When you visit another country, it is highly important to know at least several local words and phrases. Although more and more people in Russia tend to learn English these days, very few of them can actually use it and understand foreign speech. In large cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg you surely can find a taxi, book a hotel, or order a meal in a restaurant.
However, there are still a lot of Russians who don’t know a word in English except “London is the capital of Great Britain” which they studied at school a while ago. The phrases below will help you not to get confused while visiting Russia.
Basic Russian Words and Phrases
| Word / Phrase | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Да | Yes | [da] |
| Нет | No | [njet] |
| Извините | Excuse me / I’m sorry | [izviniti] |
| Спасибо | Thank you | [spasibo] |
| Пожaлуйста | Please / You are welcome | [poʒalujsta] |
| Не за что | You are welcome | [ne za tʃto] |
| Прошu прощeния | Excuse me / I’m sorry | [proʃuproʃtʃchenija] |
| Я не говорю по-русски | I don’t speak Russian | [ya ne govorju po russki] |
| Я не понимaю | I don’t understand | [ya ne ponimaju] |
| Помогите, пожалуйста | Help me, please | [pomogite poʒaluista] |
| Где туалет? | Where is the toilet? | [gde tualet] |
| Вы говорите по-английски? | Do you speak English | [vy govorite po anglijski] |
| Повторите, пожалуйста. | Repeat, please | [povtorite poʒalujsta] |
| Пожaлуйста, подождите | Please, wait | [poʒalujsta podoʒdite] |
Russian Greetings and Small Talk
| Word / Phrase | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Здрaвствуйте | Hello (formal) | [zdrastvujti] |
| Привeт | Hi (informal) | [privet] |
| Дoброе утро | Good morning | [dobroe utro] |
| Дoбрый день | Good afternoon | [dobryj denj] |
| Дoбрый вечeр | Good night | [dobryj vetʃer] |
| Как делa? | How are you | [kak dila] |
| Меня зовут … | My name is … | [menja zovut] |
| Как вас зовут? | What’s your name? | [kak vas zovut] |
| Хорошo, спасибо | Fine, thanks | [horoʃo spasibo] |
| Приятно познакoмиться | Nice to meet you | [prijatno poznakomitsa] |
| До свидaнья | Goodbye (formal) | [do svidanja] |
| Пoкa | Bye (informal) | [poka] |
| До встрeчи | See you | [do vstretʃi] |
| Дoброй нoчи | Good night | [dobroj notʃi] |
| Мне порa идти | I have to go | [mne pora idti] |
| Хорoшего дня | Have a nice day | [horoʃego dnja] |
How to Ask Directions in Russian
| Word / Phrase | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Где …? | Where …? | [gde] |
| Где такси? | Where is a taxi stand? | [gde taksi] |
| Где отель? | Where is the hotel? | [gde otelj] |
| Где автобусная остановка? | Where is the bus stop? | [gde avtobusnaja ostanovka] |
| Какой автобус мне нужен? | Which bus do I need | [kakoj avtobus mne nuʒen] |
| Идите прямо | Go straight | [idite prjamo] |
| Поверните направо | Turn right | [povernite napravo] |
| Поверните налево | Turn left | [povernite nalevo] |
| Остановите здесь, пожалуйста | Please, stop here | [ostanovite zdesj poʒalujsta] |
| Я потерялся (if you are a man) Я потерялась (if you are a woman) | I got lost | [ja poterjalsja] [ja poterjalasj] |
| Это рядом | It’s near | [eto rjadom] |
| Какая это улица? | What street is this? | [kakaja eto ulitsa] |
| Вниз по летнице | Downstairs | [vniz po lestnitse] |
| Вверх по лестнице | Upstairs | [vverh po lestnitse] |
Airport and Hotel Situations
| Word / Phrase | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Где я могу купить ...? | Where can I buy …? | [gde ja mogu kupitj] |
| Можно это посмотреть? | Can I see that? | [moʒno eto posmotretj] |
| У вас есть …? | Do you have …? | [u vas jestj] |
| Я просто смотрю | I’m just looking | [ja prosto smotrju] |
| Сколько это стоит? | How much is this? | [skoljko eto stoit] |
| Можно это примерить? | Can I try this on? | [moʒno eto primeritj] |
| У вас есть на размер больше / меньше? | Do you have a bigger / smaller size? | [u vas jestj na razmer boljʃe / menjʃe] |
| Мне нравится | I like it | [mne nravitsa] |
| Я беру это | I’m taking this | [ja beru eto] |
| Я хочу вернуть это | I want to return this | [ja hotʃu vernutj eto] |
| Где касса? | Where is the cash desk? | [gde kassa] |
| Где женский / мужской отдел? | Where is the women's / men’s department? | [gde ʒenskij / muʒskoj otdel] |
| Аптека | Pharmacy | [aptjeka] |
| Торговый центр | Shopping mall | [torgovyj tsentr] |
| Книжный магазин | Bookshop | [kniʒnyj magazin] |
| Пекарня | Bakery | [pekarnja] |
| Часы работы | Opening hours | [tʃasy raboty] |
| Я хочу заплатить наличными / картой | I want to pay with cash / by credit card | [ja hotʃu zaplatitj nalitʃnymi / kartoj] |
| Где здесь банкомат? | Where is the ATM? | [gde zdesj bankomat] |
| Можно меню, пожалуйста? | Could I have a menu, please? | [moʒno menju poʒalujsta] |
| Столик на двоих, пожалуйста | A table for two, please | [stolik na dvoih poʒalujsta] |
| У вас есть меню на английском? | Do you have the menu in Engish? | [u vas jestj menju na anglijskom] |
| Можно кофе, пожалуйста? | Can I have a cup of coffee, please? | [moʒno kofe poʒalujsta] |
| Без сахара | No sugar | [bez sahara] |
| У вас есть вегетарианские блюда? | Do you have any vegetarian meals? | [u vas jestj vegetarianskije bljuda] |
| Что вы рекомендуете? | What would you recommend? | [ʃto vy rekomendujete] |
| Я хотел бы десерт | I would like a dessert | [ja hotel by desert] |
| Приятного аппетита! | Enjoy your meal! | [prijatnovo appetita] |
| Можно счёт, пожалуйста? | Can I have the bill, please? | [moʒno ʃtʃot poʒalujsta] |
| Вот ваш чек | Here’s your receipt | [vot vaʃ tʃek] |
Shopping and Restaurants
| Word / Phrase | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Где я могу купить ...? | Where can I buy …? | [gde ja mogu kupitj] |
| Можно это посмотреть? | Can I see that? | [moʒno eto posmotretj] |
| У вас есть …? | Do you have …? | [u vas jestj] |
| Я просто смотрю | I’m just looking | [ja prosto smotrju] |
| Сколько это стоит? | How much is this? | [skoljko eto stoit] |
| Можно это примерить? | Can I try this on? | [moʒno eto primeritj] |
| У вас есть на размер больше / меньше? | Do you have a bigger / smaller size? | [u vas jestj na razmer boljʃe / menjʃe] |
| Мне нравится | I like it | [mne nravitsa] |
| Я беру это | I’m taking this | [ja beru eto] |
| Я хочу вернуть это | I want to return this | [ja hotʃu vernutj eto] |
| Где касса? | Where is the cash desk? | [gde kassa] |
| Где женский / мужской отдел? | Where is the women's / men’s department? | [gde ʒenskij / muʒskoj otdel] |
| Аптека | Pharmacy | [aptjeka] |
| Торговый центр | Shopping mall | [torgovyj tsentr] |
| Книжный магазин | Bookshop | [kniʒnyj magazin] |
| Пекарня | Bakery | [pekarnja] |
| Часы работы | Opening hours | [tʃasy raboty] |
| Я хочу заплатить наличными / картой | I want to pay with cash / by credit card | [ja hotʃu zaplatitj nalitʃnymi / kartoj] |
| Где здесь банкомат? | Where is the ATM? | [gde zdesj bankomat] |
| Можно меню, пожалуйста? | Could I have a menu, please? | [moʒno menju poʒalujsta] |
| Столик на двоих, пожалуйста | A table for two, please | [stolik na dvoih poʒalujsta] |
| У вас есть меню на английском? | Do you have the menu in Engish? | [u vas jestj menju na anglijskom] |
| Можно кофе, пожалуйста? | Can I have a cup of coffee, please? | [moʒno kofe poʒalujsta] |
| Без сахара | No sugar | [bez sahara] |
| У вас есть вегетарианские блюда? | Do you have any vegetarian meals? | [u vas jestj vegetarianskije bljuda] |
| Что вы рекомендуете? | What would you recommend? | [ʃto vy rekomendujete] |
| Я хотел бы десерт | I would like a dessert | [ja hotel by desert] |
| Приятного аппетита! | Enjoy your meal! | [prijatnovo appetita] |
| Можно счёт, пожалуйста? | Can I have the bill, please? | [moʒno ʃtʃot poʒalujsta] |
| Вот ваш чек | Here’s your receipt | [vot vaʃ tʃek] |
Quiz
Let’s learn the phrases deeper and pass a test below. There is only one correct answer. Good luck!
1. Which phrase can you use to say goodbye?
Answer: c
2. Find the wrong phrase to say “You’re welcome”
Answer: a
3. Добрый вечер means “Have a nice day” – true or false?
Answer: b
4. What should you do if you’re said “Поверните направо”
Answer: b
5. Which phrase would you say to a taxi driver if you need to stop?
Answer: a
6. What is boarding pass in Russian?
Answer: b
7. What should you ask if you want to know the price of the hotel room?
Answer: c
8. Where can you buy medicine in Russia?
Answer: b
9. Choose the right phrase to order a dessert
Answer: a
10. How can you ask for the bill at a Russian restaurant?
Answer: c
Conclusion
If you travel to Russia for a business trip or as a tourist, visit its famous capitals or smaller but no less interesting and original towns, use the necessary Russian phrases we provided you. Repeat and remember them, so you never get lost in the country and maybe could find new Russian friends.
Note that we use formal phrases with people we don’t know or who are much older than us. Informal phrases can be used with peers we know really well.
