Chatting about work is a perfect ice breaker and an easy conversation starter.
So, it’s probably a good idea to be ready to talk about job-related topics in Russian.
Here we listed useful words and phrases for you to learn.
via Pixabay
Names of Jobs and Professions in Russian
Some professions in Russian don’t have masculine and feminine forms, and some do. Let’s take a look at the examples below.
To form feminine nouns for occupations, in some cases, you would need to add the suffix -k- or the suffix -иц- (-ниц-) plus the ending -a as in examples below.
Useful Conversational Phrases
via Pixabay
Now when you know the names of the professions, you can practice them in conversation.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Кто вы по профессии?-kto vu po professii? (What is your profession?) | Я программист-ya programist (I’m a software engineer) |
| Чем вы занимаетесь?-chem vu zanimaetes (What do you do?) | Я работаю учителем- ya rabotau uchitelem (I work as a teacher) |
| Вам нравится ваша работа?-vam nravitsa vasha rabota (Do you like your job?) | Да, я работаю на важном проекте-da ya rabotau na vajnom proekte (Yes, I work on an important project) |
The Russian language has plenty of idioms describing work. To sound more authentic, you can include some of the following expressions into your conversation.
Russian Idioms Related to Work
Я работаю от зари до зари-ya rabotau ot zari do zari
Literally: I work from dawn to dawn
Implied meaning: I work too much
Я всю неделю трудился как лошадь-ya vsu nedelu trudilsua kak loshad
Literally: I worked like a horse all week
Implied meaning: Worked too hard
Она ушла с головой в учебу-ona ushla s golovoi v uchebu
Literally: She went with her head in studies
Implied meaning: She immersed herself in her studies
Работа не волк: в лес не убежит-rabota ne volk, v les ne ubezhit
Via Pixabay
Literally: The work is not a wolf; it's not going to run off to the forest
Implied meaning: Work can wait. Just chill
Я тружусь с утра до вечера как папа Карло-ya trujus s utra do vechera kak papa karlo
Literally: I work from morning to night like Papa Carlo
Implied meaning: Working really hard. How are work and Papa Carlo (a character from the Russian equivalent of Pinocchio fairy tale) connected? No one knows, but saying is extremely popular...the mysterious Russian mind:).
Он работает спустя рукава-on rabotaet spustya rukava
Literally: He works with his sleeves down
Implied meaning: He works carelessly and neglectfully
Он привык работать не покладая рук -on preevik rabotat ne pokladaya ruk
Literally: He used to be working with his hands up
Implied meaning: He is accustomed to hard work
We hope we inspired you to practice your Russian skills.
Do you want to learn more work-related words in Russian?
Let us know in the comments below!
