Basic Russian phrases
If you travel to Russia for a short period of time, it is important to express yourself in Russian.
Note that most people in Russia do not speak English.
This page provides simple Russian phrases and basic expressions.
Russian greetings
| FORMAL | INFORMAL | |||
| English | Russian | Transcription | Russian | Transcription |
| Hello | Здра́вствуйте | Zdrastvuyte | Приве́т | Privet |
| Good morning | До́брое у́тро | Dobroye utro | = | = |
| Good day | До́брый день | Dobriy den' | = | = |
| Good evening | До́брый ве́чер | Dobriy vecher | = | = |
| Good night | До́брой но́чи | Dobroy nochi | = | = |
| = means same as Formal | ||||
Introducing yourself
| FORMAL | INFORMAL | |||
| English | Russian | Transcription | Russian | Transcription |
| My name is... | Меня́ зову́т ... | Menya zavut | = | = |
| What is your name? | Как Вас зову́т? | Kak vas zavut? | Как тебя́ зову́т? | Kak tebya zavut? |
| Nice to meet you | О́чень прия́тно | Ochen' priyatno | = | = |
| Glad to see you | Рад Вас ви́деть | Rad vas videt' | Рад тебя́ ви́деть | Rad tebya videt |
| How are you? | Как дела́? | Kak dela? | = | = |
| How is your life going? | Как пожива́ете? | Kak pozhivaete? | Как пожива́ешь? | Kak pozhivaesh? |
| Awesome | Прекра́сно | Prekrasno | = | = |
| Good | Хорошо́ | Khorosho | = | = |
| Not bad | Непло́хо | Neplokho | = | = |
| Fine | Норма́льно | Normal'no | = | = |
| Bad | Пло́хо | Plokho | = | = |
| = means same as Formal | ||||
If you don't know how to write your name in Russian, check Russian alphabet
English names written in Russian
Examples:
| English | Russian | Transcription |
| John | Джон | Dzhon |
| Harry | Га́рри | Garri |
| Jacob | Я́ков | Yakov |
| Charlie | Ча́рли | Charli |
| George | Джо́рдж | Dzhordzh |
| William | Ви́льям | Viliam |
| Jessica | Дже́ссика | Dzhessika |
| Sarah | Са́ра | Sara |
| Emily | Э́мили | Emili |
Note: Some letters change in Russian versions of English names. For example: "H" in Harry must be pronounced as "Г" in Russian (Га́рри) Харри
Saying goodbye
| FORMAL | INFORMAL | |||
| English | Russian | Transcription | Russian | Transcription |
| Goodbye | До свида́ния | Do svidaniya | Пока́ | Poka |
| See you later | До ско́рого | Do skorovo | = | = |
| See you soon | Ско́ро уви́димся | Skoro uvidimsya | = | = |
| = means same as Formal | ||||
Yes and No
| FORMAL | INFORMAL | |||
| English | Russian | Transcription | Russian | Transcription |
| Yes | Да | Da | = | = |
| No | Нет | Net | = | = |
| Not really/Well no | Да нет | Danet | = | = |
| Probably | Наве́рное | Navernoe | = | = |
| = means same as Formal | ||||
Please and Thank you
| FORMAL | INFORMAL | |||
| English | Russian | Transcription | Russian | Transcription |
| Thank you | Спаси́бо | Spasibo | = | = |
| Thank you so much | Большо́е спаси́бо | Bol'shoe spasibo | = | = |
| Your welcome | Не за что | Ne za shto | = | = |
| Please/ Your welcome | Пожа́луйста | Pozhaluysta | = | = |
| Excuse me | Извини́те | Izvinite | Извини́ | Izvini |
| Sorry | Прости́те | Prostite | Прости́ | Prosti |
| No worries | Ничего́ стра́шного | Nichego strashnovo | = | = |
| = means same as Formal | ||||
Speaking, comprehension
| FORMAL | INFORMAL | |||
| English | Russian | Transcription | Russian | Transcription |
| Do you speak English? | Вы говори́те по-англи́йски? | Vi govorite po angliski? | Ты говори́шь по-английски? | Ti govorish po angliski? |
| My Russian is bad | Я пло́хо говорю́ по-ру́сски | Ya plokho govoru po russki | = | = |
| I don't speak Russian | Я не говорю́ по-ру́сски | Ya ne govoru po russki | = | = |
| Excuse me, what? | Прости́те, что? | Prostite shto? | Прости́, что? | Prosti shto? |
| What? | Что? | Shto? | = | = |
| Speak slower | Говори́те ме́дленнее | Govorite medlenneye | Говори́ ме́дленнее | Govori medlenneye |
| I don't understand | Я не понима́ю | Ya ne ponimau | = | = |
| I don't know | Я не зна́ю | Ya ne znau | = | = |
| I understand | Я понима́ю | Ya ponimau | = | = |
| It's my first time in Russia | Я пе́рвый раз в Росси́и | Ya perviy raz v Rossii | = | = |
| Add me on Facebook | Доба́вьте меня́ в Фейсбу́ке | Dobav'te menya v Feisbuke | Доба́вь меня́ в Фейсбу́ке | Dobav' menya v Feisbuke |
| = means same as Formal | ||||
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