Basic Words and Phrases in Russian
Reinier van der Windt
About Russian
Russian is an East Slavic language spoken primarily in Russia and several neighboring countries. It belongs to the Indo-European language family and uses the Cyrillic script. Russian is known for its rich literary tradition, with renowned authors like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov contributing significantly to world literature. It has a complex grammatical structure, including six cases for nouns and a variety of verb conjugations. Despite its complexity, Russian is spoken by millions of people worldwide and is an official language of the United Nations.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Да (Da) |
|---|---|
| No | Нет (Net) |
| Please | Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta) |
| Yes, please | Да, пожалуйста (Da, pozhaluysta) |
| No, thank you | Нет, спасибо (Net, spasibo) |
| Thank you | Спасибо (Spasibo) |
| Thank you very much | Большое спасибо (Bol'shoe spasibo) |
| You're welcome | Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta) |
| No problem | Нет проблем (Net problem) |
| Excuse me | Извини (inf) (Izvini) |
| I’m sorry | Простите (frm) (Prostite) Прости (inf) (Prosti) |
| Sorry | Простите (frm) (Prostite) Прости (inf) (Prosti) |
| Cheers! | Ваше здоровье! (Vashe zdorov'e!) |
| Okay | Хорошо (Khorosho) |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Привет (Privet) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Здравствуйте (frm) (Zdravstvuyte) Привет (inf) (Privet) |
| Good morning | Доброе утро (Dobroe utro) |
| Good afternoon | Добрый день (Dobryy den') |
| Good evening | Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher) |
| Good night | Спокойной ночи (Spokojnoj nochi) |
| Goodbye | До свидания (Do svidaniya) |
| See you later! | Увидимся позже! (Uvidimsya pozje!) |
| Have a nice day! | Хорошего дня! (Khoroshego dnya!) |
| Bye | Пока (Poka) |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Как вы? (frm) (Kak vy?) Как у вас дела? (frm) (Kak u vas dela?) Как дела? (inf) (Kak dela?) Как ты? (inf) (Kak ty?) |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Я в порядке (Ya v poryadke) |
| Good, thank you! | Хорошо, спасибо! (Khorosho, spasibo!) |
| And you? | А вы? (frm) (A vy?) A ты? (inf) (A ty?) |
| Nice to meet you! | Очень приятно! (Ochen' priyatno!) |
| Pleased to meet you! | Рада познакомиться! (f) (Rada poznakomit'sya!) Радпознакомиться! (m) (Rad poznakomit'sya!) |
| What is your name? | Как вас зовут? (frm) (Kak vas zovut?) Как тебя зовут? (inf) (Kak tebya zovut?) |
| My name is … | Меня зовут … (Menya zovut …) |
| Where are you from? | Откуда вы? (Otkuda vy?) |
| I am from … | Я из … (Ya iz …) |
| I don't speak Russian | Я не говорю по-русски (Ya ne govoryu po-russki) |
| Do you speak English? | Вы говорите по-английски? (Vy govorite po-angliyski?) |
| I understand | Я понимаю (Ya ponimayu) |
| I do not understand | Я не понимаю (Ya ne ponimayu) |
| I like it | Мне нравится (Mne nravitsya) |
| I don't like it | Мне это не нравится (Mne eto ne nravitsya) |
| How is the weather today? | Какая сегодня погода? (Kakaya segodnya pogoda?) |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Вы можете порекомендовать местные достопримечательности? (Vy mozhete porekomendovat' mestnye dostoprimechatel'nosti?) |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Гостиница (Gostinitsa) |
|---|---|
| Reception | Ресепшн (Resepshn) |
| Reservation | Бронирование (Bronirovanie) |
| Hotel room | Номер в отеле (Nomer v otele) |
| Key | Ключ (Klyuch) |
| Breakfast | Завтрак (Zavtrak) |
| I have a reservation | У меня есть бронь (U menya yest' bron') |
| I would like to book a room | Я бы хотел забронировать номер (Ya by khotel zarezervirovat' nomer) |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Есть ли у вас свободные номера? (Est' li u vas svobodnye nomera?) |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Ресторан (Restoran) |
|---|---|
| Menu | Меню (Menyu) |
| A table for one, please | Столик на одного, пожалуйста (Stolik na odnogo, pozhaluysta) |
| A table for two, please | Столик на двоих, пожалуйста (Stolik na dvoikh, pozhaluysta) |
| I would like a coffee, please | Я хотел бы кофе, пожалуйста (YA khotel by kofe, pozhaluysta) |
| Enjoy your meal! | Приятного аппетита! (Priyatnogo appetita!) |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Можно мне счет, пожалуйста? (Mozhno mne schet, pozhaluysta?) |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Можете принести мне счет, пожалуйста? (Mozhete prinesti mne schet, pozhaluysta?) |
| I would like to pay, please | Я бы хотел заплатить, пожалуйста (Ya by khotel zaplatit', pozhaluysta) |
| The bill, please | Счет, пожалуйста (Schet, pozhaluysta) |
| Can I pay with cash? | Могу я заплатить наличными? (Mogu ya zaplatit' nalichnymi?) |
| Can I pay with card? | Могу я оплатить картой? (Mogu ya oplatit' kartoy?) |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Могу ли я оплатить кредитной картой? (Mogu li ya oplatit' kreditnoy kartoy?) |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Вы можете порекомендовать что-нибудь для меня? (Vy mozhete porekomendovat' chto-nibud' dlya menya?) |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Можно мне стакан воды, пожалуйста? (Mozhno mne stakan vody, pozhaluysta?) |
| Do you have any local specialties? | У вас есть местные специальности? (U vas est' mestnye spetsial'nosti?) |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Завтрак (Zavtrak) |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Обед (Obed) |
| Dinner | Ужин (Uzhin) |
| Food | Еда (Eda) |
| Drinks | Напитки (Napitki) |
| Bread | Хлеб (Hleb) |
| Sandwich | Бутерброд (Buterbrod) |
| Cheese | Сыр (Syr) |
| Meat | Мясо (Myaso) |
| Fish | Рыба (Ryba) |
| Vegetables | Овощи (Ovoshi) |
| Fruit | Фрукты (Frukty) |
| Vegetarian | Вегетарианец (Vegetarianets) |
| I am a vegetarian | Я вегетарианец (Ya vegetarianets) |
| Coffee | Кофе (Kofe) |
| Tea | Чай (Chay) |
| Beer | Пиво (Pivo) |
| Wine | Вино (Vino) |
| Juice | Сок (Sok) |
| Water | Вода (Voda) |
| Milk | Молоко (Moloko) |
| Dessert | Десерт (Desert) |
| Salad | Салат (Salat) |
| Soup | Суп (Sup) |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Банкомат (Bankomat) |
|---|---|
| Bank | Банк (Bank) |
| Beach | Пляж (Plyazh) |
| Library | Библиотека (Biblioteka) |
| Museum | Музей (Muzej) |
| Park | Парк (Park) |
| Pharmacy | Аптека (Apteka) |
| Post Office | Почта (Pochta) |
| School | Школа (Shkola) |
| Tourist Information | Туристическая информация (Turisticheskaya informatsiya) |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Магазин (Magazin) |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Супермаркет (Supermarket) |
| Grocery store | Продуктовый магазин (Produktovyy magazin) |
| Market | Рынок (Rynok) |
| Bakery | Пекарня (Pekarnya) |
| Bookstore | Книжный магазин (Knizhnyy magazin) |
| How much does this cost? | Сколько это стоит? (Skol'ko eto stoit?) |
| Can I get a receipt? | Могу ли я получить квитанцию? (Mogu li ya poluchit' kvitantsiyu?) |
| I'm just looking | Я просто смотрю (Ya prosto smotryu) |
| Sunglasses | Солнцезащитные очки (Solntsezashchitnye ochki) |
| Umbrella | Зонт (Zont) |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Где туалет? (Gde tualet?) |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Где пляж? (Gde plyazh?) |
| How do I get to the airport? | Как добраться до аэропорта? (Kak dobrat'sya do aeroporta?) |
| Left | Налево (Nalevo) |
| Right | Направо (Napravo) |
| Straight ahead | Прямо (Pryamo) |
| Is it far from here? | Это далеко отсюда? (Eto daleko otsyuda?) |
| Can you show it on the map? | Вы можете показать это на карте? (Vy mozhete pokazat' eto na karte?) |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Сколько времени идти до туда? (Skol'ko vremeni idti do tuda?) |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Аэропорт (Aeroport) |
|---|---|
| Plane | Самолет (Samolyot) |
| Train station | Вокзал (Vokzal) |
| Train | Поезд (Poezd) |
| Bus station | Автовокзал (Avtovokzal) |
| Bus | Автобус (Avtobus) |
| Taxi | Такси (Taksi) |
| Ticket | Билет (Bilet) |
| Can I get a ticket to Moscow? | Могу ли я купить билет до Москвы? (Mogu li ya kupit' bilet do Moskvy?) |
| I would like a ticket to Moscow | Я бы хотел билет до Москвы (m) (Ya by khotel bilet do Moskvy) Я бы хотел(а) билет до Москвы (f) (Ya by khotela bilet do Moskvy) |
| I need a ticket to Moscow | Мне нужен билет до Москвы (Mne nuzhen bilet do Moskvy) |
| A ticket to Moscow, please | Билет до Москвы, пожалуйста (Bilet do Moskvy, pozhaluysta) |
| What time is the next train to Moscow? | Во сколько следующий поезд в Москву? (Vo skol'ko sleduyushchiy poezd v Moskvu?) |
| When is the next train to Moscow? | Когда следующий поезд в Москву? (Kogda sleduyushchiy poezd v Moskvu?) |
| When does the next train to Moscow leave? | Когда отправляется следующий поезд в Москву? (Kogda otpravlyaetsya sleduyushchiy poezd v Moskvu?) |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Помогите! (Pomogite!) |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Помогите мне! (Pomogite mne!) |
| I need help | Мне нужна помощь (Mne nuzhna pomoshch') |
| I need a doctor | Мне нужен врач (Mne nuzhen vrach) |
| Police | Полиция (Politsiya) |
| Police Station | Полицейский участок (Politsiyskiy uchastok) |
| Hospital | Больница (Bol'nitsa) |
| Ambulance | Скорая помощь (Skoraya pomoshch') |
| Doctor | Врач (Vrach) |
| Fire department | Пожарная служба (Pozharnaya sluzhba) |
| Fire! | Пожар! (Pozhar!) |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Который час? (Kotoryy chas?) |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | Один час (Odin chas) |
| It is half past two | Два с половиной (Dva s polovinoy) |
| Morning | Утро (Utro) |
| Afternoon | День (Den') |
| Evening | Вечер (Vecher) |
| Night | Ночь (Noch') |
| Today | Сегодня (Segodnya) |
| Tomorrow | Завтра (Zavtra) |
| Yesterday | Вчера (Vchera) |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Ноль (Nol') |
|---|---|
| One | Один (Odin) |
| Two | Два (Dva) |
| Three | Три (Tri) |
| Four | Четыре (Chetyre) |
| Five | Пять (Pyat') |
| Six | Шесть (Shest') |
| Seven | Семь (Sem') |
| Eight | Восемь (Vosem') |
| Nine | Девять (Devyat') |
| Ten | Десять (Desyat') |
| Eleven | Одиннадцать (Odinnadtsat') |
| Twelve | Двенадцать (Dvenadtsat') |
| Thirteen | Тринадцать (Trinadtsat') |
| Fourteen | Четырнадцать (Chetyrnadtsat') |
| Fifteen | Пятнадцать (Pyatnadtsat') |
| Sixteen | Шестнадцать (Shestnadtsat') |
| Seventeen | Семнадцать (Semnadtsat') |
| Eighteen | Восемнадцать (Vosemnadtsat') |
| Nineteen | Девятнадцать (Devyatnadtsat') |
| Twenty | Двадцать (Dvadtsat') |
| Twenty-one | Двадцать один (Dvadtsat' odin) |
| Twenty-two | Двадцать два (Dvadtsat' dva) |
| Twenty-three | Двадцать три (Dvadtsat' tri) |
| Twenty-four | Двадцать четыре (Dvadtsat' chetyre) |
| Twenty-five | Двадцать пять (Dvadtsat' pyat') |
| Twenty-six | Двадцать шесть (Dvadtsat' shest') |
| Twenty-seven | Двадцать семь (Dvadtsat' sem') |
| Twenty-eight | Двадцать восемь (Dvadtsat' vosem') |
| Twenty-nine | Двадцать девять (Dvadtsat' devyat') |
| Thirty | Тридцать (Tridtsat') |
| Forty | Сорок (Sorok) |
| Fifty | Пятьдесят (Pyat'desyat) |
| Sixty | Шестьдесят (Shest'desyat) |
| Seventy | Семьдесят (Sem'desyat) |
| Eighty | Восемьдесят (Vosem'desyat) |
| Ninety | Девяносто (Devyanosto) |
| Hundred | Сто (Sto) |
| Two hundred | Двести (Dvesti) |
| One thousand | Одна тысяча (Odna tysyacha) |
| Two thousand | Две тысячи (Dve tysyachi) |
| Three thousand | Три тысячи (Tri tysyachi) |
| Hundred thousand | Сто тысяч (Sto tysyach) |
| Million | Миллион (Million) |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Первый (Pervyy) |
|---|---|
| Second | Второй (Vtoroy) |
| Third | Третий (Tretiy) |
| Fourth | Четвертый (Chetvertyy) |
| Fifth | Пятый (Pyatyy) |
| Sixth | Шестой (Shestoy) |
| Seventh | Седьмой (Sedmoy) |
| Eighth | Восьмой (Vos'moy) |
| Ninth | Девятый (Devyatyy) |
| Tenth | Десятый (Desyatyy) |
| Eleventh | Одиннадцатый (Odinnadcatyy) |
| Twelfth | Двенадцатый (Dvenadcatyy) |
| Thirteenth | Тринадцатый (Trinadcatyy) |
| Fourteenth | Четырнадцатый (Chetyrnadtsatyy) |
| Fifteenth | Пятнадцатый (Pyatnadtsatyy) |
| Sixteenth | Шестнадцатый (Shestnadcatyy) |
| Seventeenth | Семнадцатый (Semnadtsatyy) |
| Eighteenth | Восемнадцатый (Vosemnadtsatyy) |
| Nineteenth | Девятнадцатый (Devyatnadcatyy) |
| Twentieth | Двадцатый (Dvadtsatyy) |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Понедельник (Ponedelnik) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Вторник (Vtornik) |
| Wednesday | Среда (Sreda) |
| Thursday | Четверг (Chetverg) |
| Friday | Пятница (Pyatnitsa) |
| Saturday | Суббота (Subbota) |
| Sunday | Воскресенье (Voskresen'ye) |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Январь (Yanvar') |
|---|---|
| February | Февраль (Fevral') |
| March | Март (Mart) |
| April | Апрель (Aprel') |
| May | Май (Maj) |
| June | Июнь (Iyun') |
| July | Июль (Iyul') |
| August | Август (Avgust) |
| September | Сентябрь (Sentyabr') |
| Oktober | Октябрь (Oktyabr') |
| November | Ноябрь (Noyabr') |
| December | Декабрь (Dekabr') |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Что? (Chto?) |
|---|---|
| What is that? | Что это? (Chto eto?) |
| What do you need? | Что вам нужно? (Chto vam nuzhno?) |
| Where? | Где? (Gde?) |
| Where is the toilet? | Где туалет? (Gde tualet?) |
| When? | Когда? (Kogda?) |
| When is the next train? | Когда следующий поезд? (Kogda sleduyushchiy poezd?) |
| When can we meet? | Когда мы можем встретиться? (Kogda my mozhem vstretit'sya?) |
| Why? | Почему? (Pochemu?) |
| Why is it expensive? | Почему это дорого? (Pochemu eto dorogo?) |
| How? | Как? (Kak?) |
| How are you doing? | Как у вас дела? (Kak u vas dela?) |
| How would you like to pay? | Как вы хотели бы заплатить? (Kak vy khoteli by zaplatit'?) |
| How far is this? | Как далеко это? (Kak daleko eto?) |
| Which? | Какая? (f/sg) (Kakaya?) Какие? (pl) (Kakie?) Какое? (sg) (Kakoe?) Какой? (m/sg) (Kakoy?) |
| Which book belongs to your sister? | Какая книга принадлежит вашей сестре? (Kakaya kniga prinadlezhit vashyey sestre?) |
| Which car is yours? | Какая машина ваша? (Kakaya mashina vasha?) |
| Which museum did you visit? | Какой музей вы посетили? (Kakoy muzej vy posetili?) |
| Which museums did you visit? | Какие музеи вы посетили? (Kakie muzei vy posetili?) |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Какой бутерброд ваш? (Kakoy buterbrod vash?) |
| Which local dish do you want to try? | Какое местное блюдо вы хотите попробовать? (Kakoe mestnoe blyudo vy hotite poprobovat'?) |
| Who? | Кто? (Kto?) |
| Who is that? | Кто это? (Kto eto?) |
| Who of you is the tour leader? | Кто из вас гид? (Kto iz vas gid?) |
| Who is your travel companion? | Кто ваш спутник? (Kto vash sputnik?) |
| Whose? | Чей? (m/sg) (Chey?) Чье? (sg) (Chye?) Чьи? (pl) (Chyi?) Чья? (f/sg) (Chya?) |
| Whose keys are these? | Чьи это ключи? (Chyi eto klyuchi?) |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Чей телефон звонит? (Chey telefon zvonit?) |
| Whose bag is this? | Чья это сумка? (Chya eto sumka?) |
| Whose book is this? | Чья это книга? (Chya eto kniga?) |
| How many? | Сколько? (Skol'ko?) |
| How many people were at the concert? | Сколько человек было на концерте? (Skol'ko lyudey bylo na kontserte?) |
| How many books have you read? | Сколько книг вы прочитали? (Skol'ko knig vy prochitali?) |
| How many apples do you want to buy? | Сколько яблок вы хотите купить? (Skol'ko yablok vy khotite kupit'?) |
| How much? | Сколько? (Skol'ko?) |
| How much does this cost? | Сколько это стоит? (Skol'ko eto stoit?) |
| How much does this product cost? | Сколько стоит этот товар? (Skol'ko stoit etot tovar?) |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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