(no subject)

[3libras.livejournal.com]

I've tried looking this up in my dictionary, but it's not giving me any information.

What are some Russian equivalents to English words like "huh?" and "eh?" I've seen "что", but I'm not sure that's exactly what I have in mind. Any information would be appreciated.

Спасибо!

Comments

[mialuthien.livejournal.com]

You can translate it as 'а?' 'что?' and 'что вы сказали?' The latter means 'what did you say?'

[mialuthien.livejournal.com]

'Uh-huh' - угу! (употребляется как утвердительный ответ) I hope this helped clear things out somewhat.

[3libras.livejournal.com]

Спасибо!

[mialuthien.livejournal.com]

Пожалуйста! ^^

[oryx_and_crake]

Depending on context.
Standalone "huh?" is indeed translated as "а?", "что?", "чего?" or as more polite "Что Вы сказали?"

However, in the end of a question it will be "a?", "да?" or "не правда ли?", as in

- It's really bad out there today, eh?
- Омерзительная сегодня погода, а?

[3libras.livejournal.com]

What about "а что", as opposed to "а" and "что" separately? My dictionary's giving me that, would that work too?

[oryx_and_crake]

"а что" is more like "why?" when it is standalone or in the end of the sentence. However, if it is in the beginning of a sentence, it can be translated as "I say", e.g.

- Are you going shopping tomorrow?
- (No, )why?

- Ты завтра пойдешь за покупками?
- (Нет, )а что?

versus

- I say, are you going shopping tomorrow?
- А что, ты завтра пойдешь за покупками?

[3libras.livejournal.com]

So "а что" is similar to "зачем"?

[oryx_and_crake]

No, it is not.

[3libras.livejournal.com]

Grah, my dictionary must not be very good then, because it's telling me they're similar. D:

Спасибо!

[oryx_and_crake]

It is more complicated than your dictionary tells you. English "why" can be, depending on context, translated as "почему?", "зачем" and "а что?", but those three words are NOT interchangeable and you should very well understand when to use each of them.

[3libras.livejournal.com]

If it's no trouble, could you give me an example for each? When should they be used?

[oryx_and_crake]

Sure, no problem. I already gave you the example for "а что?". Now, you use "зачем" when you are speaking about the purpose, and "почему" when you are speaking about the reason or cause, e.g.

- Why do you cry? (i.e. what causes your tears)
- Почему ты плачешь?

- Why have you missed school today? (i.e. what was the reason that you were absent)
- Почему ты вчера не был в школе?

but

- Why do you mix flour and water? (i.e. for what purpose)
- To make dough.

- Зачем ты смешиваешь муку и воду?
- Чтобы сделать тесто.

[3libras.livejournal.com]

Спасибо! It's still a little confusing, but it makes more sense now. I'm learning independently, so I don't have a teacher to tell me these things.

[oryx_and_crake]

No problem, you are always welcome.

[dontstepinside.livejournal.com]

Зачем means 'for what' even though it's translated as 'why' sometimes because 'for what' tends to sound awkward in English sentences. To illustrate the point, another way of saying the sentence above would be 'What are you mixing the flour and water for?'. So just associate 'зачем' with 'for what'and you should be fine.

[3libras.livejournal.com]

Actually, I was figuring that I could differentiate between the two by thinking of "почему" as "what caused", but that works too! Спасибо!

[dontstepinside.livejournal.com]

'Почему' doesn't just mean 'what caused'. It's the general way of saying 'why' in Russian, whereas 'а что' and 'зачем' are just more specific.

'Почему'is the word that is most often used when saying 'why', and it can be used in a variety of contexts as in:
Почему ты так думаешь? Why do you think that?
Почему он украл баклажан? Why did he steal the eggplant?

'Почему' simply means 'why', whereas 'зачем' means 'for what', while 'а что' is similar to 'so what?' or 'so?', except less rude.

Hope this clears everything up for you.

[gera.livejournal.com]

Huh? (as in disbelief, challenging what was just said) ~ Чего? (or Чего-чего?)
Note that it is quite rude.

[3libras.livejournal.com]

Спасибо!

[oryx_and_crake]

No, "Что ты!" is closer to "You don't say!" or "Go away!" or "Never!" (meaning that the person you are talking to just said something unbelievable or impossible, e.g.

- Мы завтра пойдем в кино?
- Что ты! У меня очень много работы.

- Shall we go and see a movie tomorrow?
- Never! I have loads of work to do.

- Вчера один ученый открыл способ добывать золото из морской воды.
- Что ты!

- Yesterday one scientist discovered a way to produce gold from sea water.
- You don't say!

[gera.livejournal.com]

Not really.

"Что ты!" is more like "God, no!"
while
"- Чего-чего?" is more like "What a nonsense!" or "What did you just say?" (indignation)

What are you talking about??

[padruka1988.livejournal.com]

чего is certainly not rude!!!! You could also say чё! You pretty much can say either of these words *with friends or close family* when they something that you don't understand or you can't believe. There's nothing rude about it. If you say it to a stranger, teacher, etc... It's just like saying, "Huh?" it English. It's not RUDE, it just makes you look a little uncultured. Better to say, "Pardon?" "Excuse me?" or "Come again?" In Russian, you can say these as, "Что Вы сказали?" But just like with your English-speaking friends, you can say, "Huh?" or "What?" and they probably won't think anything of it!

Re: What are you talking about??

[oryx_and_crake]

Well, I cannot completely agree with you. If I were speaking, e.g. to my boss and did not catch exactly what he said, I would definitely not say "Чего?" and I probably would not say "А?", but "Простите, что Вы сказали?" or "Повторите, пожалуйста". It is not exactly rude (it is OK to use those words with your family or friends, as you said), but not extremely polite either.

[mithgol.livejournal.com]

Ась?

[evghoul.livejournal.com]

Сергей, где мой именной бан?

[ex-ex-white.livejournal.com]

О, Сергей, и здесь вы! Вам понравились наши рифмы?

[dvd-long-banned.livejournal.com]

Идиот. Ты учишь людей дерьму. "Ась?" в значении "eh?" или "huh?" говорят только умственно-неполноценные дрочащие на старославянское дерьмо мудаки, пидорасы и уёбищные твари, которые сдохнут, как ты, грязное ебло, чмо и мразь.

.

Это НЕ русский язык. Это говно. Твои мозги засохли и зациклились. Убей себя, уёбище. Умри.

[dvd-long-banned.livejournal.com]

Don't listen to this mamzer. He lies. He is really insane. He will die soon.

[3libras.livejournal.com]

Goodness.

[yurri.livejournal.com]

Хуясь?

[kokin2.livejournal.com]

Ебаный ты по голове любитель говна!

[ermor.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is well-known pervert, who stroking on tentacles.

[mr-awk.livejournal.com]

Сергей, Вы совершенно правы.
А посему добавьте, пожалуйста, меня в Ваш список LJ-друзей.
Спасибо.

[grumbler43.livejournal.com]

Сергей, я восхищаюсь вашей глубиной мысли, а посему добавьте меня в Ваш список LJ-друзей.
Спасибо.

[true-poser.livejournal.com]

Хуясь!
От имени всего коммьюнити ru_mithgols - добавьте нас в ваш френд-лист, пожалуйста!

[mihhal.livejournal.com]

Сергей, как ваше здоровье?

[juliy.livejournal.com]

я расовый еврейский жыд, пожалуйста, добавьте меня в ваш список друзей

[ex-realavat.livejournal.com]

Чаво?

[dyemen.livejournal.com]

Сэр Гей, Геленжид должен быть разрушен, я щитаю.

[ex-samir74.livejournal.com]

Этот вопрос, "ась?", мне отвратителен, и отвечать на него я не собираюсь.

[angriffmeister.livejournal.com]

Gott mit uns!

[angriffmeister.livejournal.com]

Was?!

[angriffmeister.livejournal.com]

Wie bitte?

[true-poser.livejournal.com]

There isn't an one-for-all answer. Different words are used, depending on what you keep in mind. "Да?" if you are continuing a conversation, showing, that you are listening and wait for the next words. "Что?" if you need more information. "Угу" is if you want to, well, to "agree" without saying nothing else. "Хых" is close to "huh" - just a sound, that shows, that you are alive and thinking ;). In some informal conversations just "Ы?" would be enough ;) .


"Ась" is really obsolete. Don't listen to this pervert, who masturbates on hentai with orthodoxal tentacles ;) .