The culture of Odesa is a unique blend of Russian, Yiddish, and Ukrainian cultures, and Odesa itself has played a notable role in Russian and Yiddish folklore.
[1] The Russian language as spoken in Odesa is influenced by Yiddish and Ukrainian in grammar, vocabulary, and phraseology.
As a result, many phrases sound inherently and uniquely humorous to Russian speakers and constitute a staple of Odesa humour.
[1] To a significant extent the image of Odesa in Russophone culture is influenced by The Odessa Tales of Isaac Babel.
[1] The reputation of the city as a criminal center originated in Imperial Russian times and the early Soviet era, and is similar to the reputation of Al Capone era Chicago.