Most common Russian words

Learn most common Russian words with examples and audio!

These are the words from the list of 2000 most common Russian words.

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смысл [smysl] Noun, masculine

sense, meaning

Examples

Пережива́ть по э́тому по́воду не име́ет смы́сла.

pee-ree-zhee-vát' pa é-ta-mu pó-va-du nye ee-myé-eet smýs-la

It does not make sense worrying about this.
Како́й смысл начина́ть борьбу́, е́сли ты не плани́руешь вы́играть?

ka-kóî smysl na-chee-nát' bar'-bu, yes'-lee ty nye pla-née-ru-esh' vý-eeg-rat'

What's the point in starting a battle if you don't plan to win?

суме́ть [su-myét'] Verb, perfective. Imperfective - уме́ть

to be able, to manage, to succeed

Examples

Мы суме́ли найти́ реше́ние пробле́мы.

my su-myé-lee naî-tée ree-shé-nee-ye prab-lyé-my

We managed to find a solution to the problem.
Он вряд ли суме́ет сохрани́ть свой пост по́сле таки́х разоблаче́ний.

on vryát lee su-myé-eet sah-ra-néet' svoî post pós-lye ta-keéh ra-za-bla-chyé-neeî

He is unlikely to be able to maintain his position after such revelations.

смочь [smoch'] Verb, perfective. Imperfective - мочь

to be able to

Examples

Он сказа́л, что не смо́жет прийти́.

on ska-zál, chto nye smó-zheet preeî-tée

He said that he won't be able to come.
Она́ не смогла́ меня́ убеди́ть.

a-ná nye smag-lá mee-nyá u-bee-déet'

She could not convince me.

мочь [moch] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - смочь

to be able, can

Examples

Ты мог бы меня́ встре́тить в аэропорту́?

ty mok by mee-nyá fstryé-teet' v a-e-ra-par-tú

Could you meet me at the airport?
Мы сде́лали всё, что могли́, что́бы разреши́ть ситуа́цию.

my sdyé-la-lee fsyó, chto mag-lée, chtó-by raz-ree-shéet' see-tu-á-tsee-yu

We did everything we could to resolve the situation.

да [da] Particle, can be also an interjection with the meaning "and" or "but"

yes; sometimes used to amplify what was said (without "yes" meaning)

Examples

Ты всё поняла́? - Да.

ty fsyo pa-nee-la? - da

Did you understand everything? - Yes.
Да нет же, всё совсе́м не так!

da nyet zhe, fsyo saf-syém nye tak

But no, it's not like that at all!
Ты голо́дная? - Да, о́чень!

ty ga-lód-na-ya - da, ó-cheen'

Are you hungry? - Yes, very!

нет [nyet] Particle

Examples

Хо́чешь ко́фе? - Нет, спаси́бо.

hó-cheesh' kó-fye? - nyet, spa-sée-ba

Would you like some coffee? - No thanks.
Вопро́сы есть? - Нет.

va-pró-sy yest'? - nyet

Any questions? (Lit.: Is there questions?) - No.

рабо́та [ra-bó-ta] Noun, feminine

work, job

Examples

де́лать [dyé-lat'] Verb, imperfective. Perfective - сде́лать, поде́лать

to do, to make

Examples

Что ты здесь де́лаешь?

chto ty zdyes' dyé-la-eesh

What are you doing here?
Он ничего́ не хо́чет де́лать.

on nee-chee-vó nye hó-cheet dyé-lat'

He does not want to do anything.

всегда́ [vseeg-dá] Adverb

always

Examples

Хо́чешь как лу́чше, а получа́ется как всегда́.

hó-cheesh' kak lúch-she, a pa-lu-chá-ee-tsa kak vseeg-dá

You want to do better, but it turns out as always.
Она́ всегда́ прихо́дит во́время.

a-ná vseeg-dá pree-hó-deet vóv-ree-mya

She always comes on time.

челове́к [chee-la-vyék] Noun, masculine

person, man, human being, individual

Examples

Ско́лько челове́к в гру́ппе?

skól'-ka chee-la-vyék v grú-pye

How many people are in the group?
Он хоро́ший челове́к.

on ha-ró-sheeî chee-la-vyék

He is a good man.