Russian words for beginners

In the section “Russian Words for Beginners” you can find basic Russian vocabulary that will help you to gain some confidence in making basic conversations and don’t look for your words when you want to express some simple ideas in Russian.

This section is not for complete beginners. If you are a complete beginner, we recommend you to start here: Survival Russian – Russian for dummies.

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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иностра́нный [ee-na-strán-nyî] Adjective

foreign

Examples

На каки́х иностра́нных языка́х ты говори́шь?

na ka-kéeh ee-na-strán-nyh ya-zy-káh ty ga-va-réesh

What foreign languages do you speak?
Э́тими вопро́сами занима́ется Министе́рство Иностра́нных Дел.

é-tee-mee vap-ró-sa-mee za-nee-má-ee-tsa mee-nees-tyérs-tva ee-na-strán-nyh dyel

These matters are dealt with by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

гости́ная [gas-tée-na-ya] Noun, feminine

living room

Examples

В кварти́ре три ко́мнаты не счита́я гости́ной.

v kvar-tée-rye tree kóm-na-ty nye schee-tá-ya gas-tée-naî

The apartment has three rooms not counting the living room.
Вся семья́ собрала́сь в гости́ной.

fsya seem'-ya sab-ra-las' v gas-tée-naî

The whole family gathered in the living room.

вопро́с [vap-rós] Noun, masculine

question

Examples

У меня́ к тебе́ па́ра вопро́сов.

u mee-nyá k tee-byé pá-ra vap-ró-saf

I have a couple of questions to you.
Он не отве́тил ни на оди́н вопро́с те́ста.

on nye at-vyé-teel nee- na a-déen vap-rós tés-ta

He did not answer any of the test questions.

про́шлое [prósh-la-ye] Noun, neuter

past

Examples

Про́шлого не вернёшь.

prósh-la-va nye veer-nyósh

The past can not be returned.
В недалёком про́шлом он был учи́телем.

v nee-da-lyó-kam prósh-lam on byl u-chée-tee-lyem

In the recent past he was a teacher.

блин [bleen] Noun, masculine, plural - блины́

pancake, blin; (slang) damn it!

Examples

Пе́рвый блин комом. (ру́сская погово́рка)

pyér-vyî bleen kó-mam

≈ It's the first step that is troublesome. / You must spoil before you spin. (russian proverb, lit. - The first blin comes out lumpy.)
Блин, ну ско́лько мо́жно повторя́ть одно́ и то же!

bleen, nu skól'-ka mózh-na pav-ta-ryát' ad-nó ee to zhe

Damn it, how many times do I have to repeat the same thing?!

беспла́тно [bees-plát-na] Adverb

free (of charge)

Examples

На́ши са́йты предоставля́ют возмо́жность учи́ть ру́сский язы́к беспла́тно.

ná-shee sáî-ty pree-das-tav-lýa-yut vaz-mózh-nast' u-cheet' rús-keeî ya-zýk bees-plát-na

Our sites provide the opportunity to learn Russian for free.
Им разреши́ли пройти́ на конце́рт беспла́тно.

eem paz-ree-shée-lee praî-tee na kan-tsert bees-plát-na

They were allowed to go to the concert for free.

звать [zvat'] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - позва́ть

to call

Examples

Меня́ зову́т Карина.

mee-nyá za-vút ka-rée-na

My name is Carina.
Тебя́ ма́ма зовёт.

tee-býa má-ma za-vyót

Mom is calling you.

велосипе́д [vee-la-see-pyéd] Noun, masculine

bicycle, bike

Examples

Пора́ научи́ть ребёнка е́здить на двухколёсном велосипе́де.

pa-rá na-u-chéet' ree-byón-ka yéz-deet' na dvuh-ka-lyós-nam vee-la-see-pyé-dye

It's time to teach the child to ride a two-wheeled bicycle.
Мы соверши́ли прогу́лку на велосипе́дах.

my sa-veer-shée-le pra-gúl-ku na vee-la-see-pyé-dah

We went for a ride on bicycles.

просыпа́ться [pra-sy-pá-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - просну́ться

to wake up

Examples

Ка́ждый день я просыпа́юсь в семь у́тра и́з-за гро́хота стро́йки по сосе́дству.

kázh-dyî dyen' ya pra-sy-pá-yus' v syem' ut-ra eez-za gró-ha-ta stróî-kee pa sa-syét-stvu

Every day I wake up at seven in the morning because of the noise of construction in the neighborhood.
Ты во ско́лько обы́чно просыпа́ешься?

ty va skól'-ka a-bých-na pra-sy-pá-eesh-sya

At what time do you usually wake up?

шу́тка [shút-ka] Noun, feminine

joke

Examples

Он рассказа́л мне смешну́ю шу́тку.

on ras-ka-zál mnye smeesh-nú-yu shút-ku

He told me a funny joke.
Нам не до шу́ток.

nam nye da shú-tak

Our situation is not funny (we can not be kidding).