why is the R in some Russian words backwards?

Question

i already heard the "because it is" answer. Is it a different sound when backwards? when is it used backwards in Russian writing?

Answer 1

This letter has the sound of "ya" in the English word "yard." It was invented centuries ago by combining the letters I and A, only in their Cyrillic shapes. See also web link below:

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/ocslavonic.htm

Answer 2

It's not an R. The thing that looks like a backwards-looking 'R' is a vowel in the Cyrillic alphabet that Russian uses. It makes a 'ya' sound.

The Cyrillic alphabet is a mix of Greek and Roman letters, with some new ones thrown in to stand for some sounds that are common in Slavic languages.

Answer 3

That's not an R, it's a vowel called 'Ya'. By itself it's the Russian word for 'I', and by a strange coincidence, 'ya' pronounced backwards is precisely the same sound as 'I' pronounced normally in English - said slowly, they are ee-ah and ah-ee.

By the way, the Russian R is written just like the English P (as if you're not confused enough already)
.

Answer 4

It has the sound of Ya. Very nice letter. The Greeks who came to help codify the language and spelling (St. Cyril) needed more letters than they had in Greek. The backward looking R was handy for that. What is really an R sound, looks like a P.

Answer 5

When you use the Cyrillic alphabet. It's not a backwards R, it's a letter that looks like a backwards R.

It's like a lambda in Greek. It's not a triangle, it's a letter that looks like a triangle.

Answer 6

Interesting, the backward R is from Toys R US

Answer 7

It's because of the Cyrillic alphabet. It's "ya."