Why does russian look like english

Two letters of the Russian alphabets do not designate any sounds. With few exceptions, Russian consonant letters can be pronounced either "soft" or "hard" depending on the type of a letter that comes after them. For this reason, the 20 consonant letters of the Russian alphabet can designate 37 distinct consonant sounds! In general, Russian vowels are divided into two basic types: "soft-indicating" and "hard-indicating" vowels. Russian "soft-indicating" vowels are formed from their "hard-indicating" counterparts by adding an English sound of "y" at the beginning.

We strongly recommend that you read the following essential lessons to get a better idea of the Russian sound system:. Ask them in the Russian Questions and Answers — a place for students, teachers and native Russian speakers to discuss Russian grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of the Russian language. Copyright MasterRussian. Learn Russian every day for free!

Clicks the "Like" button below to get daily updates on Facebook! In pronouncing this sound, the mouth is open a bit wider as compared to English. The tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth, as opposed the upper gum ridge in English. Try to avoid a puff of air after the sound typical in the English language. Try to avoid a puff of unvoiced air after the sound as typical for the English language.

When pronouncing it, try to place your tongue higher and more forward in the mouth than in English. When pronouncing this sound, try opening the mouth a bit wider than you do in English. In some cases it sounds like "oo" in oodles. In some cases it sounds like "a" in after, ask. This letter might look like the number three 3 but it only conveys a sound and has nothing to do with digits.

Like with the Russian letter T, the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth when pronouncing this letter. Unlike in English, the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth. This sound is pronounced shorter than in English, with lips more rounded and protruded.

Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Anixx Avtokod Avtokod 2, 1 1 gold badge 8 8 silver badges 16 16 bronze badges. C did not replace G, it was the other way around. Quassnoi , The gamma was written C in Etruscan, 'cause the Etruscans did not distinguish between the "c" and "g" sounds.

Quassnoi , try the search — Avtokod. The drawings were sent to Amsterdam for the letters fabrication. However the quality of the letters did not satisfy the tsar. Thus for book printing was adopted the type made by the Dutch masters. Show 1 more comment.

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