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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ло́коть [ló-kat'] Noun, masculine

elbow

Examples

Она́ взяла́ его́ под ло́коть и они́ напра́вились к вы́ходу.

a-ná vzee-lá ye-vó pad ló-kat' ee a-née na-prá-vee-lees' k vý-ha-du

She took him by the elbow and they headed for the exit.
Согни́те ру́ку в ло́кте.

sag-née-tye rú-ku v lók-tye

Bend your arm at the elbow.

плита́ [plee-tá] Noun, feminine

stove, cooker

Examples

На плите́ гре́лся у́жин.

na plee-tyé gryél-sya ú-zheen

Dinner was warming up on the stove.
У вас плита́ га́зовая и́ли электри́ческая?

u vas plee-tá gá-za-va-ya ée-lee e-leekt-rée-chees-ka-ya

Do you have a gas stove or an electric one?

ба́ня [bá-nya] Noun, feminine

bathhouse, Russian sauna

Examples

Испоко́н веко́в на Ру́си лечи́лись с по́мощью ба́ни: счита́лось, что из распа́ренного органи́зма ухо́дят все неду́ги.

ees-pa-kón vee-kóf na ru-sée lee-chee-lees' s po-masch'-yu bá-nee: schee-tá-las' chto eez ras-pá-reen-na-va or-ga-néez-ma u-hó-dyat fsye nee-dú-gee

In Russia, from time immemorial people cured themselves with the help of a bath(house): it was believed that all the ailments leave the steamed organism.
Для ру́сских ба́ня без ве́ника – э́то не ба́ня.

dlya rús-keeh bá-nya byez vyé-nee-ka - é-ta nye bá-nya

For the Russians a banya without a broom is not a banya.

о́тчество [ót-chest-va] Noun, neuter

patronimic (name)

Examples

Назови́те ва́шу фами́лию, и́мя и о́тчество.

na-za-vée-tye vá-shu fa-mée-lee-yu, ée-mya ee ót-cheest-vo

Tell me your last name, first name and patronymic.
Моё о́тчество - Никола́евна.

ma-yó ót-cheest-va nee-ka-lá-eev-na

My patronimic name is Nikolayevna.

мечта́ [meech-tá] Noun, feminine

dream, daydream, reverie

Examples

Она́ вы́шла за́муж за мужчи́ну свое́й мечты́.

a-ná výsh-la zá-mush za muzh-chée-nu sva-yéî meech-tý

She married the man of her dreams.
Пусть сбу́дутся все ва́ши мечты́!

pust' sbú-du-tsa vsye vá-shee meech-tý

May all your dreams come true!

пла́кать [plá-kat'] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - запла́кать, попла́кать

to cry, to weep

Examples

Не плачь!

nye plach

Don't cry!
Пла́кали на́ши де́нежки!

plá-ka-lee ná-shee dyé-neesh-kee

We can kiss our money goodbye! (Lit. - Our money cried!)

е́хать [yé-hat'] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - пое́хать

to drive, to ride, to go (by vehicle)

Examples

За́втра я е́ду в Москву́.

závt-ra ya yé-du v mask-vú

Tomorrow I am going to Moscow.
Он е́хал на велосипе́де по тротуа́ру.

on yé-hal na vee-la-see-pyé-dye pa tra-tu-á-ru

He rode a bicycle along the sidewalk.

рабо́та [ra-bó-ta] Noun, feminine

work, job

Examples

Он нашёл но́вую рабо́ту.

on na-shól nó-vu-yu ra-bó-tu

He found a new job.
У нас мно́го рабо́ты.

u nas mnó-ga ra-bó-ty

We have a lot of work.

дружи́ть [dru-zhéet'] Verb, imperfective

to be friends

Examples

Они́ дружи́ли с де́тства.

a-née dru-zhée-lee s dyéts-tva

They were friends from childhood.
Он не дру́жит с голово́й.

on nye drú-zheet s ga-la-vóî

He is crazy. (He is not on friendly terms with his head.)

секре́т [seek-ryét] Noun, masculine

secret

Examples

Ско́лько ты зараба́тываешь, е́сли не секре́т?

skól'-ka ty za-ra-bá-ty-va-eesh, yés-lee nye seek-ryét

How much do you earn, if it's not a secret?
Храни́ть секре́ты она́ не уме́ет.

hra-néet' seek-ryé-ty a-ná nye u-myé-eet

She can't keep secrets.