- Hey James. Have you missed me and the Russian language?

- Hi Piotr, not really. My brain is still boiling after the Subjunctive Mood class. Lol.

- Don’t start whining. I have an exciting topic for you this time.

- Do you? Is there even anything more interesting than the Russian Subjunctive?

- Hard to believe, right? What about some phrases that'll help you flirt with a Russian woman?

- Ooh la la. Keep talking. I desperately need those phrases. So many girls around, and so few ideas on how to chat them up in Russian.

Ты мне нравишься - I like you

Friends, if you're like James and need professional advice on pick up lines, keep reading. Piotr is not only an excellent Russian teacher but also an experienced flirter.

- I knew you’d like this one, James. As soon as you’ve learned a few good Russian phrases, you’ll be ready to court a girl. Let me share some wisdom with you, my young pal.

- Don’t start on bottomless eyes and a beautiful smile, please. These cheesy phrases make me want to puke.

- Well, Russian women adore romance. I wouldn't underestimate the power of the words бездонные глаза and прекрасная улыбка. Neither would I neglect Ты выглядишь как ангел / You look like an angel. Just kidding. These would apply to women your mother’s age. But saying you like her blue eyes Мне нравяться твои голубые глаза wouldn’t hurt in any culture, would it?"

- I guess. Well, share some Russian tricks with me because my ideas are limited to hey cutie, hey girl, and let me buy you a drink."

"You're funny. Well, привет, красотка would do the exact opposite of what you expect: a Russian красотка will probably just ignore you. Позволь купить тебе что-нибудь выпить holds a greater chance for success.

- Yeah, hot women love free drinks. Should I just approach her with a big vodka bottle?

- Don’t be judgmental. And please, no vodka. That's a mere stereotype. Our girls are simply used to being wined and dined by Russian men. That's part of the Russian culture. They want you to express a sincere interest in them. Be funny but polite, say she's hot (сексуальная) but mind the distance."

Balancing between ты and Вы while flirting

- Do you mean You have a great figure and I love your beautiful legs won’t work? I always have an undeniable urge to use these words.

- У тебя красивая фигура and Я влюбился в твои красивые ноги could potentially complement an invitation to eat out and a small talk that shows your intellect.

- Oh gee! Talking about Vladimir Putin and Karl Marx? That would be hilarious given my level of Russian.

- You don't have to go into politics to appear smart, do you? Grab a pen, James. You want to remember these lines. Russian ladies pay a lot of attention to their outfits. So, they appreciate it when you notice their efforts. In this video [1:45], they teach you to say You’re wearing a very beautiful dress / На Вас очень красивое платье.

- На Вас? Isn’t it На тебе?

"A great point. You would say На Вас for a formal version. You want to use it when you first meet a woman. На тебе would work if you are already on friendly terms with her.

Example #1

- I’ll never get this habit of formalizing everything. Why would you be formal when picking someone up?

- Your jokes, James. Here’s another conversation starter, this time coming from a guy [2:03]: Прекрасные туфли, где купили? / Wonderful shoes. Where did you get them?"

Example #2

- This line would work as well: Ты сегодня потрясающе выглядишь! / You look amazing today.

Example #3

- сегодня …Not a nice compliment. Now seriously, Piotr. I’m struggling with formal and informal pronouns when I speak Russian.

- Here's a table for your convenience.

Table #1 - Formal and informal you

Ты, Вы and some good lines

- I know you want me to use one of these in context. Am I right?

- You know me well, James. 

- [Sighs] Ok, let me merge flirting and pronouns in the Russian language. Привет! Я много хорошего о тебе слышал. Is that correct for Hi, I’ve heard lots of nice things about you?

- Yes. My compliments on your perfect example.

- Would this line get me anywhere?

- Tell me once you’ve used it in real life.

- I will, Piotr. I also have a good formal pick-up phrase.

- Go ahead!

- Добрый вечер! Мы с Вами раньше не встречались?

- You're good, man! Russian men use this one a lot.

Mother's borscht and the Russian Subjunctive

- To be honest, Piotr, I always go with Привет! Ты мне нравишься…

- Not bad. But it can be improved.

- Wait. I'm not done. How do I say I’d like to taste your mother's borscht?

- Joking again...

- No. How do you say that?

Go back to our Russian Subjunctive class once again.

- What does it have to do with flirting? ... Darn it. Is that Я бы хотел попробовать борщ твоей мамы?

- Perfect. I mean your Russian is perfect. The pick up line isn’t.

- You’re a bore.

The cheesiest pick up dialogue

- Ok, here’s the most boring pick up dialogue I've heard in my life. You don't want to miss it.

- I’m all ears, Piotr.

Вы так красивы и умны. Я завидую Вашему молодому человеку / You’re so beautiful and smart. I envy your boyfriend.

- Are you kidding me? That’s super cheesy.

- Wait. It gets even better. Do you know the woman's response?

- Can't wait to hear it.

- А у мене нет молодого человека / And I don’t have a boyfriend.

- Don’t roll up your eyes, James.

- Next, the guy is supposed to respond with How come such a beautiful girl has no boyfriend? Unreal!

- You’re good. How would you say that in Russian?

- Don’t make me do that.

- Please, for me.

- Only for you, my dear teacher. I’d say, Как так! У такой красивой девушки нет молодого человека?

- Bravo, James! You sound like a Russian native.

- Blushing. Are you flirting with me?

- Lol. Turn on this passage [3:07] to listen to how Russian natives say these lines:

Example #4

Just another cheesy pick up line

- Do you want one more hilarious conversation starter?

- Surprise me!

- Check this video out [1:20]. You approach a girl and chat her up: У вас есть лицензия? She’ll be puzzled and say, лицензия? Then you go: Да, лицензия так хорошо выглядеть.

Example #5

- Oh my. I want to un-hear this. That's the worst pick-up line in the world. Man, if Russian women fall for it, I’m dead.

What 100% works

- You don't like all these? No problem. You can always talk about the weather.

- Let’s be honest, Piotr. No one enjoys this kind of conversation.

- True. But it never scares ladies off either. So I’d like to equip you with two phrases: 1) Сегодня прекрасная погода (The weather is beautiful today) and 2) Как Вам зима в этом году? (How do you like this winter?)

- Let me add a personal touch to these: Сегодня прекрасная погода. Можно Вас пригласить на пиво?

- Not bad, James. I’d still replace beer with coffee. Можно Вас пригласить на кофе? Russian women might get offended by this phrase. Forget about alcohol when you're making a move in Russia.

- Whatever. I could as well have a coffee with a Russian lady. How do you say "date" in Russian?

- Do you mean свидание?

- Yes, thanks. I'd suggest, Let’s go on a date / Давай пойдем на свидание. As they say, Уверенность сексуальная. So why not?

- Confidence is sexy indeed, James. They like assertive guys in Russia.

Wrapping up

- Let's list our Russian pick-up phrases. This way, you could print them out and carry them as a cheat sheet. You never know when you meet a cute girl, do you?

- You're a fun person, Piotr. Learning Russian with you is more rewarding than drinking vodka.

Tables #2 - Russian pick-up lines

Have you enjoyed today's dialogue? Follow Piotr and James classes and have fun while studying Russian.