How to pull off a REAL Russian accent! (VIDEO)

The accent is easy, but to do it well you have to know the language. 

Russians are told that the letter I in English always makes the noise “ee”.

So instead of “Did, this, sink” they say DEED, ZEES, and SEENK. 

Next the TH-noises in English are very rare across the world’s languages, and Russian does not have them, so they substitute Z or S for the TH sound.

• This = ZEES
• Smoothie = СМУЗИ
• Thinking = СИНКИНГ

In English the word “no” has one syllable obviously, but Russians hear it is a two-syllable word, they here НОУ. Thus all long O sounds in English must be VERY LONG for a Russian accent. Гоу, Кроу

The letter R in Russian is the rollie kind like in Spanish but you knew that. 

And finally Russian is a language with BIG words that get one punchy emphasis on one syllable. English is a language with lots of small words. Meaning Russians emphasize EVERYTHING in English. So let’s say. 

I think I should go to the store before school.

АЙ ЗИНК АЙ ШУД ГОУ ТУ ЗЕ СТОР БИФОР СКУЛ

This is the reason Russians sound angry because all words get massive emphasis for no reason in English.

And there ya go!

Click here to watch more Russian lessons with our most Russian American, Tim Kirby!