could i get some help here?

[superbad.livejournal.com]

What do you say when you walk into a store/the bank and there is no one at the otdel where you need service?

I think I heard someone say "Можно кого–то!?" once at the khoztovary store. Is that right? Is there another way?

My impulse is to say "Um... Hello!!" - so can you just say "алло!!" ?

Spaseebs.

Comments

[kefir-msk.livejournal.com]

"кхм-кхм!"

[superbad.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure my throat will let me pronounce that... but is it sort of like "Ahem ahem!" ?

[kefir-msk.livejournal.com]

Well... like easy cough just to attract attansion 8)

[tlkh.livejournal.com]

It's the same sound, just different traditions to spell it

[pzrk.livejournal.com]

I usualy say "тук-тук" ("knock-knock", as at the door) - someone hears it and appears immediately :-)

[superbad.livejournal.com]

Oh i like that... thanks!

[rodoss.livejournal.com]

"Есть кто-нибудь?" will do.

[natha1ie.livejournal.com]

I usually say "Есть кто живой?" ("is there anybody alive?")

[g-l-k.livejournal.com]

I usually shout something like "Извините, тут есть кто-нибудь?"

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

I use to say: "Простите, здесь есть кто-нибудь?" (Excuse me, is there anyone?)

[belaja-belka.livejournal.com]

"Можно кого-то?" for me sounds not very right.
I usually ask: "Есть тут кто-нибудь?" - "Is anybody here?", or just: "Ау-у!" (which is usually a way for people walking in forest to call each other, if they are lost) :)))

[wild-seacat.livejournal.com]

"Есть здесь кто?", "Девушка (or парень), можете подойти?", "Можно вас?", "Не подскажете?", etc.
"Можно кого–то!?" not right.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

"Парень, можете подойти?" Are you serious? You don't sound like you're from Rostov-on-Don, dont'you? :)

[wild-seacat.livejournal.com]

i`m from moscow) often the seller - the girl. and I speak this phrase.

[wild-seacat.livejournal.com]

you know what i mean. "мужчина" more correct?))

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Referring to people by their sex is regarded as bad taste, low style and, generally, illiterate speech.

[oryx_and_crake]

Oh yes, together with "Мужчина, вас здесь не стояло!" Are you kidding?

[wild-seacat.livejournal.com]

я имел ввиду, если продавец - девушка. это может быть и парень, конечно)
"Девушка (мужчина), можете подойти?" - is one of the widespread questions in this situation

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Do you seriously think it's good Russian?

[g-l-k.livejournal.com]

BTW, I would NOT recommend you to use "алло" in such situation, as it sounds very rude to a Russian ear.

[superbad.livejournal.com]

ooh thanks

[spiritrc.livejournal.com]

Алло indeed sounds rude in a usual speech. But it's acceptable and common when answering a phone call.

What about "door-phone"?

[bakabaka.livejournal.com]

Despite being Russian, I wonder what is right to say when answering a "door-phone/intercom call" ("домофон").
The handset looks like telephone's, so "алло" may be an option.
But it is just a "remote interface to the door", so "кто там?" is also appropriate.

Re: What about "door-phone"?

[spiritrc.livejournal.com]

I think 'кто там?' is the best option. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw someone saying 'алло' after picking up the 'домофон' handset, but if I was at the remote door, I definitely would be surprised to hear 'алло' from it. :) Although I wouldn't probably consider it rude in such a situation.

Re: What about "door-phone"?

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

I normally say "слушаю". Or, if I'm in playful mood, "я вас внимательно".

[aylie-serinde.livejournal.com]

Алло is a word from some low-style youths' slang, so using it is rather impolite. Though it's perfectly correct to use it while speaking on the phone.

[bekesha.livejournal.com]

not really - it would rather sound like a silly joke, because it's not quite appropriate in such situation

it's also quite informal - all of the above would work fine

[g-l-k.livejournal.com]

Well, to me "алё" definitely does sound very rude:))

[bekesha.livejournal.com]

it's something personal then :-) - "але" people usually say when they pick up a phone, it's not rude at all
when you come into a room and say "але" it's like "can you hear me?/are you there?"

it can only be rude if you say it in the aggressive way - but anything can be rude in that way :-)

[g-l-k.livejournal.com]

Well, tastes apparently differ:)
I just tried to imagine a person coming into a shop and trying to get noticed by shouting АЛЁ!!
To my taste - definitely bad manners, to the point of being insolent.

[aylie-serinde.livejournal.com]

I'd have said "Этот отдел работает?" aloud if there's no one in sight at all or just something like "Извините" or "Можно вас?" if there is a person there obviously a member of the stuff.