100 Useful Russian Phrases
LingQ
25 Mar 2020
Learning Russian begins with covering the basics. Drilling basic phrases won’t lead you to fluency, but steady steps lead to success. Today, let’s concentrate on the most common Russian phrases to help you navigate everyday situations.
Meeting and Greeting
These phrases will help you greet people, introduce yourself, and maintain a polite conversation when you meet someone for the first time.
The Standard Greetings
Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) – Hello (Formal / Most common)
Привет (Privet) – Hi (Informal / Use with friends)
Доброе утро (Dobroye utro) – Good morning
Добрый день (Dobryy den’) – Good afternoon
Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher) – Good evening
Getting to Know Someone
Как вас зовут? (Kak vas zovut?) – What is your name? (Formal)
Как тебя зовут? (Kak tebya zovut?) – What is your name? (Informal)
Меня зовут… (Menya zovut…) – My name is…
Очень приятно (Ochen’ priyatno) – Nice to meet you
Как дела? (Kak dela?) – How are things? / How are you?
Хорошо, спасибо (Khorosho, spasibo) – Good, thank you
А у вас? (A u vas?) – And you? (Formal)
А у тебя? (A u tebya?) – And you? (Informal)
Откуда вы? (Otkuda vy?) – Where are you from?
Я из Америки / Англии (Ya iz Ameriki / Anglii) – I am from America / England
Saying Goodbye
До свидания (Do svidaniya) – Goodbye (Formal)
Пока (Poka) – Bye (Informal)
До встречи (Do vstrechi) – Until next time / See you soon
Удачи (Udachi) – Good luck
Спокойной ночи (Spokoynoy nochi) – Good night
Basic Courtesies in Russian
Keep these essential phrases in your back pocket to ensure politeness and smooth personal interactions.
Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta) – Please / You’re welcome
Спасибо (Spasibo) – Thank you
Большое спасибо (Bol’shoye spasibo) – Thank you very much
Не за что (Ne za chto) – Don’t mention it / It’s nothing
Извините (Izvinite) – Excuse me / Sorry (Formal)
Прости (Prosti) – Sorry (Informal)
Ничего страшного (Nichego strashnogo) – No problem / No worries
Да (Da) – Yes
Нет (Net) – No
Хорошо (Khorosho) – Okay / Good
Ладно (Ladno) – All right / Fine
Конечно (Konechno) – Of course
Вы говорите по-angliyski? (Vy govorite po-angliyski?) – Do you speak English?
Я не говорю по-русски (Ya ne govoryu po-russki) – I don’t speak Russian
Я чуть-чуть говорю по-русски (Ya chut’-chut’ govoryu po-russki) – I speak a little bit of Russian
Я не понимаю (Ya ne ponimayu) – I don’t understand
Повторите, пожалуйста (Povtorite, pozhaluysta) – Please repeat that
Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста (Govorite medlenneye, pozhaluysta) – Please speak slower
Как это по-русски? (Kak eto po-russki?) – How do you say this in Russian?
Что это? (Chto eto?) – What is this?
Russian Phrases for Shopping
Whether you are exploring a local market or navigating a modern grocery store, these survival phrases will help you check prices and complete transactions.
Где находится магазин? (Gde nakhoditsya magazin?) – Where is the store?
Сколько это стоит? (Skol’ko eto stoit?) – How much does this cost?
Покажите мне это, пожалуйста (Pokazhite mne eto, pozhaluysta) – Please show me that
У вас есть…? (U vas yest’…?) – Do you have…?
Я просто смотрю (Ya prosto smotryu) – I’m just looking
Я это возьму (Ya eto voz’mu) – I’ll take it
Мне нравится это (Mne nravitsya eto) – I like this
Мне это не нравится (Mne eto ne nravitsya) – I don’t like this
Есть другой размер? (Yest’ drugoy razmer?) – Is there a different size?
Есть другой цвет? (Yest’ drugoy tsvet?) – Is there a different color?
Это слишком дорого (Eto slishkom dorogo) – That is too expensive
Скидка есть? (Skidka yest’?) – Is there a discount?
Где касса? (Gde kassa?) – Where is the checkout/cashier?
Вы принимаете карты? (Vy prinimayete karty?) – Do you accept cards?
Только наличные (Tol’ko nalichnyye) – Cash only
Дайте чек, пожалуйста (Dayte chek, pozhaluysta) – Please give me the receipt
Пакет нужен? (Paket nuzhen?) – Do you need a bag? (What the cashier will ask you)
Да, пожалуйста (Da, pozhaluysta) – Yes, please
Нет, спасибо (Net, spasibo) – No, thank you
Мне нужен пакет (Mne nuzhen paket) – I need a bag
Phrases for Russian Restaurants
Use these phrases to book a table, place an order, and confidently request the bill.
Столик на двоих, пожалуйста (Stolik na dvoikh, pozhaluysta) – A table for two, please
Можно меню? (Mozhno menyu?) – May I have the menu?
У вас есть меню на английском? (U vas yest’ menyu na angliyskom?) – Do you have an English menu?
Что вы рекомендуете? (Chto vy rekomenduyete?) – What do you recommend?
Я готов заказать (Ya gotov zakazat’) – I am ready to order (Male speaker)
Я готова заказать (Ya gotova zakazat’) – I am ready to order (Female speaker)
Мне, пожалуйста, это (Mne, pozhaluysta, eto) – I would like this, please
Вода, пожалуйста (Voda, pozhaluysta) – Water, please
Без газа (Bez gaza) – Still / Without gas (for water)
С газом (S gazom) – Sparkling / With gas
Пиво (Pivo) – Beer
Вино (Vino) – Wine
Чай (Chay) – Tea
Кофе (Kofe) – Coffee
Принесите соль, пожалуйста (Prinesite sol’, pozhaluysta) – Please bring the salt
Это очень вкусно (Eto ochen’ vkusno) – This is very delicious
Я вегетарианец (Ya vegetarianets) – I am a vegetarian (Male speaker)
Я вегетарианка (Ya vegetarianka) – I am a vegetarian (Female speaker)
У меня аллергия на… (U menya allergiya na…) – I am allergic to…
Счёт, пожалуйста (Schot, pozhaluysta) – The bill, please
Travel, Directions, and Emergencies
When exploring Russian cities or utilizing public transportation, you may find these phrases useful.
Где туалет? (Gde tualet?) – Where is the restroom?
Где находится метро? (Gde nakhoditsya metro?) – Where is the subway?
Где вокзал? (Gde vokzal?) – Where is the train station?
Где аэропорт? (Gde aeroport?) – Where is the airport?
Помогите мне, пожалуйста (Pomogite mne, pozhaluysta) – Please help me
Я заблудился (Ya zabludilsya) – I am lost (Male speaker)
Я заблудилась (Ya zabludilas’) – I am lost (Female speaker)
Прямо (Pryamo) – Straight ahead
Направо (Napravo) – To the right
Налево (Nalevo) – To the left
Остановите здесь, пожалуйста (Ostanovite zdes’, pozhaluysta) – Stop here, please (Useful for taxis/buses)
Сколько времени? (Skol’ko vremeni?) – What time is it?
Мне нужен врач (Mne nuzhen vrach) – I need a doctor
Вызовите полицию (Vyzovite politsiyu) – Call the police
Пожар! (Pozhar!) – Fire!
Берегись! (Beregis’!) – Watch out! / Look out!
Где я могу купить билет? (Gde ya mogu kupit’ bilet?) – Where can I buy a ticket?
Один билет до… (Odin bilet do…) – One ticket to…
Вход (Vkhod) – Entrance (Look for this on signs)
Выход (Vykhod) – Exit
The best way to learn Russian is to immerse yourself in content you love. These phrases are a good start, but memorization is not a sustainable approach to learning Russian. Use LingQ to transform your favorite Russian YouTube channels, blogs, and Netflix shows into interactive lessons. LingQ’s Russian library has something for everyone: novice, short stories to authentic podcasts full of Russian slang.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How do you say “hello” in Russian?
The most common way to say “hello” in Russian is Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte). This is a formal greeting. For a more informal, casual greeting, use Привет (Privet).
2. What are the most common Russian greetings?
This depends on the time of day.
- Доброе утро (Dobroye utro) – Good morning
- Добрый день (Dobryy den’) – Good afternoon
- Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher) – Good evening
3. How do you politely say “thank you” and “please” in Russian?
To say “thank you,” use Спасибо (Spasibo). If you want to say “thank you very much,” expand it to Большое спасибо (Bol’shoye spasibo). To say “please” or “you’re welcome,” use Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta).
4. Is Russian a difficult language for English speakers to learn?
Yes, Russian is a more difficult language for an English speaker. The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) classifies Russian as a Category III language, meaning it features significant linguistic and cultural differences from English.
5. What is the shortcut phrase if I don’t understand someone?
If a native speaker is talking too fast, do not panic. Use these three phrases to manage the situation:
- Я не понимаю (Ya ne ponimayu) – I don’t understand.
- Повторите, пожалуйста (Povtorite, pozhaluysta) – Please repeat that.
- Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста (Govorite medlenneye, pozhaluysta) – Please speak slower.
6. How can I memorize Russian phrases fast without forgetting them?
The fastest way to lock in Russian phrases is to listen to and read them within simple, high-frequency dialogues, such as the LingQ Russian Mini Stories. Encountering these structures repeatedly in real-world contexts forces your brain to build permanent connections.
***
Ievgeniia Logvinenko is passionate about languages and holds a Master’s degree in English philology. In addition to English, she speaks Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, German and basic French.
You might also like
