Common Russianisms to Avoid

Belarusian and Russian are close relatives, and most Belarusians speak both. In everyday speech the two often mix; this mixed speech is often called трасянка. Standard Belarusian has its own words for many everyday things. Here are the ones learners meet first:

• дзякуй (thank you), not спасіба. See thanking.
• калі ласка (please; you're welcome), not пажалуйста. See калі ласка.
• таксама (also, too), not тожа
• трэба (need, have to), not нужна or нада. See мне трэба.
• зараз and цяпер (now), not сейчас
• так (yes), not да. In Belarusian, да is a preposition meaning to. See так і не.
• вельмі (very), not очань
• заўсёды (always), not всегда
• вядома (of course), not канешна
• таму што (because), not патаму што. See бо і таму што.

Зараз or цяпер? Both translate now. Цяпер is about the present time in general: Цяпер я жыву ў Мінску (Now I live in Minsk). Зараз often means right now or in a moment: Я зараз прыйду (I'll be right there).

Similar words, Belarusian spelling. Many words are shared, but Belarusian spells them its own way. Write малако, not молоко (akanye), and дзень, not день.

Not every word that looks Russian is a mistake. Чай is a normal Belarusian word, alongside гарбата. When you are unsure, check a Belarusian dictionary.