The following bilingual Russian MiniLesson is meant to build your vocabulary by providing Russian phrases within English text. Hover over the bold Russian to reveal its English translation.
Much of Russia’s modern music language is related to English. For example, the names of most genres can be directly translated: Рок, Рэп, Джаз, Хип-хоп, and even Фанк and “Эмо-музыка”. Technical terms are also very closely related (having both come from Latin roots): аранжировка, гармония, мелодия, and even половинная нота. Of course, many of these words are not in common usage and many are technical terms that are really only known to those who follow and study music.
Among young people, a set of slang words has evolved to describe music they like:
Драйвовая (from the English “Drive.”)
Зажигательная – (from the Russian “Зажигать”)
Взрывная – (from the Russian “Взрывать”)
Чумовая – (from the Russian “Чума”)
“Грузон” – (from the Russian “Грустить”; also similar to “Грузить”.)