The Language of Love

With Russia becoming a Mecca for (mainly male) foreigners in search of a spouse, and as Russian marriage agencies proliferate like sidewalk kiosks in Moscow, a love-related vocabulary has become a vital topic.

The romantic-minded foreigner coming to Russia may be overwhelmed by the variety of vocabulary Russians use to express their feelings and plans vis-`a  -vis the opposite sex.

If you’re looking for a marriage of convenience (брак по расчёту) then you can ignore linguistic subtleties and let your credit card talk instead. If, however, you want a true love match (брак по любви), then you must fall in love (влюбиться). Or, better still, “fall in love up to your ears” (влюбиться по уши), the ultimate in tender feelings.