Russian is notoriously known as being one of the most difficult languages to learn. You have to take into consideration the fact that the whole Eastern European area has various languages that are very difficult to learn and pronounce for the Western people. Russia is a very multicultural country and you will find many variations of the classical Russian language depending on where you go. In the big cities you will be able to find people who speak English, but if you want to visit more secluded areas, you will definitely need some Russian skills.
Even if you don’t pronounce it like a local, the beauty of the Russian language is that the locals will be able to understand you. We have listed some of the most basic phrases that you should know before visiting this amazing country. We have written them phonetically, so it will be easier for you to learn them.
The Basics
The most basic things to learn are the yes and no. Yes is pronounced da in Russian and no is nyet. Depending on the area, you will hear multiple variations in pronunciation. Please is pozhlusta. Thank you is spasibo. Good morning is dobroye utro. Good evening is pronounced dobroye vecher and good afternoon is dobryi’ den. These can be easily pronounced if you try to tell them fast. You will not hear many Russian saying them slowly, so try to adapt to the pace of the language.
Helpful Expressions
The directions are also very important to learn while in Russia. Gde is where. You have to put this word in the beginning of the sentence in order to make yourself understood. Gde mall will let people know that you are looking for the mall. Eto daleko is the main question you should ask if you want to know how far something is. If you are in Moscow and a local says that it is not very far you should take into consideration that the city is very big. Idite pryamo means go straight. Povernite na pravo means turn right and provenite na levo means turn left. If you are really lost and want to find a map you just have to say kartu, pohzalusta.
In the coffee shops and restaurants things get even more interesting. Na dvhoi, pohzalusta is the first thing you should say when entering a restaurant if you want a table for two. If you get lost in recommendations, you should know these: kurista is chicken, govyadina is beef and riba is fish. Zavtrak is the word for breakfast, obed is for lunch and uzhin is for dinner. If you want the bill, you will have to say mozhno check, pohzalusta.
If you go shopping, you have to learn very few words in order to get along. Skol’ko stoit means how much is it. Mozhno zaplatit means can I pay. The word for cash is nalichnie and card is considered a generally understood word.
About the Author
Traveling to Russia most tourists head for Moscow and St. Petersburg and notice there is a vast difference between these two great cities. Where Moscow is hectic and fast-paced the
... Read More
The argument over who actually discovered vodka rages fiercely between Russia and Poland and even Finland throws its proverbial vodka hat into the ring as well. But there is no
... Read More
Russia and caviar are so intertwined they are like peanut butter and jelly. Producing and eating the finest caviar in the world has been a passion for Russians for hundreds
... Read More
Traveling can be a very expensive affair, especially if you do not plan ahead and look for ways to save money from the start. There are, however, some ways that
... Read More
Russia is an amazing country with incredible sights and sounds. It is a terrific place to visit but you may be concerned about the best options to choose when travelling
... Read More
It is very useful to know what you should and shouldn’t do when you visit a new country, particularly since there can be great differences in the culture and what
... Read More
Russia is a very large country with many options to choose from for accommodation. However, if you are on a budget, a hostel is the way to go. You want
... Read More
Russia is a fascinating country and more and more people are wanting to visit this interesting place, however, there are a few things that you should be aware of before
... Read More
If you are considering taking a trip to Russia and want to travel by yourself, then you may wonder whether it could be dangerous. Your best defense is knowledge and
... Read More
Russia has many wonderful sites and places to visit, both natural wonders and architectural feats. If you are fortunate enough to visit this vast country, then you need to see
... Read More
