Since the 1990s, Russian school boys have been taunting other boys on playgrounds with the phrase “Привет Светлана!” Hiiii, Svetlana! The inferred taunt is less about the two words than how those words are spoken, with a singsong feminine lilt:
“Hiiiiiiiiiii, Svet-lanaaaaaa!”
The intended message to the boy addressed as ‘Svetlana’ is that “you are gay and everybody knows it.”
In Russia, official government policy says that homosexuals are mentally ill, dangerous, intent on “switching” young boys, and represent a threat to Russian traditional life.
On Russian playgrounds, confrontations that begin with “Hiiiii Svetlana!!!” usually move quickly to physical violence. The stakes are that high.
The provenance of this derogatory slang is attributed everywhere (and nowhere).
One plausible source? A 90s-era Russian TV comedy series where “Hi, Svetlana!” was the catchphrase of a male character on the show…actually, a pile of gay tropes and cliches stacked 6 feet tall in the shape of a man. Lisping for dear life. Dressed in pastels. Pink scarf tied around neck. Demeanor of Truman Capote, flamboyance of Sean Hayes, fierce as Ariana’s brother Frankie Grande, yet purer than Tim Gunn…the audience likes camp characters. They won’t tolerate the reality of two men in love with each other.
The show never mentioned the character’s sexuality or mentioned gays, but they loaded the character with every gay trope and tired cliche that let viewers
“Hiiiiiiiiiii, Svet-lanaaaaaa!”
The intended message to the boy addressed as ‘Svetlana’ is that “you are gay and everybody knows it.”
In Russia, official government policy says that homosexuals are mentally ill, dangerous, intent on “switching” young boys, and represent a threat to Russian traditional life.
On Russian playgrounds, confrontations that begin with “Hiiiii Svetlana!!!” usually move quickly to physical violence. The stakes are that high.
The provenance of this derogatory slang is attributed everywhere (and nowhere).
One plausible source? A 90s-era Russian TV comedy series where “Hi, Svetlana!” was the catchphrase of a male character on the show…actually, a pile of gay tropes and cliches stacked 6 feet tall in the shape of a man. Lisping for dear life. Dressed in pastels. Pink scarf tied around neck. Demeanor of Truman Capote, flamboyance of Sean Hayes, fierce as Ariana’s brother Frankie Grande, yet purer than Tim Gunn…the audience likes camp characters. They won’t tolerate the reality of two men in love with each other.
The show never mentioned the character’s sexuality or mentioned gays, but they loaded the character with every gay trope and tired cliche that let viewers
When a new, quiet kid starts his first day at a new high school in Moscow, a bully sees the kid and wants all the kids enrolled there to think the new guy is gay.
In a loud, campy voice (Frankie Grande meets RuPaul?), Bully quiets the hallway and points at New Kid.
Bully affects a feminine voice and mannerisms as he stretches out the words of his taunt like lines from a show tune…
“Hi, Svetlana!”…which sounds like:“Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii SVET-lannnnaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
New Kid, no matter what his actual sexual orientation may be, is now The Weird New Gay Kid to everyone at school. They’ll remind him every day in childish—and sometimes sadistic—bullying designed for an audience.
In a loud, campy voice (Frankie Grande meets RuPaul?), Bully quiets the hallway and points at New Kid.
Bully affects a feminine voice and mannerisms as he stretches out the words of his taunt like lines from a show tune…
“Hi, Svetlana!”…which sounds like:“Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii SVET-lannnnaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
New Kid, no matter what his actual sexual orientation may be, is now The Weird New Gay Kid to everyone at school. They’ll remind him every day in childish—and sometimes sadistic—bullying designed for an audience.
by Skip D. Intro March 9, 2023
Get the “Hi, Svetlana!”mug. 1. A wellness practice engaged in by humans no matter the gender, taking an active role in nurturing and balance the masculine aspects of themselves to lead more fulfilled lives
by Lyndonia Jane April 29, 2022
Get the His-Caremug. 
The greatest invention ever created to benefit the lifestyles and technological progress of mankind, and soon animals (well only until they learn how to do it!)
by Dean and Henri October 19, 2007
Get the HI 5mug. Used to describe when someone, after doing something stupid or wrong to someone else, has something stupid or wrong done right back to them, e.g. as an act of revenge.
by yuseifudo2009 November 5, 2009
Get the got hismug. utterrence by one Bill O'Reilly ( see also: O'Lielly) whilst talking to the son of one of the firefighters who perished in 9/11. here is part of the conversation:
Jeremy Glick: The people of the ruling class, the small minority, are no more. My father wouldn't have wanted to see any military action in Iraq. He would've thought it wrong and immoral, and... (cut off by O'Reilly)
Bill O’Reilly: Cut his mic. I’m not going to dress you down anymore, out of respect for your father. I won't listen to anymore of your communist propoganda. You are terrible. We will be back in a moment with more of THE FACTOR.
Jeremy Glick: That means we’re done?
Bill O’Reilly: We’re done. I'm not going to do this anymore, you harpie! I'm done.
After the show, O’Reilly told Glick, “Get out, get out of my studio before I tear you to fucking pieces!”
Jeremy Glick: The people of the ruling class, the small minority, are no more. My father wouldn't have wanted to see any military action in Iraq. He would've thought it wrong and immoral, and... (cut off by O'Reilly)
Bill O’Reilly: Cut his mic. I’m not going to dress you down anymore, out of respect for your father. I won't listen to anymore of your communist propoganda. You are terrible. We will be back in a moment with more of THE FACTOR.
Jeremy Glick: That means we’re done?
Bill O’Reilly: We’re done. I'm not going to do this anymore, you harpie! I'm done.
After the show, O’Reilly told Glick, “Get out, get out of my studio before I tear you to fucking pieces!”
by liberalwizardtyler July 2, 2008
Get the cut his mic, cut his mic!mug. a person that thinks they are at a higher caliber than everyone else just because they have accumulated something with an extensive price.
by Beff n Bri November 9, 2006
Get the hi dollamug.