Russian for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 4

The best souvenir

Russian superlatives — Самый лучший сувенир (the best souvenir) — with gender-agreeing superlative forms.

Conversation

  1. Bolin Bolin

    Самый лучший сувенир из отпуска- магнитик

    Samyj lučšij suvenir iz otpuska- magnitik

    The best souvenir from a vacation is a magnet.

  2. Magicat Magicat

    Пффф, какая ерунда. Самая лучшая вещь- еда

    Pfff, kakaja erunda. Samaja lučšaja veŝʹ- eda

    Pfft, what nonsense. The best thing is food.

  3. Bolin Bolin

    Тогда самое лучшее-это фото достопримечательности

    Togda samoe lučšee-èto foto dostoprimečatelʹnosti

    Then the best is a photo of a landmark.

  4. Magicat Magicat

    А лучше всё и сразу

    A lučše vsë i srazu

    Even better, have everything at once.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you form superlatives in Russian?

Самый + adjective: самый лучший (the best), самая красивая (the most beautiful), самое большое (the biggest).

Why does самый change?

Самый is itself an adjective and agrees with the noun's gender, number, and case.

Other Russian superlatives?

Самый + adjective is universal. Some have special forms: лучший (best), худший (worst), старший (eldest), младший (youngest).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Russian lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Townhall Hot or cold countries? →