-small translation "what's up"-

[red-bullet.livejournal.com]

Hey all, I'm writing a story at the moment and one character is actually trying to get away with impressing the other by dropping a line in Russian. What I need is an equivalent to "what's up?" and "Since when do you speak Russian?" if possible.

Also, if I could get it in Roman alphabet that would be greatly helpful.

Any help I would greatly appreciate. I'm really glad I found this community.

Comments

[oryx_and_crake]

You could try "Как дела?" (How are you doing?)" or "Что новенького?" ("What's up?")

[red-bullet.livejournal.com]

Great! Thanks so much!

Is there any chance I could get "Что новенького" in Roman alphabet?

[oryx_and_crake]

"Chto noven'kogo?"

[red-bullet.livejournal.com]

You're the best!

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

However, it’s worth noting that the Ch in что is pronounced closer to a sh, and the g in новенького is pronounced like a v.

[red-bullet.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[oryx_and_crake]

yes, you are right - I am used to the idea that the transliteration should represent the words as they are written, not as they are spoken, but here we might have a different situation.

[red-bullet.livejournal.com]

I agree with you actually and since this is ended for a story I'd like to keep it right and proper, or as proper as something I write is going to get.

However, I always like knowing how to properly pronounce things. Thank you all for your help.

[apollotiger.livejournal.com]

Yeah; that’s my main problem with transliteration. When I transliterate from Cyrillic, I’m always tempted to transliterate it as it’s actually pronounced, and then I get side-tracked. :)

[oryx_and_crake]

P.S. do you need ""Since when do you speak Russian?" too?
that would be "С каких это пор ты говоришь по-русски?"
"S kakih eto por ty govorish' po-russki?"

[red-bullet.livejournal.com]

I love you forever.

P.S. I loved Oryx and Crake. Great book.

[otello.livejournal.com]

"Чо как?"
"В натуре, чо за дела?"
"Какого хрена тут происходит?"

btw, today is 1st april. :)

[red-bullet.livejournal.com]

Uh oh.

[gnomobile.livejournal.com]

what's up=превед [preved]

*)

[ex-metsakis.livejournal.com]

Как дил-а-а-а-а-а ?
Как оно ? :о)

[towarysc.livejournal.com]

Yak dila?
Z yakoho chasu ty rozmovliayesh rossiyskoyu movoyu?

"btw, today is 1st april. :)" - end of citation :)

[jet-setter.livejournal.com]

Polish?

[tiziana-salgado.livejournal.com]

Ukrainian

[giantantattack.livejournal.com]

This post made me recall that, amongst my Russian friends and I during my time abroad in Russia, the phrase "Что наверху?" was a very popular running joke.