Language through Literature

A Horsey Name


До водки очень охотник, живёт не с женой, а с немкой, ругатель, но, можно сказать, чудодейственный господин!

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Show the English

He’s a great one for vodka, he lives not with his wife but with a German woman, and he’s foul-mouthed, but a miracle-working gentleman, one may say!”

Where it stands

— А вы попытайте, ваше превосходительство. “But do give it a try, Your Excellency.

The words in this sentence

до
until, up to, before (+ gen)
во́дки
vodka (gen sg) — водка
о́чень
very
охо́тник
one fond of, enthusiast; hunter (nom sg)
живе́т
lives (pres 3sg of жить, = живёт) — жить
не
not
с
with (+instr); from, off (+gen)
жено́й
wife (instr sg) — жена
а
and, but (conjunction)
не́мкой
German woman (ins sg of немка) — немка
руга́тель
foul-mouthed abuser, curser (nom sg) (arch.)
но
but
мо́жно
one may, it is possible
сказа́ть
to say, tell (infinitive)
чудоде́йственный
miracle-working, wonder-working (nom sg m)
господи́н
mister, gentleman

А. П. Чехов, «Лошадиная фамилия», 1885 · sentence 14 of 56

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