Getting Started with Essential Russian Vocabulary
When you begin learning Russian, a small set of high-frequency words and phrases will help you communicate in many everyday situations. This guide focuses on practical Russian vocabulary every beginner should know, with clear English translations and simple examples.
1. Basic Russian Greetings and Polite Phrases
1.1 Common Greetings
These are the first words you will use with Russian speakers.
- Здравствуйте – “Hello” (formal / polite)
- Привет – “Hi” (informal)
- Доброе утро – “Good morning”
- Добрый день – “Good afternoon” / “Good day”
- Добрый вечер – “Good evening”
- Пока – “Bye” (informal)
- До свидания – “Goodbye” (formal / neutral)
Example:
- Здравствуйте, как вы? – “Hello, how are you?” (formal)
- Привет, как дела? – “Hi, how are things?” (informal)
1.2 Polite Words: Please, Thank You, Sorry
- Пожалуйста – “Please” / “You are welcome”
- Спасибо – “Thank you”
- Большое спасибо – “Thank you very much”
- Извините – “Excuse me” / “I am sorry” (formal)
- Простите – “Excuse me” / “Forgive me” (formal)
- Извини – “Sorry” (informal)
Example mini-dialogue:
— Извините, вы говорите по-английски?
— Немного. Чем я могу помочь?
— Спасибо!
“— Excuse me, do you speak English?
— A little. How can I help?
— Thank you!”
2. Introducing Yourself in Russian
2.1 Names and Introductions
- Меня зовут… – “My name is…”
- Как вас зовут? – “What is your name?” (formal)
- Как тебя зовут? – “What is your name?” (informal)
- Очень приятно – “Nice to meet you”
- Я из… – “I am from…”
- Я (не) говорю по-русски – “I (do not) speak Russian”
- Я немного говорю по-русски – “I speak a little Russian”
Example:
Меня зовут Анна. Я из Англии. Я немного говорю по-русски.
“My name is Anna. I am from England. I speak a little Russian.”
2.2 Talking About Languages and Nationalities
- по-русски – “in Russian”
- по-английски – “in English”
- по-немецки – “in German”
- по-французски – “in French”
- русский / русская – “Russian” (male / female person)
- англичанин / англичанка – “Englishman / Englishwoman”
Example questions:
- Вы говорите по-английски? – “Do you speak English?” (formal)
- Ты говоришь по-русски? – “Do you speak Russian?” (informal)
3. Essential Question Words in Russian
Question words are powerful because they let you ask for the information you need.
- Кто? – “Who?”
- Что? – “What?”
- Где? – “Where?”
- Куда? – “Where to?” (direction)
- Откуда? – “From where?” (origin)
- Когда? – “When?”
- Почему? – “Why?”
- Как? – “How?”
- Сколько? – “How much? / How many?”
Useful question phrases:
- Что это? – “What is this?”
- Где туалет? – “Where is the toilet?”
- Сколько это стоит? – “How much does this cost?”
- Когда поезд? – “When is the train?”
4. Numbers, Time, and Days
4.1 Numbers 1–10
- один – “one”
- два – “two”
- три – “three”
- четыре – “four”
- пять – “five”
- шесть – “six”
- семь – “seven”
- восемь – “eight”
- девять – “nine”
- десять – “ten”
Example: Мне два билета, пожалуйста. – “Two tickets for me, please.”
4.2 Days of the Week (most useful first)
- сегодня – “today”
- завтра – “tomorrow”
- вчера – “yesterday”
Full list of days:
- понедельник – “Monday”
- вторник – “Tuesday”
- среда – “Wednesday”
- четверг – “Thursday”
- пятница – “Friday”
- суббота – “Saturday”
- воскресенье – “Sunday”
Example: Встреча в пятницу? – “Meeting on Friday?”
5. Everyday Survival Phrases
5.1 In Shops and Restaurants
- Сколько это стоит? – “How much is this?”
- Где касса? – “Where is the cash desk?”
- Счёт, пожалуйста – “The bill, please”
- Меню, пожалуйста – “The menu, please”
- Я хочу… – “I want…”
- Мне, пожалуйста… – “For me, please…” (polite way to order)
- Вода – “water”
- чай – “tea”
- кофе – “coffee”
- хлеб – “bread”
Example:
Мне, пожалуйста, кофе и воду.
“For me, please, coffee and water.”
5.2 Asking for Help
- Помогите, пожалуйста – “Help, please”
- Я не понимаю – “I do not understand”
- Повторите, пожалуйста – “Repeat, please”
- Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста – “Speak more slowly, please”
- Где…? – “Where is…?”
- Где метро? – “Where is the metro?”
- Где остановка? – “Where is the bus stop?”
Example mini-dialogue:
— Извините, где метро?
— Метро там, налево.
— Спасибо!
“— Excuse me, where is the metro?
— The metro is there, to the left.
— Thank you!”
6. Useful Verbs for Beginners
Learn a few very common verbs in their basic dictionary form (infinitive).
- быть – “to be”
- идти – “to go (on foot)”
- ехать – “to go (by transport)”
- делать – “to do, to make”
- говорить – “to speak”
- понимать – “to understand”
- хотеть – “to want”
- жить – “to live”
- знать – “to know”
Simple phrase examples (1st person singular):
- Я живу в Москве. – “I live in Moscow.”
- Я хочу кофе. – “I want coffee.”
- Я не понимаю. – “I do not understand.”
7. Core Nouns and Adjectives for Daily Life
7.1 Common Nouns
- город – “city”
- улица – “street”
- дом – “house, home, building”
- отель / гостиница – “hotel”
- магазин – “shop”
- аптека – “pharmacy”
- банк – “bank”
- друг / подруга – “friend” (male / female)
- мужчина – “man”
- женщина – “woman”
7.2 Very Common Adjectives
- хороший – “good”
- плохой – “bad”
- большой – “big”
- маленький – “small”
- новый – “new”
- старый – “old”
- дорогой – “expensive”
- дешёвый – “cheap”
- вкусный – “tasty, delicious”
Example phrases:
- Это хороший ресторан. – “This is a good restaurant.”
- Очень вкусный суп! – “Very tasty soup!”
- Это дорого. – “This is expensive.”
8. Yes, No, and Everyday Reactions
Simple reaction words will make your Russian sound more natural.
- Да – “Yes”
- Нет – “No”
- Может быть – “Maybe”
- Хорошо – “OK, good”
- Отлично – “Excellent, great”
- Конечно – “Of course”
- Не знаю – “I don’t know”
Example mini-dialogue:
— Ты свободен завтра?
— Может быть. Я ещё не знаю.
“— Are you free tomorrow?
— Maybe. I do not know yet.”
9. How to Practice These Essential Words
To remember this beginner Russian vocabulary, try these simple strategies:
- Make flashcards – Write the Russian word on one side (спасибо) and the English meaning on the other (“thank you”).
- Use phrases daily – Talk to yourself in Russian: Сегодня понедельник (“Today is Monday”), Я хочу кофе (“I want coffee”).
- Group words by situation – For example, “restaurant words,” “travel words,” “greetings.”
- Repeat short dialogues – Memorise a few of the mini-dialogues from this guide and say them out loud.
By focusing on these essential Russian words and phrases, you will quickly gain the confidence to handle basic conversations, ask for what you need, and understand common responses. From here, you can gradually add more vocabulary, but these foundations will always remain useful.
