Russian Phrasebook

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Alphabet

The Russian alphabet is based on the Cyrillian alphabet. It has 32 characters and is related to the Greek and the Latin Alphabet.

Аа Бб Вв Гг Дд Ее Ёё Єє Жж Зз Ии Йй Кк Лл Мм Нн Оо Пп Рр Сс Тт Уу Фф Хх Цц Чч Шш Щщ Ъ Ыы Ьь Ээ Юю Яя

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Pronunciation

Аа - a, ah
Бб - b
Вв - v
Гг - g
Дд - d
Ее - e, ye
Ёё - o, yo
Єє - e
Жж - sh, g (like the g in gin)
Зз - s, z (soft s, like z in buzz, the sound must tickle in your mouth)
Ии - i, ee (like ee in see)
Йй - (short i, always used in combination with another vocal to form a diphtong)
Кк - k
Лл - L
Мм - m
Нн - n
Оо - o
Пп - p
Рр - r
Сс - s, c (sharp s)
Тт - t
Уу - u, oo (like oo in "too")
Фф - f
Хх - kh
Цц - z
Чч - sht
Шш - sh
Щщ - shtsh
Ъ - sign for "hard" pronounciation
Ыы - "ui"
Ьь - sign for "soft" pronounciation
Ээ - e
Юю - you
Яя - yah

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Grammar

Russian grammar is complicated. There are six cases and all the verbs are flexible. If you have learned German or Latin before you'll have a decent chance of grasping the basics in a short time, otherwise don't bother.

я - I
ты - you
он/она/оно - he/she/it
мы - we
вы - you
они - they

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Greeting, Pleasantries and basic phrases

Здравствуйте! - formal general greeting phrase
Привет! - Hi! (informal, used with friends)
как дела? - What's up? (literally "How are you?")
Доброе утро - Good Morning
Добрый день - Good Day
Добрый вечер - Good Evening
Доброе ночь - Good Night
хорошо - good, well, ok, allright (If there is one word that you should know it is this one - nothing communicates your love for all things Russian better than a hearty хорошо and a smile.)
Спасибо - Thanks.
Большое вам спасибо. - Thank you very much. (formal)
пожалуйста - please

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