Why do Russians use the word “блин” (which is a “pancake” if my memory serves me well) as an interjection meaning somewhat like “damn” or “shit”? Don’t they like pancakes??

No, of course we do love pancakes!
Interjectional “блин” is a soft form of “блядь” which is a VERY dirty word. So we say “блин” to express a strong emotion but to avoid saying swearwords like “holy hell!”, or “fuck!”, or “oh my fucking god” etc.

Yes, it’s a euphemism

this word usually means “shit!” or ‘f*ck!” and sometimes it can be used as “well” or something like that, I’ve often heard it

Another bizzare russian interjection “БЛЯХА-МУХА” actually has the same meaning ))

kisa misa - 14 March 2011 08:08 PM

this word usually means “shit!” or ‘f*ck!” and sometimes it can be used as “well” or something like that, I’ve often heard it

As “well”?   Hmm… Can you give an example, plz?

kisa misa - 14 March 2011 08:08 PM

this word ... sometimes can be used as “well” or something like that, I’ve often heard it

I can’t think of any example either

ЧАшкаЧАя - 28 February 2011 04:37 AM

No, of course we do love pancakes!
Interjectional “блин” is a soft form of “блядь” which is a VERY dirty word. So we say “блин” to express a strong emotion but to avoid saying swearwords like “holy hell!”, or “fuck!”, or “oh my fucking god” etc.

So I believe it’s just the first two letters that bond these words. But why is it exactly “блин”, and not… for examle, “блат”, “блеск”, “блик”, “благо”, “блок”??

but none of them sounds better БЛИН
frankly i don’t know, there may be some story of how the swearword turned into this euphemism. or maybe it happened accidentally and eventually bacame a practice.

One crazy idea may be that… since frying Russian pancakes is a very hard and exhaustive process (unless you are quite experienced in that) one may lose temper when dough constantly sticks to the pan or tears apart as you try to turn it over. So whenever this happens you get pissed off and start cussing. But not directly - you change swearwords with the name of what you are cooking

So is this word (‘blin’)a swearing or not?

No, it’s not a swearing.

Sergio Barba - 17 May 2011 05:14 PM

So is this word (‘blin’)a swearing or not?

It’s a very slight swearing. Like “damn”, or probably like Homer Simpson’s “d’oh!”