Russia has a long and rich cultural history, steeped in literature, ballet, painting & classical music. The Russian language is the most geographically widespread Slavic language of Eurasia, spoken by an estimated 258 million people worldwide. It is the official language of Russia and the largest native spoken language in Ukraine and Belarus. Russian is also widely spoken in Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan.
New to learning Russian? Attempt to learn the following 12 basic Russian words and phrases to help you communicate with ease.
1. Добро пожаловать! – Dobro pozhalovat’! – Welcome!
2. Здра́вствуйте! – Zdravstvuyte! (formal) / Приве́т! – Privet! (informal) – Hello!
3. Доброе утро! – Dobroe utro! – Good Morning!
4. Как ваши дела? – Kak vashy dela? (formal) / Как дела? – Kak dela? (informal) – How are you?
5. Спасибо, хорошо. А у вас? – Spasibo, horosho. A u vas? (formal) – I’m good, thank you. And you?
Спасибо, хорошо. А ты? – Spasibo, horosho. A ty? (informal)
6. Как вас зовут? – Kak vas zovut? (formal) – What’s your name?
Как тебя зовут? – Kak tebya zovut? (informal)
7. Меня зовут ... – Menya zovut (…) – My name is (…)
8. До свидания – Do svidaniya (formal) / Пока – Poka! (informal) – Goodbye
9. Да – Da – Yes
10. Нет – Net – No
11. Я не понимаю – Ya ne ponimayu – I don’t understand
12. Повторите, пожалуйста – Povtorite, pozhaluysta – Please say that again.