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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стыди́ться [sty-dée-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - устыди́ться

to be ashamed

Examples

Здесь не́чего стыди́ться.

zdes' nyé-chee-va sty-dée-tsa

It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Он стыди́лся показа́ть свою́ необразо́ванность.

on sty-déel-sya pa-ka-zát' sva-yú nee-ab-ra-zó-van-nast'

He was ashamed to show his ignorance.

дра́ка [drá-ka] Noun, feminine

scuffle, fight

Examples

Спор чуть не дошёл до дра́ки.

spor chut' nye da-shyól da drá-kee

The dispute almost turned into a fight.
Ме́жду игрока́ми завяза́лась дра́ка.

myézh-du eeg-ra-ká-mee za-vee-zá-las' drá-ka

A fight started between the players.

отопле́ние [a-ta-plyé-nee-ye] Noun, neuter

heating

Examples

В Росси́и большинство́ кварти́рных домо́в име́ют центра́льное отопле́ние.

v ras-sée-ee bal'-sheen-stvó kvar-téer-nyh da-móf ee-myé-yut tsent-rál'-na-ye a-ta-plýe-nee-ye

In Russia, most apartment buildings have central heating.
Тари́фы на отопле́ние и горя́чую во́ду повы́сились на 20%.

ta-fée-fy na a-ta-plyé-nee-ye ee ga-ryá-chu-yu vó-du pa-vý-see-lees' na vdá-tsat' pra-tsén-taf

Tariffs for heating and hot water increased by 20%.

со́весть [só-veest'] Noun, feminine

conscience

Examples

Име́йте со́весть!

ee-myéî-tye só-veest'

Have a heart! / Have you no shame? (Lit. - Have a conscience!)
Он привы́к поступа́ть по со́вести.

on pree-výk pas-tu-tát' pa só-vees-tee

He is used to act in good conscience.

причёска [pree-chyós-ka] Noun, feminine

hairstyle, hairdo, haircut

Examples

Она́ сде́лала но́вую причёску.

a-ná sdyé-la-la nó-vu-yu pree-chyós-ku

She made a new hairstyle.
Тебе́ о́чень идёт э́та причёска.

tee-byé ó-cheen ee-dyót é-ta pree-chýos-ka

This hairstyle suits you very well.

давле́ние [dav-lyé-nee-ye] Noun, neuter

pressure

Examples

У ба́бушки высо́кое давле́ние.

u bá-bush-kee vy-só-ka-ye dav-lýe-nee-ye

Grandma has high blood pressure.
На него́ ока́зывается огро́мное давле́ние со стороны́ вла́стных структу́р.

na nee-vó a-ká-zy-va-ee-tsa ag-róm-na-ye dav-lyé-nee-ye sa sta-ra-ný vlást-nyh struk-túr

He is under tremendous pressure from the authorities.

град [grat] Noun, masculine

hail

Examples

Вчера́шний град поби́л маши́ны и повали́л дере́вья.

fchee-rásh-neeî grat pa-béel ma-shée-ny ee pa-va-léel dee-ryév'-ya

Yesterday's hail beat cars and brought down trees.
На го́род обру́шился мо́щный град.

na gó-rat ab-rú-sheel-sya mósch-nyî grat

Powerful hailstorm hit the city.

целова́ться [tse-la-vá-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - поцелова́ться

to kiss (one another)

Examples

Они́ целова́лись, не обраща́я внима́ния на дождь.

a-née tse-la-vá-lees', nye ab-ra-schá-ya vnee-má-nee-ya na dozhd'

They were kissing and not paying attention to the rain.
В Росси́и при́нято целова́ться при встре́че то́лько с бли́зкими друзья́ми и чле́нами семьи́.

v ras-sée-ee prée-nya-ta tse-la-vá-tsa pree fstryé-chye tól'-ka c bléez-kee-mee druz'-yá-mee ee chlyé-na-mee seem'-ee

In Russia, it is customary to kiss only when meeting close friends and family members.

пригласи́ть [preeg-la-séet'] Verb, perfective. Imperfective - приглаша́ть

to invite

Examples

Сосе́ди пригласи́ли нас на пикни́к.

sa-syé-dee preeg-la-sée-lee nas na peek-néek

Neighbors invited us to a picnic.
Ско́лько люде́й вы пригласи́ли на сва́дьбу?

skól'-ka lyu-dyéî vy preeg-la-sée-le na svád'-bu

How many people have you invited to the wedding?

заткну́ться [zatk-nú-tsa] Verb, perfective. Imperfective - затыка́ться

to shut up

Examples

На твоём ме́сте я бы заткну́лся и не выступа́л.

na tva-yóm myés-tye, ya by zatk-núl-sya ee nye vys-tu-pál

If I were you, I would shut up and not speak.
Заткни́сь! - Сама́ заткни́сь!

zatk-nées'! - sa-má zatk-nées'!

Shut up! - Shut up yourself!