: Re: Proper forms of address for elderly Russian Several chapters in my book revolve around a widowed Russian countess, age 76, who teaches piano to a 16-year old Russian girl. Let's say the teacher's

@Bryan361

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First, Akhmatova (Ахматова en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Akhmatova) is a well known last name of famous russian woman poet. Don't use it as patronymic name, it is odd. Use, for example, Petrovna (Петровна), Sergeyevna (Сергеевна), Olegovna (Олеговна), Ivanovna (Ивановна) etc.

Formal full name is <Last> <First> <Patronymic name>, like
Petrova Marina Ivanovna (name Marina, last name Petrova, father's name Ivan).

Or maybe you wanted to make double surname Akhmatova-Gorenko (Ахматова-Горенко)? Then you need some patronymic name.

Also, you should use right noun declension. Not Petrov, but Petrova. Gorenko (Горенко) last name in russian doesn't change.

At school, children always call their teachers <First name> <Patronymic name> (sometimes don't even remember their last names). For example, I called my geography teacher Irina Veniaminovna (Ирина Вениаминовна), and still call her in that way when we meet.

During first visit Marina should say "Anna <Patronymic>", like Anna Andreyevna.

Appeal to last name only, especially for elders, is disrespectful. But talking about someone using last name is ok.

If people are familiar, they can use first names only (in this case age is just a number). Sometimes (staff, male) you can use only patronymic name. For example "Petrovitch" (Петрович) instead of Valeriy Petrovitch (Валерий Петрович).

When talking about personage, you can call her as you want. Available options depend on narration.

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