The Name Game: Autumn Edition

Remember the podstakannik we introduced you to recently? Well, the Russian language has plenty more words that don’t quite fit into a neat English translation. Some describe traditions, while others, well… capture some of the most complex Russian moods and ways of life! This time, we’ve picked five that feel particularly right for autumn.

☀️ Babye leto - literally “women’s summer”, the Russian equivalent of Indian summer. The term refers to those precious warm, sunny days in early autumn when summer seems to make one last appearance.

🫖 Samovar - much more than a traditional tea urn. A symbol of Russian hospitality, long conversations and the art of taking your time over tea. Once a household essential, today it’s more of a nostalgic centrepiece brought out for special occasions.

🍀 Avos’ - that wonderfully optimistic (or perhaps reckless) belief that things will somehow work out. Often used as a particle with a verb, it’s the Russian equivalent of hoping for the best without necessarily having a plan.

🧖 Banya - not just a sauna, but a whole ritual involving steam, birch or oak branches, hot-and-cold contrasts and a proper reset for both body and mind. But that’s a whole different story!

🌫️ Toska - well, well, this one is better felt than explained, especially in autumn or during the darker months. Somewhere between longing, melancholy and an inexplicable sadness, it’s a feeling Russian literature has practically made an art form out of. So autumn-coded.

Five words, five little ways to get to know Russia beyond translation!

#DRculture