Intermediate Russian

When you are learning Russian or any other language, one of the things that separates you from beginner to intermediate and from intermediate to advanced is your vocabulary.

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

Below, you can find the intermediate Russian vocabulary 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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хру́пкий [hrúp-keeî] Adjective

fragile, brittle

Examples

Осторо́жно, э́то о́чень хру́пкое!

as-ta-rózh-na, é-ta ó-cheen' hrúp-ka-ye

Bе careful, it is very fragile!
Он пошёл по хру́пкому льду и провали́лся.

on pa-shól pa hrúp-ka-mu l'du ee pra-va-léel-sya

He went over the fragile ice and fell through.

зал ожида́ния [zal a-zhee-dá-nee-ya] Phrase

waiting room/space

Examples

Мы провели́ четы́ре часа́ в за́ле ожида́ния.

my pra-vee-lee chee-tý-rye chee-sá v zá-lye a-zhee-dá-nee-ya

We spent four hours in the waiting room.
Зал ожида́ния был перепо́лнен.

zal a-zhee-dá-nee-ya byl pee-ree-pól-nyen

The waiting room was overcrowded.

поставщи́к [pas-taf-schéek] Noun, masculine

supplier, provider, purveyor; caterer

Examples

Брако́ванные това́ры на́до бу́дет верну́ть поставщику́.

bra-kó-van-ny-ye ta-vá-ry ná-da bú-deet veer-nút' pas-taf-schee-kú

Defective goods will have to be returned to the supplier.
Мы нашли́ но́вого поставщика́.

my nash-lée nó-va-va pas-taf-schee-ká

We found a new supplier.

скупо́й [sku-póî] Adjective

stingy, miserly, avaricious

Examples

Скупо́й пла́тит два́жды.

sku-póî plá-teet dvázh-dy

Miser pays twice.
Он всегда́ был скупы́м на слова́.

on fseeg-dá byl sku-pým na sla-vá

He was always reticent (stingy with words).

за свой счёт [za svoî schyot] Phrase

at one's own expense, out of one's own pocket

Examples

Жильцы́ до́ма постро́или де́тскую площа́дку за свой счёт.

zheel'-tsý dó-ma past-ró-ee-lee dyéts-ku-yu pla-schát-ku za svoî schyot

The residents of the building built a playground for kids at their own expense.
Я не приду́ на рабо́ту в пя́тницу, беру́ за свой счёт.

ya nye pree-dú na ra-bó-tu f pyát-nee-tsu, bee-rú za svoî schyot

I'm not coming to work on Friday, I'm taking an unpaid day off (a day off at my own expense).

стра́нно [strán-na] Adverb

strangely, oddly, curiously, funnily, peculiarly; it is strange, it is weird

Examples

Стра́нно, что она́ не отве́тила на письмо́.

strán-na, chto a-ná nye at-vyé-tee-la na pees'-mó

It is strange that she did not respond to the letter/message.
Он вёл себя́ о́чень стра́нно.

on vyol see-byá ó-cheen' strán-na

He behaved very strangely.

обнима́ться [ab-nee-má-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - обня́ться

to hug one another, to embrace

Examples

На фо́то ма́ма и до́чка не́жно обнима́ются и ве́село смею́тся.

na fó-ta má-ma ee dóch-ka nyézh-na ab-nee-má-yu-tsa ee vyé-see-la smee-yú-tsa

In the photo, mother and daughter are hugging fondly and laughing happily.
Па́рень и де́вушка смея́лись, держа́лись за́ руки и мно́го обнима́лись.

pá-reen' ee dyé-vush-ka smee-yá-lees', deer-zhá-lees' zá ru-kee ee mnó-ga ab-nee-má-lees'

The guy and girl laughed, held hands and hugged a lot.

доба́вка [da-báf-ka] Noun, feminine

addition, additive, supplement

Examples

Э́то натура́льный проду́кт без иску́сственных доба́вок.

é-ta na-tu-rál'-nyî pra-dúkt byez ees-kust-veen-nyh da-bá-vak

This is a natural product without artificial additives.
Обе́д был таки́м вку́сным, что все попроси́ли доба́вки.

a-byét byl ta-kéem fkús-nym, chto fsye pa-pra-sée-lee da-báf-kee

The lunch was so delicious that everyone asked for more.

ско́рая по́мощь [skó-ra-ya pó-masch'] Phrase, feminine, often shortened to "ско́рая"

ambulance

Examples

Вы́зовите ско́рую, здесь мужчи́не пло́хо!

vý-za-vee-tye skó-ru-yu, zdyes' mush-chée-nye pló-ha

Call an ambulance, a man is not feeling well here!
Его́ доста́вили в больни́цу на маши́не ско́рой по́мощи.

ye-vó das-tá-vee-lee v bal'-née-tsu na ma-shée-nye skó-raî pó-ma-schee

He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

наряжа́ться [na-ree-zhá-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - наряди́ться

to dress up

Examples

Ты куда́ так наряжа́ешься?

ty ku-dá tak na-ree-zhá-eesh'-sya

Why are you dressing up like that?
На нового́дний у́тренник де́вочки обы́чно наряжа́лись снежи́нками.

na na-va-gód-neeî út-reen-neek dyé-vach-kee a-bých-na na-ree-zhá-lees' snee-zhéen-ka-mee

For the New Year celebration (in kindergarten) girls usually dressed up as snowflakes.