A22 min · 121 words

Бабушкины пельмени

Grandma's Pelmeni

Summers in the village, crooked dumplings, and why store-bought pelmeni will never taste the same.

You will practice: Past tense for habits, instrumental (со сметаной, с маслом), сам

Words to know

Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.

  • бабушкаgrandmother
  • деревняvillage
  • садgarden, orchard
  • пельмениpelmeni (Russian dumplings)
  • тестоdough
  • лепитьto shape, to sculpt (dumplings)
  • ужасныйterrible
  • кривойcrooked
  • смешнойfunny
  • варитьto boil, to cook
  • кастрюляpot, saucepan
  • дедушкаgrandfather
  • сметанаsour cream
  • маслоbutter; oil
  • хвалитьto praise
  • смехlaughter
  • самmyself, oneself

Did you get it?

4 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.

1. Where did the narrator spend summers as a child?

2. What were the narrator's first pelmeni like?

3. What did Grandpa eat his pelmeni with?

4. Why doesn't the narrator just buy pelmeni now?

Too hard? Pick an easier text in the reading library. Understanding most of a text without translations is the goal — struggling through is not.