Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Jemascola · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:05 am Post subject: ChtOH or ChtAH?

I am a little bit confused about "chto." Is it prononced "ChtOH" or "ChtAH?" I think it's ChtAH because I think I've heard that word before, and it seems to make more sense than "ChtOH" for some reason.

Thank you (Spaciba).

nikir · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:14 am Post subject:

You are actually wrong on both guesses.
Its more shtoh. Even though it is written что the first letter is more an sh sound.

lloydmorin · Just Starting Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

Well I think you were thinking more about the vowel sound than the consonants. The stressed "o" sound is a little different than the English "o" sound. In English "o" kinda closes in the the end like it gets turned off quickly, o. Or like it fell down a big hole. In Russian stressed "o" does the opposite more like oah. It opens rather than closes. Not quite chtah, but more chtoah. Nu chtoah?! Remember though that unstressed "o" does sound just like ah, and when people speak naturally things don't always get the proper stress, so you might be right to say that sometimes you hear chtah, but try chtoah you will feel very russian. Wink

Daria · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

Absurd · Frequent Guest Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 27

Talis · Just Starting Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Absurd,

hahahaaaaaaa

I pronounсe it like "cho" or "sho"...
Never thought I wold be thinking on how to pronounсe that Laughing