Task 1: Listen to the audio & repeat the words

мальчик boy	молодой человек young man	мужчина man
девочка girl	девушка young woman	женщина  woman

How to address a woman

In modern Russian, there is no neutral and polite word to address strangers. But, you may hear people use words like ‘девушка’, ‘женщина’, or even ‘бабушка’, when asking for directions or attracting someone's attention. 

However, these terms can easily come across as rude, inappropriate or even mocking, especially if you misjudge the person's age or use the word too bluntly. For example:

• ‘Девушка’ literally means ‘young woman’ or ‘miss’, but if used with someone older, it can sound sarcastic.
• ‘Женщина’ means ‘woman’, but it can feel cold or impolite – like calling someone “Woman!” in English.
• ‘Бабушка’ means ‘grandmother’ and, unless you're literally speaking to your grandma, it's best avoided – it can sound dismissive or patronizing.
  

To be safe and polite, the best way to get someone's attention is to simply say “Извините”, which means “Excuse me”. It’s neutral, respectful and appropriate in almost any situation. So, instead of guessing someone’s age or status, just go with ‘Извините’!

Vocabulary for the video

Я тебе не бабушка! - I'm not your grandmother!

хам - jerk

смеяться над старыми - making fun of old people

прямо - straight

налево - to the left

Photo credits: The Good Brigade; Catherine Delahaye; Mr Vito; Morsa Images; Flashpop/Getty Images