# "CRU": what is this? (Russian letters.)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cru-what-is-this-russian-letters/319519>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 1, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cru-what-is-this-russian-letters/319519 "2005-09-01T00:52:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cru-what-is-this-russian-letters/319519/1 "2005-09-01T00:52:56Z")

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Years ago I used to see labels, sometimes on cars, sometimes stuck to buildings, with what looked like “CRU” but on closer inspection turned out to be three Russian letters, _ess, yah,_ and _tseh._ Pronounced together they would sound like “syats.” (Rhyming with “dots”)  
Today I saw a young woman in a post office with the emblem on the back of her shirt. I approached and politely asked her what it meant. She hardly spoke English, and the closest I could make out what she said is that it has to do with boating equipment.  
😕