Russian for Free

RUSSIAN
for PARENTS
-Russian vocabulary specially
created for adoptive parents -

BASIC EXPRESSIONS

We have tried put together a list of words and expressions which should help you with your everyday communication in Russian. Knowing how to say something as simple as "point with your finger what you want" will save you lots of time. We're sure you'll use expressions like "what is that?", "I don't understand" or "how do you say that in Russian?" very often.

ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY

More basic Russian related to this topic:

PHRASE

PRONUNCIATION

Что э́то?
What is this/that?

shto é-ta

Покажи́ па́льцем (что хо́чешь)
Point with your finger (what you want)

pa-ka-zhí pál-tsem (shto hó-chyesh)

Я не зна́ю
I don't know

ya nye zná-yu

Что ты де́лаешь?
What are you doing?

shto ty dyé-la-yesh

Я не понима́ю
I don't understand

ya nye pa-ni-má-yu

Ты меня́ понима́ешь?
Do you understand me?

ty mye-nyá pa-ni-má-yesh

Как э́то по-ру́сски?
How do you say this in Russian?

kak é-ta pa rús-ki

REMEMBER...

If you have questions about Russian language, you can ask in our forum.
If you want to learn how to read the Russian alphabet, visit our reading course.
And for those wanting to learn more Russian, we have our basic Russian course.

Не зна́ю, как сказа́ть по-ру́сски
I don't know how to say it in Russian

nye zná-yu kak ska-zát pa rús-ki

Э́то называ́ется...
This is called...

é-ta na-zy-vá-yet-sa...

*Use this sentence... to teach how to say something (an object for example) in English

Де́лай как я
Do as I'm doing

dyé-laj kak ya

*Use this sentence... when asking someone to repeat what you are doing

Фу, ка́ка!
Yuck, (don't touch it) that's dirty!

fu ká-ka

Я обеща́ю
I promise

ya a-bye-schá-yu

Я верну́сь
I'll be back

ya vyer-nús

Ты идёшь в шко́лу
You're going to school

ty i-dyósh f shkó-lu

Па́па/ма́ма идёт на рабо́ту. Ско́ро придёт
Dad/mommy is going to work. He/she will be back soon

pá-pa/má-ma i-dyót na ra-bó-tu skó-ra pri-dyót

QUESTION WORDS

WORD

PRONUNCIATION

что?
what?

shto?

кто?
who?

kto?

где?
where?

gdye?

когда́?
when?

kag-dá?

почему́?
why?

pa-chye-mú?

как?
how?

kak?

USEFUL WORDS IN ANY SITUATION

WORD

PRONUNCIATION

спаси́бо
thanks

spa-si-ba

пожа́луйста
please / You're welcome

pa-zhá-lus-ta

*Use this word... both to say "please" and to answer to a "thank you"

мо́жет быть
maybe

mó-zhet byt

извини́
sorry / Excuse me

iz-vi-ní

ничего́
it's nothing

ni-chye-vó

*Use this word... to say that there's no reason to say "I'm sorry"

молоде́ц!
well done!

ma-la-dyéts

Next topic: "Numbers"