Questions & Answers about У меня кашель и насморк.
Why is the word есть missing in this sentence?
When using the У меня... (I have...) structure for illnesses, aches, or physical conditions, Russians usually leave out the word есть. You just say У меня followed directly by the symptom. You typically only use есть when emphasizing the existence or possession of something tangible, like У меня есть брат (I have a brother).
What gender are the words кашель and насморк?
They are both masculine nouns. The word насморк ends in a regular consonant, which is the standard pattern for masculine words. The word кашель ends in a soft sign (ь), which means it could be masculine or feminine, but it is one of the masculine ones you just have to memorize.
How do I pronounce the end of the word кашель?
The ь (soft sign) at the end makes the л soft. To make this sound, press the middle of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, similar to the 'lli' sound in the English word 'million'. Also note that the stress is on the first syllable: КА-шель.
Can I use a verb instead, like 'I am coughing'?
You can, but using nouns with У меня is the most natural and common way to describe your symptoms to a doctor or friend. If you want to use a verb for coughing, it is кашлять (to cough), so you could say Я кашляю (I am coughing). However, for a runny nose, Russians almost always stick to the noun form насморк.
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