In this issue’s Uchites, we look at common Russian idioms and the challenges of translating them into English.

After declensions, cases, aspect, verbs of motion, pronunciation, and all the other trials of the Russian language, there is one more thing to learn: quotes, jokes and allusions. Let's do this.

This issue's Uchites looks at some familiar proverbs and helps you learn them by matching them up to rough equivalents in English.

These days, if you are reading Russian periodicals in order to improve your Russian language skills, you are getting lots of practice in ways to lie.

Studying Russian and finding it a bit challenging? You are not alone. Check out our list of famous people who have studied Russian, and find some fellow-sufferers...

A popular song about paintings helps language learners pick up some artistic vocabulary.

On how recent foreign borrowings is shaping the Russian language.

Here's a suggestion for improving your Russian: watch Russian TV. But which TV? Here's a suggestion...

In her final Uchites column for Russian Life, Natalia Gogolitsyna takes a look at one of Russia's most beloved filmmakers and the winged phrases that are one of his legacies.

A rather adequate look at the rise of "adekvatny" and "neadekvatny" in colloquial speech.

In this issue’s Uchites, we look at New Year’s by reading a very old text and learning a popular children’s song.

Every year, a group of Russian word-lovers vote on the word – or rather words – of the year. Here are the results.