When you browse photo catalogs of Russian women, sometimes you see the words that don't fit into ladies' profiles. Find out about unexpected meanings of the terms that can cause huge misunderstandings between you and a Russian lady...

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I noticed that men often struggle with interpreting terms in Russian women's personal profiles. There are two major reasons for that:

Women mean something different when use a term
Women use an incorrect term

Usually women do not know English good enough, and just pick up words out of dictionary; and having many variants often choose a wrong one. Another thing is that some words have a definite meaning in Russian, and women do not bother to check if they have the same meaning in English. Also, some expressions have different meaning because of differences in cultures and life standards.

Below you will find explanations of the most common mistakes in terms using by Russian women in their profiles.

Term	Reason	Meaning
Active rest	Literal translation from Russian	Outdoor and indoor activities
Careful	Incorrect using	Caring
Close people	Literal translation from Russian	People I care about
Communicable, communicative	Using a Russian word	Sociable
Communicating with people/ friends	Incorrect using	Socializing
Counterbalanced	Incorrect using	Even tempered
Create coziness and comfort at home	Literal translation from Russian	Home improvement projects, homemaking
Create a family	Literal translation from Russian	Get married Russian word "family" does not mean parents and children; it can be only 2 - husband and wife.
Economist	Different meanings in Russia and on the West	Economist is a name of position in the accounting/finance/sales department. Also may be a qualification one receives after graduating faculty of economics (also commerce, accounting and finance).
Favorite man	Incorrect using	Beloved man
Financially secure	Differences in life-style	Has a stable income, enough to feed a family of 3.
High (higher, highest) education	Literal translation from Russian	College or University degree
High social position	Differences in life-style	Has a distinctive social status, i.e. works as a manager, or has his own business. But in Russia it works a bit different than on the West: you don't have to be a CEO or the like, or own a blue chip company to be considered having "high social position". Owning a small shop or guest house with 1 employee is fine. Being a lawyer, business consultant or middle manager will do, too. Being a track driver, farmer, computer programmer, teacher in school won't - even if you make a very good living.
Honor	Incorrect using	Confident, independent
Gay	Incorrect using	In some Russian dictionaries given as one of the versions of translating "cheerful", "fun loving"
Generous	Differences in life-style	This is not only about money but the feelings too; the correct equivalent would be "giving" or "supportive". If about money, it means the man does not use the word "expensive", not greedy. Russians are not used to admit that something is too expensive, or show that they cannot afford certain things. For example, in Russia it's considered to be bad manners to check a bill in restaurant, even if you suspect that you are purposefully over billed. Also may be used as equivalent to a word "noble".
I want to find a man who is fond.	Incorrect using	I want to find a man who is loving.
I want to find a second (other) half.	Literal translation from Russian	I want to find a soul mate.
Intelligent	Different meaning of the term in Russian	In Russian usually using to name a person who is well educated, well mannered, clever, considerate, gentle, decent and faithful. Russians will usually use the word "clever" to name what English speaking people name "intelligent". The word "intelligent" means that the person is a good person, not only clever and educated but it also describes the type of character.
Intercourse agency	Incorrect using	Dating agency
Lovely man	Incorrect using	Beloved man
Lusty	Incorrect using	In Russian dictionaries "lusty" is given as equivalent for "affectionate" - a person who likes kisses and hugs
Machine	Incorrect using	Car
Manly	Incorrect using	Happy with the traditional role of man as the family's head, defender and provider, as opposite to feminine
Materially provided	Literal translation from Russian	Financially secure
Middle (medium) education	Incorrect using	May mean high school level; also it may be professional education that is considered in Russia on the same level. "Middle education" in Russia is mandatory (and available free).
Native person	Incorrect using	Soul mate
Orderly	Incorrect using	Decent, faithful
Proud	Incorrect using	Confident, independent
Provided	Incorrect using	Financially secure
Purposeful	Incorrect using	Goal oriented, achiever
Responsive	Incorrect using	Responsible
Real man	Literal translation from Russian	A man who is strong willed, resolute and is capable to be the family's provider and defender; who knows how to treat a woman.
Romantic evenings with candles	Literal translation from Russian	Candle lit dinners
Roses	Custom meaning	Rose is the most adored and expensive flower in Russia. Red roses mean love - well, it's not an official meaning, just a feeling they bring. A bouquet must have 5, 7, 9 etc flowers. Even numbers are used for funerals only. Yellow flowers are not supposed to be given to a beloved person; they mean unfaithfulness.
Sexual	Often: Incorrect using	Sexy (Russian word "sexual" does not have that strong meaning)
Sensual	Often: Incorrect using	Affectionate, passionate
Shaping	Using a Russian word	Aerobics
Sporty	Using a Russian word	Athletic, physically fit
Strong	Differences in interpretation	Refers to personality not physical qualities: basically, it means strong willed
Strong family	Literal translation from Russian	Common Russian phrase that cannot be correctly translated to English; may be interpreted as "good", "quality" family, where everything is right and which can go through any life trouble.
Tactful	Incorrect using	Considerate
Temperamental	Incorrect using	Passionate
Tender	Incorrect using	Affectionate, gentle
Well-to-do	Differences in life-style	Belongs to a middle class or upper middle class.
Well balanced	Incorrect using	Even tempered, calm
Without bad habits	Literal translation from Russian	Non-smoker/non-drinker or social drinker; no illegal drugs
Without material problems	Literal translation from Russian	Financially secure
Womanly	Incorrect using	Feminine
When we learn to close (closer).	Literal translation from Russian	When we know each other better

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