Three phrasebooks to talk about.

Christine Hrichak
Published: February 25, 2025

Christine’s Note: In this recurring column I’ll share information about Carpatho-Rusyn books. Some will be books you might already be familiar with, and some you might not. Either way, we hope you enjoy these recommendations.

This month we bring you three versions of the phasebook Let’s Speak Rusyn by Paul Robert Magocsi. 

If you’re interested in learning the Carpatho-Rusyn language, there are many resources available to you. The Let’s Speak Rusyn books offer common phrases in three of the main variants of the language: 

• Prešov Rusyn, spoken in northeastern Slovakia
• Lemko Rusyn, spoken in southern Poland
• Transcarpathian Rusyn, spoken in Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine

The books each start with the Rusyn alphabet in Cyrillic and transliteration to Latin, followed by pronunciations in English. The book then goes into sections like Greetings, Introductions, Questions, Weather, Family and Friends, etc. Each section includes a few pages of phrases in Rusyn and their English translations, and ends with more vocabulary words. Towards the end of the book you’ll find Grammatical Notes, such as how to decline various nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, and lists of common Adjectives and Verbs. 

Whether you are going to join C-RS’ Rusyn Language Course Interest Session on February 20th, or not, these books are a fun way to learn some phrases in whichever flavor of Rusyn you choose!

Available individually or as a set in the C-RS online shop:

• Let’s Speak Rusyn: Prešov Region Edition – $18
• Let’s Speak Lemko Rusyn – $18
• Let’s Speak Rusyn: Transcarpathian Region Edition – $18

While purchasing books, take a look at the other items for sale in the C-RS Heritage Store. Adding a few extra items to your purchase helps us defray the cost of shipping.

Christine Hrichak is a member of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society’s Board of Directors.