100 Useful Russian Phrases
A profound learning of Russian begins with covering the basics. Just like with any other language, no giant leaps will lead you to in-depth knowledge. On the contrary, small but steady steps are the key to success. Today we will concentrate on the most common Russian phrases that will help you get by in everyday situations.
Meeting and greeting
The phrases below will help you to greet people, introduce yourself and keep a conversation when you meet someone.
Здравствуйте! | [zdrastvooytye] | Hello! (formal) |
Привет! | [preevyet] | Hi! (informal) |
Доброе утро! | [dobrae utra] | Good morning |
Добрый день! | [obry den’] | Hello! Good afternoon (formal) |
Добрый вечер! | [dobryj vecher] | Good evening! |
Как ваши дела? Как твои дела? | [kak vashi dila] [kak tvai dila] | How are you? (formal, polite) How are you? (informal, used when you address someone as ‘ты’) |
Хорошо, спасибо | [harasho, spasiba] | Well, thank you |
Плохо | [plokha] | Bad |
До свиданья! | [da svidan’ja] | Goodbye! |
Пока! | [paka] | Bye! (informal) |
Спокойной ночи! | [spakojnaj nochi] | Good night! |
Увидимся! | [uvidimsya] | See you! |
Хорошего дня! | [haroshiva dnya] | Have a good day! |
Хороших выходных! | [haroshih vyhadnyh] | Have a nice weekend! |
Меня зовут… | [minya zavoot] | My name is… |
Как вас зовут? | [kak vas zavoot] | What is your name? (formal, when speaking to an older person) |
Как тебя зовут? | [kak tibya zavoot] | What is your name (informal, with someone you can ‘ты’) |
Рад(а) познакомиться | [rad(a) poznakomit'sya] | Pleased to meet you (masc. or fem. with the ending -a) |
Счастливого пути! | [schislivava puti] | Have a nice trip! |
Basic Russian phrases and useful expressions for travellers
Да | [da] | Yes |
Нет | [niet] | No |
Спасибо | [spasiba] | Thank you! |
Не за что | [ne za chta] | No problem (you are welcome) |
Пожалуйста | [pazhalusta] | You are welcome/please |
Извините | [izvinite] | Excuse me/sorry |
Я не понимаю | [ja ni panimaju] | I don’t understand |
Я понимаю | [ja panimaju] | I understand |
Вы говорите по-английски? | [vy gavarite pa angliyski] | Do you speak English? |
Я не говорю по-русски | [ya ni gavaryu pa rooski] | I don’t speak Russian |
Я немного говорю по-русски | [ya nimnogo gavaryu pa rooski] | I speak a little Russian |
Повторите, пожалуйста | [pavtarite, pazhalusta] | Could you please repeat |
Туалет | [tualet] | bathroom |
Извините, где здесь туалет? | [izvinite gde zdes' tualet?] | Excuse me, where is a bathroom? |
Где находится вокзал? | [gde vakzal] | Where is the railway station? |
Где находится автовокзал? | [gde nahoditsya avtovakzal] | Where is the bus station? |
Где находится метро? | [gde nahoditsya metro] | Where is the metro? |
Где находится супермаркет? | [gde nahoditsya supermarket] | Where is a supermarket? |
Где находится больница? | [gde nahoditsya balnitsa] | Where is the hospital? |
Где находится аптека? | [gde nahoditsya apteka] | Where is a pharmacy? |
Мне плохо. | [mne ploha] | I feel unwell. |
У меня болит голова/живот. | [u minya balit galava/zhyvot] | I have a headache/stomachache. |
Меня укачало. | [minya ukachala] | I feel car sick. |
Идите прямо. | [idite pryamo] | Go straight. |
Поверните направо. | [pavirnite aprawo] | Turn right. |
Поверните налево. | [pavirnite nalevo] | Turn left. |
Помогите, пожалуйста. | [pamagite pazhalusta] | Could you help me please? |
Я потерялся. (masculine) Я потерялась. (feminine) | [ya patiryalsya] [ya patiryalas] | I got lost. |
Я потерял кошелёк/паспорт/фотоаппарат/ключи. (masculine) Я потеряла кошелёк/паспорт/фотоаппарат/ключи. (feminine) | [ya patiryal(a) kashiliok/paspart/fotoaparat/klyuchi] | I lost my wallet/passport/camera/keys. |
Мне нужен обменный пункт. | [mne nuzhen obmennyy punkt] | I need a currency exchange booth. |
Где находится билетная касса? | [gde nahoditsya biletnaya kasa] | Where is the ticket office? |
Помогите мне купить билет, пожалуйста. | [pamagite mne kupit’bilet pazhalusta] | Could you help me buy a ticket please? |
Вы можете разбить 1000 рублей? | [by mozhite razbit’ tysyuachu rubley] | Could you break a 1000 bill please? |
Как добраться в аэропорт? | [kak dobratsyua v aeroport] | How can I get to the airport? |
Подскажите, пожалуйста, номер такси. | [padskazhite pazhalusta nomer taksi] | Could you give me a taxi service number, please? |
Где купить стартовый пакет? | [dge kupit’ startavyy paket] | Where can I buy a pre-paid SIM-card? |
Спасибо за помощь. | [spasiba za pomasch] | Thank you for your help. |
Мне нужен гид. | [mne nuzhin gid] | I need a guide. |
Я опаздываю. | [ya opazdyvayu] | I am being late. |
Russian Phrases for Shopping
Сколько это стоит? | [skol'ka eta stoit?] | How much is it? |
Можно заплатить картой? | [mozhna zaplatit' kartay] | Can I pay by card? |
Наличные | [nalichnye] | Cash |
Можно заплатить наличными? | [mozhna zaplatit'nalichnymi ] | Can I pay in cash? |
Булочная | [bulachnaya] | Bakery |
Супермаркет | [supermarket] | Supermarket |
Книжный магазин | [knizhnyy magazin] | Bookstore |
Сувенирный магазин | [suvenirnyy magazin] | Souvenir shop |
Цветочный магазин | [tsvetochnyy magazin] | Flower shop |
Заверните, пожалуйста | [zavernite pazhalusta] | Could you wrap it please? |
Есть ли у вас в наличии...? | [yest' li u vas v nalichii] | Do you have…? |
Мне нужен .... размер | [mne nuzhen .... razmer] | I need size…. |
Можно померить? | [mozhna pamerit] | Can I try it on? |
Мне не подходит. | [mne ne padhodit] | It does not suit me. |
Мне (не) нравится цвет | [mne (ne) nravitsya tsvet] | I (don’t) like the color. |
Я беру это. | [ya biru eta] | I’ll take this. |
Где находится примерочная? | [gde nahoditsya primerachnaya] | Where is the fitting room? |
At a restaurant
Столик на двоих (троих, четверых), пожалуйста | [stolik na dvaih (traih, chetveryh) pazalusta] | A table for 2 (3,4) please |
Закуска | [zakuska] | Starter |
Салат | [salat] | Salad |
Горячее блюдо | [garyachee blyuda] | Main course |
Десерт | [desert] | Dessert |
Курица | [kuritsa] | chicken |
Телятина | [tilyatina] | veal |
Говядина | [gavyadina] | beef |
Свинина | [svinina] | pork |
Вино | [vino] | wine |
Чай (зелёный/чёрный/фруктовый) | [chay (zelionyy, chernyy, fruktovyy)] | Tea (green, black, fruit) |
Молоко | [malako] | Milk |
Кофе с молоком | [kofe s malakom] | Coffeee with milk |
Напитки | [napitki] | Drinks/beverages |
Можно меню, пожалуйста? | [mozhna minyu, pazhaluta] | Can I have the menu please? |
Я буду... | [ya budu] | I will have… |
Можно кофе/чай/красное вино, пожалуйста? | [mozhna kofe/ chay/krasnae/belaye vino pazhalusta] | Can I have a coffee/tea/red/white wine please? |
Это блюдо холодное. | [eta blyuda halodnaye ] | This dish is cold. |
Подогрейте его, пожалуйста. | [padagrejte evo pazhalusta] | Warm it up please |
Можно, пожалуйста, стакан воды? | [mozhna pazhalusta stakan vady] | Can I have a glass of water please? |
Приятного аппетита! | [priyatnaga appitita] | Enjoy your meal! |
Можно счёт, пожалуйста? | [mozhna schet pazalusta] | Can I have the check please? |
Здесь можно курить? | [zdes’ mozhna kurit’] | Can I smoke here? |
Какой пароль вай-фай? | [kakoj parol’vay-fay] | What is the Wi-Fi password? |
У вас есть вегетарианские блюда? | [u vas est vegitarianskie blyuda] | Do you have any vegetarian dishes? |
The best way to learn Russian is to use content you love and that’s where LingQ shines. Import your favorite Russian content from YouTube, blogs, Netflix and much more and create interactive lessons. You can also learn with the vocabulary activities including flashcard, reverse flashcards, dictation cloze tests and multiple choice.
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Once your Russian gets a little more advanced, you can dive into the world of Russian slang vocabulary.
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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.