Learning Russian
Start learning Russian — one card at a time.
Flashcards
Getting Started with Russian
1The Cyrillic Alphabet
Russian uses 33 Cyrillic letters — 10 vowels, 21 consonants, and 2 signs. Here they all are:
А аahlike "a" in father
Б бbehlike "b"
В вvehlike "v" (looks like B!)
Г гgehlike "g" in go
Д дdehlike "d"
Е еyehlike "ye" in yes
Ё ёyohlike "yo" in yolk
Ж жzhehlike "zh" — pleasure
З зzehlike "z"
И иeelike "ee" in see
Й йee krát-kuh-yehshort "ee" — like y in boy
К кkahlike "k"
Л лellike "l"
М мemlike "m"
Н нenlike "n" (looks like H!)
О оohlike "o" in bore
П пpehlike "p"
Р рerlike "r" — rolled (looks like P!)
С сeslike "s" (looks like C!)
Т тtehlike "t"
У уoolike "oo" in boot
Ф фeflike "f"
Х хkhahlike "kh" — Bach (looks like X!)
Ц цtsehlike "ts" in cats
Ч чchehlike "ch" in cheese
Ш шshahlike "sh" in ship
Щ щschahlike "shch" — fresh cheese
Ъ ъhard signno sound — keeps consonant hard
Ы ыihno English equivalent — say "ee" with tongue back
Ь ьsoft signno sound — softens the consonant
Э эehlike "e" in met
Ю юyoolike "you"
Я яyahlike "ya" in yard
Tip: Letters that look like English but sound different are called "false friends" — watch out for В, Н, Р, С, У, and Х!
2Essential First Words
These are the words you'll use in almost every conversation:
Russian
Sounds like
Meaning
ДаdahYes
НетnyetNo
Приветpree-VYETHi
Покаpah-KAHBye
Спасибоspah-SEE-bahThank you
Пожалуйстаpah-ZHAH-loo-stahPlease / You're welcome
Извинитеeez-vee-NEE-tyehExcuse me
Хорошоkhah-rah-SHOHGood / OK
ЯyahI / Me
ЭтоEH-tahThis is
Да, моя королева!dah, mah-YAH kah-rah-LYEH-vahYes, my queen!
3Numbers 1–10
Counting to ten — your foundation for telling time, prices, and quantities:
#
Russian
Sounds like
Tip
1Одинah-DEENStress on 2nd syllable
2ДваdvahShort & punchy
3ТриtreeJust like the English word!
4Четыреcheh-TIH-ryehЧ = "ch" sound
5Пятьpyaht'Soft sign makes it gentle
6Шестьshest'Ш = "sh" sound
7Семьsyem'Like saying "syem"
8ВосемьVOH-syem'Stress on 1st syllable
9ДевятьDYEH-vyaht'Stress on 1st syllable
10ДесятьDYEH-syaht'Stress on 1st syllable