Russian borrowings in English

[Darijus]

Does "bistro" mean "quickly" in Russian, and is the first syllable stressed (making English borrowers 'mispronouce' the "o")?

b

Dear BobK,

You are completely right. If you stress first syllable the word "bistro" means "quickly" (adv). If you put stress on the second syllable this same word changes meaning into the noun that could mean "a cafeteria" where you can have a quick lunch.
Please note that in the first instance the "i" is pronounced the way only the Russian ppl can explain. I know Russian quiet well but there are no such sound in my own language too.
Any comments from Moscow???

Best regards,
Darijus

[abaka]

How about a comment from Edmonton...

"Bistro" was how the French heard the Russian troops occupying Paris in 1813 order the cafe waiters to hurry up (R "býstro"). As a synonym for "cafe", the word then made its way into English (bístro), and also back into Russian, this time with the stress shifted (R "bistró").

[BobK]

How about a comment from Edmonton...

"Bistro" was how the French heard the Russian troops occupying Paris in 1813 order the cafe waiters to hurry up (R "býstro"). As a synonym for "cafe", the word then made its way into English (bístro), and also back into Russian, this time with the stress shifted (R "bistró").

Maybe there's scope for a paper here - Borrowings attributable to foreign soldiers mishearings - "bistro" (Russian) "plonk" (French) "bully beef" (Fr again)...

b

[abaka]

Maybe there's scope for a paper here - Borrowings attributable to foreign soldiers mishearings - "bistro" (Russian) "plonk" (French) "bully beef" (Fr again)...

b

Actually, so much for folk etymology. Maybe the bistro/bystro thing is just a fable after all.