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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ко́жа [kó-zha] Noun, feminine

skin, leather

Examples

Моя́ ко́жа покры́лась мура́шками.

ma-yá kó-zha pak-rý-las' mu-rásh-ka-mee

My skin got covered with goosebumps.
Су́мка сде́лана из натура́льной ко́жи.

súm-ka sdyé-la-na eez na-tu-rál'-nai kó-shee

The bag is made from natural leather.

сади́ться [sa-dée-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - сесть

to sit down

Examples

Сади́тесь, пожа́луйста.

sa-dée-tees' pa-zhá-lus-ta

Please sit down.
Не сади́тесь сюда́, здесь окра́шено.

nye sa-dée-tees' syu-dá, zdyes' ak-rá-shee-na

Do not sit here, it's freshly painted.

получа́ться [pa-lu-chá-tsa] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - получи́ться

to result, to turn out, to arrive

Examples

У меня́ не получа́ется до него́ дозвони́ться.

u mee-nyá nye pa-lu-chá-ee-tsa da nee-vó daz-va-née-tsa

I can not manage to get him on the phone.
Получа́ется, что роди́тели бы́ли пра́вы.

pa-lu-chá-ee-tsa chto pa-dée-tye-lee bý-lee prá-vy

It turns out that the parents were right.

пло́щадь [pló-schat'] Noun, feminine, plural - пло́щади

square, area

Examples

Конце́рт реши́ли провести́ на городско́й пло́щади.

kan-tsért ree-shée-lee pra-vees-tée na ga-rats-kói pló-scha-dee

It was decided that the concert will be held on the city square.
Пло́щадь квадра́та равна́ произведе́нию двух его́ сторо́н.

plo-schát' kvad-rá-ta rav-ná pra-eez-vee-dyé-nee-yu dvuh ee-vó sta-rón

The area of a square is equal to the product of two of its sides.

губа́ [gu-bá] Noun, feminine

lip

Examples

Его́ гу́бы растяну́лись в улы́бке.

ee-vó gú-by ras-tee-nú-lees' v u-lýp-kye

His lips spread into a smile.
Учёные научи́ли компью́теры чита́ть по губа́м.

u-chó-ny-ye na-u-chée-lee camp-yú-te-ry chee-tát' pa gu-bám

Scientists have taught computers to read lips.

лицо́ [lee-tsó] Noun, neuter, plural - ли́ца

face

Examples

В толпе́ он заме́тил знако́мые ли́ца.

v tal-pyé on za-myé-teel zna-kó-my-ye lee-tsa

He spotted familiar faces in the crowd.
До́лгое вре́мя она́ была́ лицо́м компа́нии.

dól-ga-ye vryé-mya a-ná by-lá lee-tsóm kam-pá-nee-ee

For a while she was the face of the company.

нос [nos] Noun, masculine

nose

Examples

Не суй свой нос куда́ не про́сят.

nye sui svoi nos ku-dá nye pró-syat

Don't put your nose where you are not asked to.
На ко́нчике но́са у него́ красова́лся прыщ.

na kón-chee-kye nó-sa u nee-vó kra-so-vál-sya prysch

On the tip of his nose he had a pimple. (A pimple was flaunting on the tip of his nose.)

постара́ться [pas-ta-rá-tsa] Verb, perfective. Imperfective - стара́ться

to try (hard), to make an effort

Examples

Я постара́юсь сде́лать всё возмо́жное.

ya pas-ta-rá-yus' sdyé-lat' vsyo vaz-mózh-na-ye

I will try to do my best.
Организа́торы пра́здника постара́лись на сла́ву.

ar-ga-nee-zá-ta-ry prázd-nee-ka pas-ta-rá-lees' na slá-vu

The festival organizers have tried their best.

щека́ [schee-ká] Noun, feminine, plural - щёки

cheek

Examples

Её щёки нали́лись румя́нцем.

ye-yó schyó-kee na-lee-lées' ru-myán-tsem

Her cheeks blushed (got red).
Целу́ю в о́бе щёки!

tse-lú-yu v ó-bye schyó-kee

Kisses (I kiss you) on both cheeks!

захоте́ть [za-ha-tyét'] Verb, perfective. Imperfective - хоте́ть

to want, to feel like; to wish

Examples

Де́ти не захоте́ли выходи́ть из ко́мнаты.

dyé-tee nye za-ha-tyé-lee vy-ha-déet' ees kóm-na-ty

The children did not want to get out of the room.
Пусть всё бу́дет так, как ты захо́чешь.

pust' vsyo bú-deet tak kak ty za-hó-cheesh

Let everything be as you want.