Russian Phrasebook

Alphabet

The Russian alphabet is based on the Cyrillian alphabet. It has 32 characters and is related to the Greek and the Latin Alphabet.

Аа Бб Вв Гг Дд Ее Ёё Єє Жж Зз Ии Йй Кк Лл Мм Нн Оо Пп Рр Сс Тт Уу Фф Хх Цц Чч Шш Щщ Ъ Ыы Ьь Ээ Юю Яя

Pronunciation

Аа - a, ah
Бб - b
Вв - v
Гг - g
Дд - d
Ее - e, ye
Ёё - o, yo
Єє - e
Жж - sh, g (like the g in gin)
Зз - s, z (soft s, like z in buzz, the sound must tickle in your mouth)
Ии - i, ee (like ee in see)
Йй - (short i, always used in combination with another vocal to form a diphtong)
Кк - k
Лл - L
Мм - m
Нн - n
Оо - o
Пп - p
Рр - r
Сс - s, c (sharp s)
Тт - t
Уу - u, oo (like oo in "too")
Фф - f
Хх - kh
Цц - z
Чч - sht
Шш - sh
Щщ - shtsh
Ъ - sign for "hard" pronounciation
Ыы - "ui"
Ьь - sign for "soft" pronounciation
Ээ - e
Юю - you
Яя - yah

Grammar

Russian grammar is complicated. There are six cases and all the verbs are flexible. If you have learned German or Latin before you'll have a decent chance of grasping the basics in a short time, otherwise don't bother.

• я - I
• ты - you
• он/она/оно - he/she/it
• мы - we
• вы - you
• они - they

Greeting, Pleasantries and basic phrases

• Здравствуйте! - formal general greeting phrase
• Привет! - Hi! (informal, used with friends)
• как дела? - What's up? (literally "How are you?")
• Доброе утро - Good Morning
• Добрый день - Good Day
• Добрый вечер - Good Evening
• Доброе ночь - Good Night
• хорошо - good, well, ok, allright (If there is one word that you should know it is this one - nothing communicates your love for all things Russian better than a hearty хорошо and a smile.)
• Спасибо - Thanks.
• Большое вам спасибо. - Thank you very much. (formal)
• пожалуйста - please

Question words

• кто - who?
• что - what?
• где - where?
• сколько - how much, how many?
• когда - when?

Common Questions

• Где находится ...? - Where is ...?
• Сколько стоит? - What is the price? How much is the bill? (Literally "How much is standing?".)

Colours

• красный - red
• синий - blue
• зеленый - green
• желтый - yellow
• коричневый - brown
• черный - black
• белый - white