Advanced Russian

Boost your Russian to a new level with the advanced Russian words and phrases!

We created Learn Russian Words to those who want to increase their Russian vocabulary and have more opportunities to practice.

Below, we have gathered all the advanced Russian words from our series Russian Word of the Day.

Every word comes with a picture, two examples and an audio recorded by a native Russian speaker. Click on the word or a picture for more details.

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Flashcards Subscribe Lesson of the day

опеча́тка [a-pee-chát-ka] Noun, feminine

misprint, typo

Examples

В те́ксте допу́щена доса́дная опеча́тка.

f tyéks-tye da-pú-sche-na da-sád-na-ya a-pee-chát-ka

The text contains an unfortunate typo.
Кто отвеча́ет за печа́ть? Сто́лько опеча́ток в те́ксте!

kto at-vee-chá-eet za pee-chát'? stól'-ka a-pee-chá-tak f tyéks-tye!

Who is responsible for printing? So many typos in the text!

обрусе́ть [ab-ru-syét'] Verb, perfective

become russified / russianized

Examples

Он насто́лько обрусе́л, что напра́во и нале́во сы́пал ру́сскими погово́рками.

on nas-tól'-ka ab-ru-syél, chto nap-rá-va ee na-lyé-va sý-pal rús-kee-mee pa-ga-vór-ka-mee

He become so russified that spouted Russian proverbs to the right and left.
Пре́дки его́ обрусе́ли ещё в про́шлом ве́ке.

pryét-kee ee-vó ab-ru-syé-lee ee-schó f prósh-lam vyé-kye

His ancestors became Russified in the last century.

я́беда [yá-bee-da] Noun, masculine or feminine

snitch, sneak, informer

Examples

Не будь я́бедой!

nye but' yá-bee-dai

Do not be a snitch!
А ты, ма́ленькая я́беда, всё ма́ме рассказа́ла!

a ty, má-leen'-ka-ya yá-bee-da, fsyo má-mye ras-ka-zá-la

And you, little snitch, told mom everything!

неуже́ли [nee-u-zhé-lee] Particle

is it really? (a question, expresses doubt, distrust, surprise)

Examples

Неуже́ли ничего́ нельзя́ сде́лать?

nee-u-zhé-lee nee-chee-vó neel'-zya sdyé-lat'

Is it really that nothing can be done?
Неуже́ли вы ничего́ не по́мните?

nee-u-zhé-lee vy nee-chee-vó nye póm-nee-tye

Do you really remember nothing?

отстава́ть [at-sta-vát'] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - отста́ть

to lag behind, to be behind

Examples

Не отстава́й!

nye at-sta-váî

Do not lag behind!
В пя́том кла́ссе он стал отстава́ть по всем предме́там.

f pyá-tam klá-sye on stal at-sta-vát' pa fsyem preed-myé-tam

In the fifth grade, he began to lag behind in all subjects.

нажива́ться [na-zhee-vá-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - нажи́ться

to make a profit out of somebody's work or loss

Examples

Статья́ расска́зывает о том, как ба́нки нажива́ются на клие́нтах.

stat'-ya ras-ká-zy-va-eet a tom, kak bán-kee na-zhee-vá-yut-sya na klee-yén-tah

The article tells about how banks are cashing in on customers.
В столи́це пойма́ли моше́нников, кото́рые нажива́лись на больны́х пенсионе́рах.

f sta-lée-tse pai-má-lee ma-shén-nee-kaf ka-tó-ry-ye na-zhee-vá-lees' na bal'-nyh peen-see-a-nyé-rah

In the capital, scammers who profited from sick pensioners were caught.

ну и ну [nu ee nu] Phrase

expresses surprise, possibly disapproval (~ well well well)

Examples

Ну и ну! Сто́ит вас на оди́н день оста́вить, а у вас уже́ тако́е твори́тся!

nu ee nu! stó-eet vas na a-déen dyen' as-tá-veet', a u vas u-zhé ta-kó-ye tva-rée-tsa!

Well well! I have left you just for one day, and you already have such things going on!
Ну и ну! Никогда́ бы не поду́мала, что он спосо́бен на тако́е!

nu ee nu! nee-kag-dá by nye pa-dú-ma-la, chto on spa-só-been na ta-kó-ye!

Wow! I would never have thought that he was capable of this!

копи́лка [ka-péel-ka] Noun, feminine

piggy bank, money box

Examples

Олимпи́йская копи́лка сбо́рной Росси́и попо́лнилась «зо́лотом» по синхро́нному пла́ванию.

a-leem-péeis-ka-ya ka-péel-ka sbór-nai ras-see-ee pa-pól-nee-las' zó-la-tam pa seen-hrón-na-mu plá-va-nee-yu

The Olympic piggy bank of the Russian national team has been replenished with gold (medal) for synchronized swimming.
Он реши́л класть по 50 рубле́й в копи́лку ка́ждый день.

on ree-shéel klast' pa 50 rub-lyéi f ka-péel-ku kázh-dyi dyen'

He decided to put 50 rubles into a piggy bank every day.

плести́сь [plees-tées'] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - приплести́сь

to drag oneself along, to trudge

Examples

Что ты там плетёшься в хвосте́?

chto ty tam plee-tyósh-sya f hvas-tyé

Why are you dragging behind?
Они́ уста́ло плели́сь по направле́нию к до́му.

a-née us-tá-la plee-lées' pa nap-rav-lyé-nee-yu k dó-mu

They dragged themselves wearily towards the house.

подсиде́ть [pad-see-dyét'] Verb, perfective. Imperfective - подси́живать

to scheme / intrigue against (usually to take one's position)

Examples

Все счита́ют, что ты подсиде́л Анто́на.

fvsye schee-tá-yut chto ty pad-see-dyél an-tó-na

Everybody thinks that you intrigued against Anton to take his position.
Он пережива́ет, что его́ мо́гут подсиде́ть в компа́нии.

on pee-ree-zhee-vá-eet, chto ee-vó mó-gut pad-see-dyét' f kam-pá-nee-ee

He worries that somebody can scheme against him in the company (to take his position).