185 Basic Russian Vocabulary Words and Phrases

Word frequency lists can be a great resource for Russian language learners.

But there’s a caveat: most word frequency lists are taken from written texts, not spoken language.

As a result, commonly-spoken Russian words like привет (hi) and здравствуйте (hello) might not even make it onto some Russian word lists.

This practical, user-friendly, conversation-focused list of basic Russian words promises to fix that!

Plus, we share links to several word lists in case you want to go even deeper into certain topics.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Greetings and Departures

Naturally, one of the first things any language learner should grasp is the ability to greet other individuals, so here are some of the most common Russian greetings:

Russian	Romanization	English	Notes
Привет	Privet	Hi	Informal
Здравствуйте	Zdravstvujte	Hello	Formal
Добро пожаловать	Dobro pozhalovat'	Welcome	Formal or informal
Доброе утро	Dobroe utro	Good morning	Used between dawn and noon
Добрый день	Dobryj den'	Good afternoon	Used from late morning to sunset
Добрый вечер	Dobryj vecher	Good evening	Used in evening hours before dinner
Спокойной ночи	Spokojnoj nochi	Good night	Only use when you or someone else is going to bed
Пока	Poka	Bye	Informal
До свидания	Do svidanija	Good-bye	Most common way to say good-bye
До скорого	Do skorogo	See you soon	Informal, use with people you know you'll see again very soon

Introductions

You’ll want to be prepared to introduce yourself and cover some of the basics:

Russian	Romanization and Pronunciation	English	Notes
Как Вас зовут?	Kak Vas zovut?	What's your name?	Formal
Как тебя зовут?	Kak tebja zovut?	What's your name?	Informal, used if asking a child or classmate
Меня зовут...	Menja zovut...	My name is...	Formal
Я...	Ja...	I am...	Informal
Очень приятно	Ochen' prijatno	Nice to meet you	Formal or informal
Приятно с Вами познакомиться	Prijatno s Vami poznakomit'sja	Nice to meet you	More formal than Очень приятно
Как дела?	Kak dela?	How are things?	Russians don't really ask strangers how they are, so you'll only use this with friends and acquaintances.
Как ты?	Kak ty?	How are you?	More casual than Как дела?
Вы давно в России?	Vy davno v Rossii?	Have you been in Russia long?
Вам нравится Россия?	Vam nravitsja Rossija?	Do you like Russia?

Personal Details

Continuing the conversation from above, it’s helpful to be able to explain where you’re from and what you do for a living as these are the two most common questions asked of foreigners.

Russian	Romanization	English	Notes
Откуда Вы?	Otkuda Vy?	Where are you from?	Formal
Я из...	Ja iz	I'm from...	Formal and informal
Из какого Вы штата?	Iz kakogo Vy shtata?	Which state are you from?	If you're from the U.S, a well-traveled Russian may want to know more details
Вы студент / студентка?	Vy student / studentka?	Are you a student?	Male/Female
Кем Вы работаете?	Kem Vy rabotaete?	What do you do for work?	Formal
Какая у Вас профессия?	Kakaja u Vas professija?	What profession do you have?	Formal
Я...	Ja...	I am a...	Used when telling someone your profession
Преподаватель	Prepodavatel'	Teacher
Врач	Vrach	Doctor
Адвокат	Advokat	Lawyer
Есть ли у Вас хобби?	Est' li u Vas hobbi?	Do you have an hobbies?	Formal
Я катаюсь на лыжах	Ja katajus' na lyzhah	I ski
Я играю в баскетбол	Ja igraju v basketbol	I play basketball
Я люблю путешествовать	Ja ljublju puteshestvovat'	I love to travel

Language Ability

These phrases can help you clarify and avoid misunderstandings:

Russian	Romanization	English	Notes
Вы говорите по-русски?	Vy govorite po-russki?	Do you speak Russian?	Formal
Вы говорите по-английски?	Vy govorite po-anglijski?	Do you speak English?	Formal
Вы понимаете?	Vy ponimaete?	Do you understand?	Formal
Я не понимаю	Ja ne ponimaju	I don't understand
Вы можете говорить медленнее?	Vy mozhete govorit' medlennee?	Can you speak slower?	Formal
Помедленнее, пожалуйста	Pomedlennee, pozhalujsta	Please speak more slowly
Повторите, пожалуйста	Povtorite, pozhalujsta	Please repeat that
Как сказать ... по-русски?	Kak skazat' ... po-russki?	How do you say... in Russian?

Agreement, Disagreement and Confusion

These words and phrases, including how to say “no” and “yes” in Russian, are self-explanatory and commonly heard multiple times a day:

Russian	Romanization	English
Да	Da	Yes
Нет	Net	No
Может быть	Mozhet byt'	Maybe
Что это?	Chto eto?	What is that?
Кто это?	Kto eto?	Who is that?
Я не знаю	Ja ne znaju	I don't know
Это...	Eto...	That is...

Manners and Polite Phrases

Russians are often perceived as being unfriendly, but good manners are appreciated, especially if you’re asking someone for assistance:

Russian	Romanization	English	Notes
Пожалуйста	Pozhalujsta	Please
Спасибо	Spasibo	Thank you
Спасибо большое	Spasibo bol'shoe	Thank you very much
Пожалуйста	Pozhalujsta	You're welcome	Doubles for "please"
Извините	Izvinite	I'm sorry	Formal/plural
Простите	Prostite	Excuse me	Can be used interchangeably with Извините
Всё в порядке	Vsjo v porjadke	Everything's ok	In response to Извините and Простите
Я не могу...	Ja ne mogu...	I can't...	Fill in according to your needs, especially important for someone that has a dietary restriction or limitation

 

Food and Drink

Russians love their traditional foods. While you may not eat borscht or smetana on a regular basis, it’s good to know some basic food vocabulary:

Russian	Romanization	English	Notes
У Вас есть меню на английском?	U vas yest' menyu na angliyskom?	Do you have the menu in English?
Я хочу есть	Ja hochu est'	I'm hungry
Я хочу пить	Ja hochu pit'	I'm thirsty
Что Вы рекомендуете?	Chto vy rekomenduyete?	What do you recommend?
Борщ	Borshh	Borscht	Traditional sour soup
Сметана	Smetana	Smetana	Type of sour cream
Блины	Bliny	Bliny	Russian crêpes
Икра	Ikra	Caviar
Пироги	Pirogi	Pie
Пельмени	Pel'meni	Pelmeni	Type of Russian dumpling
Водка	Vodka	Vodka
Фрукт	Frukt	Fruit
Яблоко	Jabloko	Apple
Банан	Banan	Banana
Овощи	Ovoshhi	Vegetables
Лук	Luk	Onion
Морковь	Morkov'	Carrot
Помидор	Pomidor	Tomato
Картофель	Kartofel'	Potatoes
Салат	Salat	Salad
Мясо	Mjaso	Meat
Колбаса	Kolbasa	Sausage
Рыба	Ryba	Fish
Курица	Kurica	Chicken
Говядина	Govjadina	Beef
Соль	Sol'	Salt
Чёрный перец	Chjornyj perec	Pepper
Хлеб	Hleb	Bread
Масло	Maslo	Butter
Макароны	Makarony	Pasta
Сыр	Syr	Cheese
Чай	Chaj	Tea
Кофе	Kofe	Coffee
Вода	Voda	Water
Сок	Sok	Juice
Молоко	Moloko	Milk
Сахар	Sahar	Sugar
Счёт, пожалуйста	Schot, pozhaluysta	Check, please.

Family and Friends (Including Pets!)

You’ll likely be asked about family members, so be ready to talk about your relatives as well as any pets:

Russian	Romanization	English
Семья	Sem'ja	Family
Родители	Roditdeli	Parents
Мама	Mama	Mom
Папа	Papa	Dad
Брат	Brat	Brother
Сестра	Sestra	Sister
Сын	Syn	Son
Дочь	Doch	Daughter
Бабушка	Babushka	Grandma
Дедушка	Dedushka	Grandpa
Друзья	Druz'ja	Friends
Парень	Paren'	Boyfriend
Девушка	Devushka	Girlfriend
Домашнее животное	Domashnee zhivotnoe	Pet
У тебя есть домашнее животное?	U tebja est' domashnee zhivotnoe?	Do you have a pet?
Собака	Sobaka	Dog
Кошка	Koshka	Cat
Птица	Ptica	Bird
Черепаха	Cherepaha	Turtle
Кролик	Krolik	Rabbit
Рыба	Ryba	Fish

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/russian/family-in-russian/
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/russian/russian-nicknames/

Useful Adjectives

Here are some common adjectives you’ll need to know:

Russian	Romanization	English	Notes
Красный	Krasnyj	Red
Белый	Belyj	White
Чёрный	Chjornyj	Black
Синий	Sinij	Blue
Зелёный	Zeljonyj	Green
Жёлтый	Zhjoltyj	Yellow
Розовый	Rozovyj	Pink
Оранжевый	Oranzhevyj	Orange
Красивый	Krasivyj	Beautiful
Симпатичный	Simpatichnyj	Cute/nice	Nice, in reference to temperament; or cute, in reference to appearance
Вкусный	Vkusnyj	Delicious
Большой	Bol'shoj	Big
Маленький	Malen'kij	Small
Хороший	Horoshij	Good
Плохой	Plohoj	Bad
Жаркий	Zharkij	Hot	In reference to weather or climate
Горячий	Gorjachij	Hot	In reference to an object
Холодный	Holodnyj	Cold	Works for weather and objects
Старый	Staryj	Old
Новый	Novyj	New

 

Introductory Verbs

There are a few basic verbs that most Russian learners almost immediately use. Here are a few to get you started:

Russian	Romanization	English
Думать	Dumat'	To think
Знать	Znat'	To know
Любить	Ljubit'	To love
Жить	Zhit'	To live
Хотеть	Hotet'	To want
Смотреть	Smotret'	To watch
Слушать	Slushat'	To listen
Играть	Igrat'	To play
Спать	Spat'	To sleep
Читать	Chitat'	To read
Писать	Pisat'	To write

Requesting Assistance and Getting Around

It’s always good to know how to ask for help and read basic signs so you can find your way:

Russian	Romanized	English
Туалет	Tualet	Toilet
Где туалет?	Gde tualet?	Where is the toilet?
Открыто	Otkryto	Open
Закрыто	Zakryto	Closed
Вход	Vhod	Enter
Выход	Vyhod	Exit
Помогите!	Pomogite!	Help!
Пожар!	Pozhar!	Fire!
Полиция!	Policija!	Police!
Стой!	Stoj!	Stop!
Я болею	Ja boleju	I am sick
Больница	Bol'nica	Hospital
Где...?	Gde...?	Where is...?
такси	taksi	Taxi
метро	metro	Metro
аэропорт	aeroport	Airport
гостиница	gostinitsa	Hotel
ресторан	restoran	Restaurant
Один билет, пожалуйста	Odin bilet, pozhaluysta	One ticket, please

 

Basic Russian Slang

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to impress a new Russian acquaintance with some fun slang phrases, here are a few you can try:

Russian	Romanization	English
Мобильник	Mobil'nik	Cell phone
Чёрт!	Chjort	Shoot
Бомба	Bomba	Awesome
Класс	Klass	Great
Круто	Kruto	Cool

Tips for Learning Russian Words

Here are some important tips and tricks to advance your Russian studies:

1. Learn the Alphabet

Hopefully, you’re already aware that Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, not the Roman alphabet.

Be sure to learn the 33 letters of the Russian alphabet and the corresponding pronunciations. To a large extent, Russian sounds the way it’s spelled, so you can see words written and sound them out if you know how the individual letters are pronounced.

2. Emphasize Listening and Speaking

Linguistic input is crucial, especially when starting a new language. Input-based learners may attempt to immerse themselves in a language by reading, practicing with flashcards, listening to music, watching movies or a host of other techniques.

If your aim is to communicate with people, be sure you’re training your ear. Don’t hesitate to watch YouTube clips with vital words over and over again.

By the same token, be sure you’re speaking. Listen to a clip and then repeat it. Your mouth needs to become comfortable making the unfamiliar sounds common in Russian.

Tutors are also invaluable resources. They can help you perfect your pronunciation to ensure you’re well understood. They can also get you accustomed to the pace of speech.

As with any language, some Russians speak quickly, mumble or run their words together. A tutor can help you get used to deconstructing what you’re hearing.

Getting into authentic Russian content is also important. As a beginner, this might get a bit overwhelming, so you might want to start with material aimed at children.

Some programs make it a bit easier to sort media according to difficulty. FluentU, for example, has six learner levels in its virtual immersion program.

3. Focus on Simple Sentences First

You’re not going to be able to form complex grammatical sentences as soon as you learn the Cyrillic alphabet. As with learning any language, you need to start with basic constructions such as:

Я хочу яблоко.  — I want an apple.

Я хочу собаку.  — I want a dog.

Я хочу парня.  — I want a boyfriend.

As you learn new grammar concepts, your sentences will become longer and more complex, but it’s important to start small and build from there.

4. Keep Formality in Mind

Similar to French or Spanish, Russian uses two versions of the word “you” that differ based on formality.

Ты   (you) is used in informal situations when speaking to an individual.  Вы  (you) is used in two instances: when speaking to two or more people and when speaking to an individual in a formal manner.

As a general rule, ты should really only be used when addressing children or close friends. The formal Вы should be used any time you’re speaking to strangers, acquaintances you don’t know well, anyone older than you or someone in a position of authority. 

 

The list of basic Russian words and phrases above is far from comprehensive, but should help set you on track to start feeling comfortable speaking Russian from day one.

If you’re feeling up for it, you could even check out some more challenging words now to impress your Russian friends! 

Удачи! (Good luck!)
 

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)