The Queen of Spades, and other stories: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin uses again and again in The Queen of Spades, and other stories that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
maid/ˈmeɪd/32× in the book
A scathing epigram upon Vorontsoff led the count to ask for Pushkin's removal from Odessa, "where," he said, "excessive flattery had turned the young maids head."
negro/ˈniɡɹoʊ/28× in the book
His mother, Nadejda Ossipovna Hannibal, was the grand-daughter of Abraham Petrovitch Hannibal, Peter the Great's famous negro.
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/26× in the book
"And you mean to say," exclaimed Narumoff, "that you have a grandmother who knows the names of three winning cards, and you have never made her tell them to you?"
undertaker/ˈəndɝˌteɪkɝ/25× in the book
The last remaining goods of the undertaker, Adrian Prohoroff …
inquire/ˌɪnˈkwaɪɹ/25× in the book
Left alone with Scholtz, Pushkin inquired what he thought of his condition.
pistol/ˈpɪstəɫ/24× in the book
Hermann rose, and drew a pistol from his pocket.
thou/ˈðaʊ/23× in the book
Stay in the shelter of our camp till morning, or longer it thou wilt.
afterwards/ˈæftɝwɝdz/23× in the book
He afterwards relinquished his earlier models of the romantic school, and sought a simpler, truer inspiration in the pages of Shakespeare.
neighbour/ˈneɪbɝ/22× in the book
These two years spent in the simple, pleasant company of country neighbours proved a turning point in his career.
carriage/ˈkæɹɪdʒ/21× in the book
The butler carried him from the carriage into the house.
peasant/ˈpɛzənt/21× in the book
He had come into the country with a passionate love for everything that showed the feeling or fancy of the Russian peasant.
delight/dɪˈɫaɪt/20× in the book
This poem, which contains many beautiful passages, so delighted Derjavin, that he wished to embrace the young author; but Pushkin fled in confusion from the hall.
till/ˈtɪɫ/19× in the book
There he remained till 1824, travelling from place to place, first with the Raevskys to the Caucasus, and thence again with them through the Crimea.
recognise/ˈɹɛkəɡˌnaɪz/18× in the book
She was much surprised, however, when she recognised, on the letter that was now handed to her, the writing of Hermann.
scarcely/ˈskɛɹsɫi/18× in the book
She had scarcely been there two minutes when the Countess rang with all her might.
sledge/ˈsɫɛdʒ/17× in the book
… the streets were deserted; from time to time passed a sledge, drawn by a wretched hack …
regret/ɹəˈɡɹɛt/16× in the book
I return your letter, and trust that you will not give me cause to regret my imprudence."
spite/ˈspaɪt/16× in the book
However that may be, in spite of the mystery of his life, St. Germain was much sought after in good society, and was really an agreeable man.
honour/ˈɑnɝ/14× in the book
Listen to what my uncle told me about it, Count Ivan Ilitch, and he told me on his word of honour.
morrow/ˈmɑɹoʊ/14× in the book
She may die this week—to-morrow perhaps.
gown/ˈɡaʊn/14× in the book
There, before a lamp, a footman was sleeping, stretched out in a dirty greasy dressing-gown.
tremble/ˈtɹɛmbəɫ/14× in the book
Lisaveta was afraid, without knowing why, and she trembled as she took her seat in the carriage.
curiosity/ˌkjʊɹiˈɑsəti/14× in the book
She at once withdrew, burning at the same time with curiosity, and moved by a strange feeling which she now experienced for the first time.
steward/ˈstuɝd/13× in the book
My grandfather, now no more, was, so to say, his wife's steward.
thee/ˈði/13× in the book
I am-ready to share with thee both bread and roof.
acquaintance/əˈkweɪntəns/13× in the book
Before long a dumb acquaintance was established between them.
calm/ˈkɑɫm/13× in the book
His calm expression of face and steady voice deceived the poor wife.
starosta12× in the book
Until the dinner hour I somehow occupied the time, talking to the starosta, driving round to see how the work went on, or visiting the new buildings.
hussar/ˈhəsɝ/12× in the book
The traveller was a tall, young hussar with a small black moustache.
regiment/ˈɹɛdʒəmənt/12× in the book
There was only one man among us who did not belong to the regiment.
staircase/ˈstɛɹˌkeɪs/12× in the book
"The bread of the stranger is bitter," says Dante, "and his staircase hard to climb."
unhappy/ənˈhæpi/12× in the book
Lisaveta Ivanovna was, in fact, a most unhappy creature.
cease/ˈsis/12× in the book
When Spaski (another doctor) came near and tried to give him hope, Pushkin waved his hand in dissent, and from that moment apparently ceased to think about himself.
faint/ˈfeɪnt/12× in the book
At the same moment, close to the church door, Lisaveta fainted.
traveller/ˈtɹævəɫɝ/11× in the book
All the irritation accumulated in the course of a dull journey by the traveller is vented upon the Postmaster.
accustom/əˈkəstəm/11× in the book
He thought, that his orderly, drunk as usual, was returning from some nocturnal excursion; but the step was one to which he was not accustomed.
sorrow/ˈsɑɹoʊ/11× in the book
Maria experienced yet another sorrow.
supper/ˈsəpɝ/11× in the book
A long winter night had passed unnoticed, and it was five o'clock in the morning when supper was served.
bow/ˈbaʊ/11× in the book
"Who is that man that bowed to us?
fool/ˈfuɫ/11× in the book
"What a fool!
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
Read the book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary