Learn Spanish With Music Videos: 4 Great Resources to Learn Spanish With Tunes And Lyrics
We all know that Spanish isnt among the hardest languages to learn.
6 minute read
Planning a trip to Russia? Before you leave, it might be a good idea to learn a few basic words and phrases in Russian.
Russian is actually a very useful language to learn. It is the seventh most spoken native language in the world. Of course, most native Russian speakers live in Russia, but there are also a lot of Russian speakers in Europe and Eurasia.
If you want to get started learning Russian, one of the first things you need to do is learn some basic Russian phrases. In this post, we’ve collected a few that you should learn, understand, and memorize as you will find them useful when talking to native Russian speakers.
|
Bonus: Download a FREE PDF With 79 Most Common Russian Phrases |
Russian Phrases To Use To Start A Basic Conversation
As in many languages, in Russian, there are words that mean “hello”. In Russian, these are the formal “zdrastvuyte” and the informal “privet”. You can also say hello to a Russian speaker with the following three phrases, depending on the time of day.
1. Dobroye utro
Pronunciation guide: dObroye Utro
English meaning: Good morning
2. Dobriy den’
Pronunciation guide: dObriy den’
English meaning: Good afternoon
3. Dobriy vecher
Pronunciation guide: dObriy VEcher
English meaning: Good evening
After you have greeted each other appropriately, the next step to starting a friendly conversation with a Russian speaker would be to introduce yourselves. You can do so by using the following phrases.
4. Kak vas zovut?
Pronunciation guide: kak vas zoVUT?
English meaning: What is your name? (formal)
5. Tebya zovut?
Pronunciation guide: teBYA zoVUT?
English meaning: What is your name? (informal)
6. Menya zovut
Pronunciation guide: meNYA zoVut
English meaning: My name is
After the introductions have been made, it’s time for a little polite small talk with the following Russian phrases.
7. Priyatno poznakomitsa
Pronunciation guide: priYATno poznaKOmitsa
English meaning: It’s nice to meet you.
8. Kak dela?
Pronunciation guide: kak deLA?
9. Harasho, spasibo
Pronunciation guide: haraSHO, spaSIbo
English meaning: I’m fine, thank you
10. Neploho, spasibo
Pronunciation guide: nePLOho, spaSIBO
English meaning, I’m OK, thank you
If you need to bring the conversation to a halt first, as you need to go somewhere, you should use the following phrases to take your leave.
11. Do svidaniya
Pronunciation guide: do sviDAniya
English meaning: Goodbye
12. Dobroi nochi
Pronunciation guide: DObroi NOchi
English meaning: Good night
13. Do vstrechi
Pronunciation guide: do VSTREchi
English meaning: Until next time
Important Russian Phrases To Know While Traveling
One of the main reasons given for studying Russian is because someone is traveling to Russia or another area where there are a lot of Russian speakers.
Even if you have started taking Russian language lessons with a native speaking tutor, you will want to be able to tell people that you are just learning and you might need some help understanding them. These are a few phrases you should know and use as needed.
14. Pomogite, pozhalusta
Pronunciation guide: pomoGIte, poZHAlusta
English meaning: Help me, please
15. Ya ne ponimayu
Pronunciation guide: YA ne poniMAyu
English meaning: I don’t understand
16. Ya ponimayu
Pronunciation guide: YA poniMAyu
English meaning: I understand
17. Ya ne govoryu po Ruskie
Pronunciation guide: YA ne govoryU po RUSski
English meaning: I don’t speak Russian
18. Vi govorite po angliyski?
Pronunciation guide: vi govoRIte po angLIYski
English meaning: Do you speak English?
19. Ya plokha govoryu po Ruskie
Pronunciation guide: Ya PLOkha govoryU po Ruskie
English meaning: My Russian is bad
20. Ya nimogo govoryu pa Ruskie
Pronunciation guide: Ya NimNOga govoryU po Ruskie
English meaning: I speak a little Russian
21. Pavtarite, pozhalusta
Pronunciation guide: PavTArite, poZHAlusta
English meaning: Could you please repeat
22. Gavaritye pozhalusta myedieney
Pronunciation guide: GavRItye poZHAlusta MYEDliney
English meaning: Could you please speak slowly
How To Ask For And Understand Directions In Russian
When traveling in an area where a lot of people speak Russian, it would be wise to know how to ask for directions and understand the directions that you are being given. The following phrases will be useful for those reasons.
23. Gde?
Pronunciation guide: Gde
English meaning: Where is?
You can use this phrase to ask for directions, all you have to do is add the name of the place you want to go. Here are examples of how to ask for directions to three important places: the metro station, the bus station, and the bathroom.
24. Gde metro?
Pronunciation guide: gde metro
English meaning: Where is the metro?
25. Gde avtobus?
Pronunciation guide: gde avTObus?
English meaning: Where is the bus?
26. Gde tulet?
Pronunciation guide: gde tuaLET
English meaning: Where is the bathroom?
As we mentioned, you also need to understand the directions that a Russian speaker will give you. So you should memorize the following phrases and what they mean.
27. Idite pryamo
Pronunciation guide: iDIte PRYAmo
English meaning: Go straight
28. Povernite na pravo
Pronunciation guide: poverNIte na PRAvo
English meaning: Turn right
29. Povernite na levo
Pronunciation guide: poverNIte na LEvo
English meaning: Turn left
It is probably a good idea to have a map of the area on you and, if you need to find one, you can say this.
30. Kartu, pozhalusta
Pronunciation guide: KARtu, poZHAlusta
English meaning: A map, please.
Here are a few other Russian phrases that could be useful to know when trying to navigate a new area.
If you have found the bus or metro station, you can buy a ticket to your next destination with these phrases.
31. Gde biletnaya kasa?
Pronunciation guide: gde biletNAYA kasa?
English meaning: Where is the ticket office?
32. Odin bilyet, pozhalusta?
Pronunciation guide: oDIN biLYET, poZHAlusta
English meaning: One ticket, please.
You should probably also know how to ask about taxi’s – or “taksi” in Russian. Here are the phrases you can use.
33. Gde stoyanka taksi?
Pronunciation guide: gde stoYANka takSI
English meaning: Where is a taxi stand?
34: Gde mozhno vzyat taksi?
Pronunciation guide: gde mozhNo vyZHAT takSI
English meaning: Where can I find a taxi?
If you have found a taxi, you can tell your driver where you want to go by using this phrase
35. Otvezite menya po etomu adresu
Pronunciation guide: OTVEzite menYA po etoMU adresu
English meaning: Drive me to this address
If you are in a taxi or a rented car, you can tell your driver that you want to get off by using the following Russian phrase.
36. Ostanovites’zdes’, pozhalusta
Pronunciation guide: ostanoVItes’ zdes’, poZHAlusta
English meaning: Stop here, please
Useful Russian Phrases You Can Use In A Restaurant
First, you should probably know how you can ask about a good place to eat.
36. Gde khoroshiy restoran?
Pronunciation guide: gde khoroSHIY restoRAN
English meaning: Where is a good restaurant?
When dinning in a restaurant, you will find the following Russian phrases useful.
37. Na dvoih, pozhalusta
Pronunciation guide: na dvoIH, poZHAlusta
English meaning: A table for two, please.
38. Mozhno menu pozhalusta?
Pronunciation guide: MOzhno meNU poZHAlusta?
English meaning: Could I have the menu, please?
39. Ya budu
Pronunciation guide: ya BUdu
English meaning: I will have
40. Mozhno mne stakan
Pronunciation guide: MOzhno mne staKAN
English meaning: May I have a glass of
41. Mozhno mne chashku
Pronunciation guide: MOzhno mne CHAshku
English meaning: May I have a cup of
42. Mozhno check, pozhalusta
Pronunciation guide: MOzhno chek, poZHAlusta?
English meaning: Check, please
Useful Russian Phrases To Know If You Are Going Shopping
If you are going shopping, be it for necessities or to pick up a few souvenirs, you will probably find yourself needing to use the following Russian phrases.
43. Yest’ il u vas v nalichi?
Pronunciation guide: YEST’il u vas v naLICHI
English meaning: Do you have?
44. Yest’ drugój razmyér?
Pronunciation guide: YEST druGOJ razMYER
English meaning: Do you have a different size?
45. Yest’ drugój tsvyet?
Pronunciation guide: YEST druGOJ tsvYET
English meaning: Do you have a different color?
46. Ya biru eta
Pronunciation guide: YA beRU eta
English meaning: I’ll take this.
47. Skol’ko stoit
Pronunciation guide: skol’ko STOit?
English meaning: How much is it?
48. Mozhno zaplatit’ nalichnie?
Pronunciation guide: MOzhno zaplaTIT’ naLICHnue?
English meaning: Can I pay by cash?
49. Mozhno zaplatit’ kreditnoi kartochkoi?
Pronunciation guide: MOzhno zaplaTIT’ kreDItnoi KARtochkoi?
English meaning: Can I pay by credit card?
You should also know how to ask for certain specific stores. Here are some Russian phrases that you can use to do so.
50. Gde supermarket?
Pronunciation: gde superMARket
English meaning: Where is the supermarket?
51. Gde suvenir magazin?
Pronunciation: gde suVEnir magazine
English meaning: Where is the souvenir shop?
52. Gde knizhni magazin?
Pronunciation guide: gde KNIzhni magaZIN
English meaning: Where is the bookstore?
53. Gde bulochnaya?
Pronunciation guide: gde BUlochnaya
English meaning: Where is the bakery?
54. Gde apteka?
Pronunciation guide: gde APteka
English meaning: Where is the pharmacy?
Russian Phrases You Can Use When Checking Into A Hotel
Aside from food and shopping, one of the most important things you need to know how to ask for is accommodations. Here are a few useful phrases that you can use once you get to a hotel.
55. U vas yest svabódnyye namyerá
Pronunciation guide: U vas YEST svaBODnyye NAmyeRA
English meaning: Do you have any rooms available?
56. U myenyá yest braníravaniye
Pronunciation guide: U MYEnya yest braNIravaniYE
English meaning: I have a reservation
57. Skólka zá nach?
Pronunciation guide: SKOLka za naCH?
English meaning: How much is it per night?
58. Va skólka zayést?
Pronunciation guide: va SKOLka ZAyest
English meaning: At what time is check-in?
59. Va skólka výyest?
Pronunciation guide: va SKOLka vyyest
English meaning: At what time is check-out?
Other useful Russian Phrases To Know
Here are a few other Russian phrase that you might find useful for communicating with native Russian language speakers.
60. Ne mogli by vy mne pomoch’?
Pronunciation guide: NE MOGli by vy mne POmoch
English meaning: Can you help me?
61. Ya poteryalsya
Pronunciation guide: YA POterYALsya
English meaning: I’m lost
62. Bal’shoye Spasibo
Pronunciation guide: bal’SHOye spaSIbo
English meaning: Thank you very much
63. Spasibo za pomoshchi’
Pronunciation: spaSIbo za POmoshch
English meaning: Thank you for your help
64. Nichevo, nichevo, pozhalusta
Pronunciation guide: NicheVO, nichVO, poZHAlusta
English meaning: That’s all right
65. Schaslivava poti
Pronunciation: SchasLIvava PooTEE
English meaning: Have a nice trip
66. Gde bol’nitsa
Pronunciation guide: gde bol’NITSA
English meaning: Where is the hospital?
67. Mne plokha
Pronunciation guide: mne PLOkha
Meaning: I don’t feel well
68. U menya bolit zhivot
Pronunciation guide: u menYA boLIT zhiVOT
English meaning: I have a headache
69. U menya bolit golova
Pronunciation guide: u menYa boLIT goloVA
English meaning: I have a stomachache
70. Ya poteryal koshelek
Pronunciation guide: YA poTERyal svoy KOshelek
English meaning: I lost my wallet
71. Ya poteryal paspart
Pronunciation guide: YA poTERyal passport
English meaning: I lost my passport
72. Ya poteryal moi klyuchi
Pronunciation guide: YA poTERyal moi kLYUchi
English meaning: I lost my keys
73. Kak dobrat’sya v aeroport?
Pronunciation guide: kak doBRATsya v aeroport
English meaning: How do I get to the airport?
74. Skol’ko vremeni
Pronunciation guide: SKOL’ko vreMEni
English meaning: What time is it?
75. Khochoo yest’
Pronunciation guide: khoCHOO yest’
English meaning: I’m hungry
76. Khochoo pit’
Pronunciation guide: khoCHOO pit’
English meaning: I’m thirsty
77. Ya vyegyetariányets / ya vyegyetariánka
Pronunciation guide: YA vyeGYEtariaNYETS/YA vyGYEtarianKA
English meaning: I’m a vegetarian (masculine/feminine)
78. Mnye nrá-vi-tsa
Pronunciation guide: MnYE nRAvitSa
English meaning: I like it
79. Mnye nye nrá-vi-tsa
Pronunciation guide: MnYe NYE nRAvitSA
English meaning: I don’t like it
Conclusion
The best way to begin having conversations in Russian is to first build up your mental library of common words and phrases, then begin practicing using these words and phrases in conversations.
You can download a PDF of this list of basic and common conversational Russian phrases and memorize what they mean to learn when you should use them. If you really want to learn quickly, however, you should work with an online native Russian speaking tutor.
Go through this list of Russian phrases with your tutor. They can help you understand when and how you can use them in conversations. They can also correct your pronunciation and accent as needed so that, when you finally travel to an area with a lot of Russian speakers, you can easily chat with the locals.
