Klataza
Words by topic
Russian vocabulary for beginners
130 essential Russian words in 13 topics and 49 everyday phrases, each with its meaning and an easy pronunciation guide (the stressed syllable is in capitals).
- 👋 Greetings & basics
- 🔢 Numbers 1-10
- 👪 Family & people
- 🍞 Food & drink
- 🏙️ Around town
- 🕒 Time & days
- 💯 Bigger numbers
- 🎨 Colours
- 🏃 Everyday verbs
- 🖐️ The body
- 🌦️ Weather & nature
- ❓ Question words
- 🐻 Animals
- 💬 Phrases
👋 Greetings & basics
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| приве́т | pree-VYET | hi |
| здра́вствуйте | ZDRAST-vooy-tye | hello (formal) The first в is silent. |
| пока́ | pa-KA | bye |
| до свида́ния | da svee-DA-nee-ya | goodbye |
| спаси́бо | spa-SEE-ba | thank you |
| пожа́луйста | pa-ZHA-loo-sta | please / you're welcome In fast speech it often sounds like "pa-ZHAL-sta". |
| да | da | yes |
| нет | nyet | no |
| извини́те | eez-vee-NEE-tye | excuse me / sorry |
| хорошо́ | kha-ra-SHO | good / okay |
🔢 Numbers 1-10
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| оди́н | a-DEEN | one |
| два | dva | two |
| три | tree | three |
| четы́ре | chee-TIH-rye | four |
| пять | pyat' | five |
| шесть | shest' | six |
| семь | syem' | seven |
| во́семь | VO-syem' | eight |
| де́вять | DYE-vyat' | nine |
| де́сять | DYE-syat' | ten |
👪 Family & people
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ма́ма | MA-ma | mom |
| па́па | PA-pa | dad |
| брат | brat | brother |
| сестра́ | sees-TRA | sister |
| семья́ | seem-YA | family |
| друг | drook | friend The final г is devoiced to "k". |
| сын | sihn | son |
| дочь | doch' | daughter |
| ба́бушка | BA-boosh-ka | grandmother |
| де́душка | DYE-doosh-ka | grandfather |
🍞 Food & drink
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| вода́ | va-DA | water |
| хлеб | khlyep | bread |
| чай | chai | tea |
| ко́фе | KO-fye | coffee |
| молоко́ | ma-la-KO | milk |
| сыр | sihr | cheese |
| я́блоко | YA-bla-ka | apple |
| мя́со | MYA-sa | meat |
| ры́ба | RIH-ba | fish |
| суп | soop | soup |
🏙️ Around town
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| дом | dom | house / home |
| у́лица | OO-lee-tsa | street |
| магази́н | ma-ga-ZEEN | shop |
| метро́ | mee-TRO | metro / subway |
| вокза́л | vag-ZAL | train station |
| апте́ка | ap-TYE-ka | pharmacy |
| рестора́н | ree-sta-RAN | restaurant |
| гости́ница | ga-STEE-nee-tsa | hotel |
| банк | bank | bank |
| парк | park | park |
🕒 Time & days
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| сего́дня | see-VOD-nya | today The г is pronounced "v" here. |
| за́втра | ZAF-tra | tomorrow |
| вчера́ | fchee-RA | yesterday |
| сейча́с | see-CHAS | now |
| у́тро | OO-tra | morning |
| ве́чер | VYE-cheer | evening |
| день | dyen' | day |
| ночь | noch' | night |
| неде́ля | nee-DYE-lya | week |
| вре́мя | VRYE-mya | time |
💯 Bigger numbers
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ноль | nol' | zero |
| оди́ннадцать | a-DEE-na-tsat' | eleven |
| двена́дцать | dvee-NA-tsat' | twelve |
| пятна́дцать | peet-NA-tsat' | fifteen |
| два́дцать | DVA-tsat' | twenty |
| три́дцать | TREE-tsat' | thirty |
| со́рок | SO-rak | forty |
| пятьдеся́т | pee-dee-SYAT | fifty |
| сто | sto | one hundred |
| ты́сяча | TIH-see-cha | one thousand |
🎨 Colours
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| кра́сный | KRAS-nihy | red |
| си́ний | SEE-neey | blue (dark) |
| зелёный | zee-LYO-nihy | green |
| жёлтый | ZHOL-tihy | yellow |
| бе́лый | BYE-lihy | white |
| чёрный | CHOR-nihy | black |
| се́рый | SYE-rihy | grey |
| кори́чневый | ka-REECH-nee-vihy | brown |
| ора́нжевый | a-RAN-zhee-vihy | orange |
| ро́зовый | RO-za-vihy | pink |
🏃 Everyday verbs
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| быть | biht' | to be |
| знать | znat' | to know |
| говори́ть | ga-va-REET' | to speak |
| понима́ть | pa-nee-MAT' | to understand |
| хоте́ть | kha-TYET' | to want |
| есть | yest' | to eat |
| пить | peet' | to drink |
| идти́ | eet-TEE | to go (on foot) |
| жить | zhiht' | to live |
| люби́ть | lyoo-BEET' | to love |
🖐️ The body
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| голова́ | ga-la-VA | head |
| рука́ | roo-KA | hand / arm |
| нога́ | na-GA | leg / foot |
| глаз | glas | eye The final з is devoiced to "s". |
| у́хо | OO-kha | ear |
| нос | nos | nose |
| рот | rot | mouth |
| зуб | zoop | tooth |
| се́рдце | SYER-tse | heart The д is silent. |
| спина́ | spee-NA | back |
🌦️ Weather & nature
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| со́лнце | SON-tse | sun The л is silent. |
| дождь | dosht' | rain |
| снег | snyek | snow |
| ве́тер | VYE-teer | wind |
| хо́лодно | KHO-lad-na | it's cold |
| тепло́ | tee-PLO | it's warm |
| жа́рко | ZHAR-ka | it's hot |
| мо́ре | MO-rye | sea |
| лес | lyes | forest |
| река́ | ree-KA | river |
❓ Question words
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| что | shto | what Here ч is pronounced "sh". |
| кто | kto | who |
| где | gdye | where |
| куда́ | koo-DA | where to |
| когда́ | kag-DA | when |
| почему́ | pa-chee-MOO | why |
| как | kak | how |
| ско́лько | SKOL'-ka | how much / how many |
| како́й | ka-KOY | which / what kind of |
| чей | chey | whose |
🐻 Animals
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| соба́ка | sa-BA-ka | dog |
| ко́шка | KOSH-ka | cat |
| пти́ца | PTEE-tsa | bird |
| ло́шадь | LO-shat' | horse |
| коро́ва | ka-RO-va | cow |
| медве́дь | meed-VYET' | bear |
| волк | volk | wolf |
| лиса́ | lee-SA | fox |
| мышь | mihsh | mouse |
| кро́лик | KRO-leek | rabbit |
Everyday phrases
🤝 Introductions
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Как тебя́ зову́т? | kak tee-BYA za-VOOT? | What's your name? (informal) |
| Меня́ зову́т А́нна. | mee-NYA za-VOOT AN-na | My name is Anna. |
| О́чень прия́тно. | O-cheen' pree-YAT-na | Nice to meet you. |
| Как дела́? | kak dee-LA? | How are you? |
| Хорошо́, спаси́бо. А у тебя́? | kha-ra-SHO, spa-SEE-ba. a oo tee-BYA? | Good, thanks. And you? |
| Отку́да ты? | at-KOO-da tih? | Where are you from? |
| Я изуча́ю ру́сский язы́к. | ya ee-zoo-CHA-yoo ROO-skee yee-ZIHK | I'm learning Russian. |
💬 Getting by
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Я не понима́ю. | ya nee pa-nee-MA-yoo | I don't understand. |
| Повтори́те, пожа́луйста. | paf-ta-REE-tye, pa-ZHA-loo-sta | Please repeat that. |
| Говори́те ме́дленнее, пожа́луйста. | ga-va-REE-tye MYED-lee-nee-ye, pa-ZHA-loo-sta | Please speak more slowly. |
| Вы говори́те по-англи́йски? | vih ga-va-REE-tye pa-an-GLEEY-skee? | Do you speak English? |
| Извини́те, где туале́т? | eez-vee-NEE-tye, gdye too-a-LYET? | Excuse me, where is the toilet? |
| Ско́лько э́то сто́ит? | SKOL'-ka E-ta STO-eet? | How much does this cost? |
☕ At the café
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Я хочу́ ко́фе. | ya kha-CHOO KO-fye | I want a coffee. |
| Мо́жно меню́, пожа́луйста? | MOZH-na mee-NYOO, pa-ZHA-loo-sta? | Can I have the menu, please? |
| Счёт, пожа́луйста. | shyot, pa-ZHA-loo-sta | The bill, please. |
| Э́то о́чень вку́сно! | E-ta O-cheen' FKOOS-na! | This is very tasty! |
| Я не ем мя́со. | ya nee yem MYA-sa | I don't eat meat. |
| Да́йте, пожа́луйста, во́ду. | DAI-tye, pa-ZHA-loo-sta, VO-doo | Some water, please. |
🚆 Getting around
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Где метро́? | gdye mee-TRO? | Where is the metro? |
| Как пройти́ к вокза́лу? | kak pray-TEE k vag-ZA-loo? | How do I get to the station? |
| Э́то далеко́? | E-ta da-lee-KO? | Is it far? |
| Иди́те пря́мо, пото́м напра́во. | ee-DEE-tye PRYA-ma, pa-TOM na-PRA-va | Go straight, then right. |
| Мне ну́жен биле́т. | mnye NOO-zhen bee-LYET | I need a ticket. |
| Когда́ отхо́дит по́езд? | kag-DA at-KHO-deet PO-eest? | When does the train leave? |
🙂 Small talk
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Где ты живёшь? | gdye tih zhih-VYOSH? | Where do you live? |
| Я живу́ в Герма́нии. | ya zhih-VOO v geer-MA-nee-ee | I live in Germany. |
| Ско́лько тебе́ лет? | SKOL'-ka tee-BYE lyet? | How old are you? |
| Мне три́дцать лет. | mnye TREE-tsat' lyet | I'm thirty years old. |
| Чем ты занима́ешься? | chem tih za-nee-MA-eesh-sya? | What do you do? |
| Мне нра́вится му́зыка. | mnye NRA-veet-sa MOO-zih-ka | I like music. |
🛍️ Shopping
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Я про́сто смотрю́. | ya PROS-ta smat-RYOO | I'm just looking. |
| У вас есть хлеб? | oo vas yest' khlyep? | Do you have bread? |
| Мо́жно посмотре́ть? | MOZH-na pa-smat-RYET'? | May I have a look? |
| Э́то сли́шком до́рого. | E-ta SLEESH-kam DO-ra-ga | That's too expensive. |
| Я возьму́ э́то. | ya vaz'-MOO E-ta | I'll take this. |
| Мо́жно карто́й? | MOZH-na kar-TOY? | Can I pay by card? |
🆘 Emergencies
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Помоги́те! | pa-ma-GEE-tye! | Help! |
| Вы́зовите врача́! | VIH-za-vee-tye vra-CHA! | Call a doctor! |
| Позвони́те в поли́цию! | pa-zva-NEE-tye f pa-LEE-tsee-yoo! | Call the police! |
| Мне пло́хо. | mnye PLO-kha | I feel unwell. |
| Где больни́ца? | gdye bal'-NEE-tsa? | Where is the hospital? |
| У меня́ укра́ли телефо́н. | oo mee-NYA oo-KRA-lee tee-lee-FON | My phone was stolen. |
❤️ Feelings & opinions
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Мне ве́село. | mnye VYE-see-la | I'm having fun. |
| Мне гру́стно. | mnye GROOS-na | I feel sad. |
| Э́то интере́сно. | E-ta een-tee-RYES-na | That's interesting. |
| Я ду́маю, что да. | ya DOO-ma-yoo, shto da | I think so. |
| Не волну́йся! | nee val-NOOY-sya! | Don't worry! |
| Всё бу́дет хорошо́. | fsyo BOO-deet kha-ra-SHO | Everything will be fine. |
Make the words stick
In Klataza you hear every word, say it yourself and review it just before you would forget it.