  ya VI-dyel, kak E-tot nyu-KHACH v tua-LYE-tye ma-ra-FYET ot-ri-VAL.

  Trippy drugs

  vol-SHEB-ni-ki

  If you’re more into the club scene, ecstasy and LSD are available as wel , PCP somewhat less so. While often referred to by the name on their stamp—of which there are dozens—here are the most common, general terms for LSD and XTC.