Why is these Russian words different?

Okay I'm trying to learn the language but I'm finding some of it really difficult.



Okay I have this book at says excuse me is 袩褉芯褋褌泄褌械 or (pra-stee tye) but I went to bing translator to help me pronounce it says 袠蟹胁懈薪懈褌械? My book also says that that miss is Devushka which is different then Bing's one that is 袦懈褋褋. And this might be a little stupid but why does sometimes a O sound like a A? maybe that's just me though?Why is these Russian words different?
First things first:



Both 袩褉芯褋褌懈褌械 (note spelling) and 袠蟹胁懈薪懈褌械 do mean "excuse me " or "pardon me". "袠蟹胁懈薪懈褌械" is pronounced "iz-vee-NEE-tee", with emphasis on the third syllable. "Devushka" means a young woman or girl, as opposed to "devochka", which pertains more to a "little girl". While one may be addressed as "devushka" by a stranger (casually), it would not be used in conjunction with a personal name, as Miss Smith would in English. Perhaps, using the term "袦懈褋褋" may be more appropriate? The Russian word 谐芯褋锌芯覘邪 "gos-po-ZHA" together with the name of the person is the polite form of address.

As to why O is sometimes (especially when unstressed) is pronounced as A, well, that depends upon the geography, to some extent. The Moscow accent, in particular, is known for its A sounds. In the Volga region, on the other hand, Os tend to be pronounced as written. Or that used to be the case. With proliferation of TV sets, etc, the Moscow accent seems to have taken hold. But don't fret about it. If you pronounce the Os as spelled, you will still be understood, although people might look at you funny. Still, if you want to blend in better, substituting As for Os in unstressed syllables is okay.



Hope that helped!
袠蟹胁懈薪懈褌械 is the most common way. and if you wanna be informal, u can say 袠蟹胁懈薪懈

that's how i was taughtWhy is these Russian words different?
The sound o only exists when it is in the stress position of the word. In any other position the letter o will be pronounce like an a.
Both are right. You usually say 袩褉芯褋褌泄褌械 锌芯卸邪谢褍泄褋褌邪. [if you want to interfere, for example ask for what time is it] 袩褉芯褋褌泄褌械 is more usually used when you mishear something and ask someone to repeat it.

袠蟹胁懈薪懈褌械 is used when you want to interfere only.

Really you can boldly use any of these two. There's no big difference between them.



袦懈褋褋 is literally Miss. But Russians do not use it at all that's why instead it's written 写械胁褍褕泻邪 (devushka) in the other book.. you should use this one too. You'd probably nor hear one saying miss there, they say girl.



I can't explain why O sounds like A, but it's a rule. Which I apparently can't explain. Sorry about that, but yes it's not just you.Why is these Russian words different?
Vowels get full pronunciation only when stressed.



In the case of "o", it is "o" when stressed, "a" when it is in the syllable before stress and more like "e" anywhere else.



good: khorosho, stressed on the last syllable: kherasho.



Although I don't like the Russian program as other languages, there is a good pronunciation introduction (and more) at www.fsi-language-courses.org

Download the fast Russian (free, public domain)
Let's learn together? I'm English, you are Russian. wolfganu@pisem.net