50 Common Russian Phrases for Beginners (A1)
🇷🇺 Russian · 50 cards · A1 · by Alex Chernikov
These are the 50 phrases I would hand anyone arriving in Russia with no Russian at all: greetings, thank-yous, apologies, the questions you need in a shop or on the street, and the replies Russians expect to hear back.
Two things trip beginners up. Formality first: привет and пока are for friends and peers, здравствуйте and до свидания for strangers, shop staff and anyone older. Then spelling versus sound — пожалуйста comes out as "pozhalusta", что as "shto", конечно as "kanyeshna". Learn each phrase as one block of sound, say it out loud, and ignore the endings for now.
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All 50 cards
| # | Russian | Pronunciation | English | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Привет Informal — friends, family, people your own age. Not to a stranger or anyone much older. | privet | Hi, hello | Привет, рад тебя видеть! Hi, good to see you! | |
| 2 | Пока Informal. Often doubled in speech: «Пока-пока!» | poka | Bye | Ладно, пока, до вечера! OK, bye, see you tonight! | |
| 3 | Здравствуйте Formal, or to several people. The в in -вств- is silent: "zdras-tvuyte". To one friend: здравствуй. | zdravstvuyte | Hello (formal) | Здравствуйте, я к врачу. Hello, I'm here to see the doctor. | |
| 4 | До свидания Neutral-polite, safe with anyone. Literally "until the meeting". | do svidaniya | Goodbye | До свидания, спасибо за всё. Goodbye, thank you for everything. | |
| 5 | Доброе утро Used roughly until 11–12. Works both formally and informally. | dobroye utro | Good morning | Доброе утро! Кофе будешь? Good morning! Do you want some coffee? | |
| 6 | Добрый день The default polite daytime greeting, very common on the phone and in shops. | dobry den | Good afternoon, good day | Добрый день, вы работаете до шести? Good afternoon, are you open until six? | |
| 7 | Добрый вечер Polite and neutral; used from about 5–6 p.m. onwards. | dobry vecher | Good evening | Добрый вечер, у вас есть свободный столик? Good evening, do you have a free table? | |
| 8 | Спокойной ночи Only when someone is going to bed — not as a farewell earlier in the evening. | spokoynoy nochi | Good night | Спокойной ночи, сладких снов. Good night, sweet dreams. | |
| 9 | Спасибо Neutral — fine with anyone. Stress on the middle syllable: spaSIbo. | spasibo | Thank you | Спасибо, вы мне очень помогли. Thank you, you've helped me a lot. | |
| 10 | Большое спасибо Literally "big thanks". | bolshoye spasibo | Thank you very much | Большое спасибо за подарок! Thank you very much for the present! | |
| 11 | Пожалуйста Same word for both meanings. The й is not pronounced: "pozhalusta", often squeezed further to "pzhalsta". | pozhaluysta | Please; you're welcome | — Спасибо! — Пожалуйста. "Thanks!" "You're welcome." | |
| 12 | Не за что Literally "there is nothing for it". Stress on не: "NYE-za-shta". | ne za chto | Don't mention it, no problem | — Спасибо за помощь! — Не за что. "Thanks for the help!" "Don't mention it." | |
| 13 | Извините Formal/plural; also used to get a stranger's attention. To a friend: извини. | izvinite | Sorry; excuse me | Извините, я вас не заметил. Sorry, I didn't notice you. | |
| 14 | Мне очень жаль For bad news or regret, not for bumping into someone — that's извините. | mne ochen zhal | I'm very sorry (sympathy, regret) | Мне очень жаль, что так вышло. I'm very sorry it turned out that way. | |
| 15 | Ничего страшного Literally "nothing terrible". The standard reply to an apology. г sounds like v: "nichevo". | nichego strashnogo | It's okay, no big deal | — Извините за опоздание. — Ничего страшного. "Sorry I'm late." "No big deal." | |
| 16 | Как дела? Informal-neutral. With strangers Russians usually skip it and get to the point. | kak dela? | How are you? | Как дела? Давно не виделись. How are you? Long time no see. | |
| 17 | Хорошо, спасибо Bounce the question back with «а у вас?» (formal) or «а у тебя?» (to a friend). | khorosho, spasibo | Fine, thanks | — Как дела? — Хорошо, спасибо, а у вас? "How are you?" "Fine, thanks, and you?" | |
| 18 | Нормально Very common answer; cooler and more neutral than хорошо. | normalno | Fine, OK, alright | — Как поездка? — Нормально. "How was the trip?" "Fine." | |
| 19 | Как вас зовут? Informal: как тебя зовут? Literally "how do they call you?" | kak vas zovut? | What's your name? (formal) | Простите, как вас зовут? Excuse me, what's your name? | |
| 20 | Меня зовут… Just add your name: «Меня зовут Джон». | menya zovut… | My name is… | Меня зовут Ира, а вас? My name is Ira, and yours? | |
| 21 | Очень приятно Literally "very pleasant". Said right after names are exchanged. | ochen priyatno | Nice to meet you | — Я Антон. — Очень приятно. "I'm Anton." "Nice to meet you." | |
| 22 | Откуда вы? Formal/plural. To a friend: откуда ты? | otkuda vy? | Where are you from? | А откуда вы? Из Москвы? And where are you from? From Moscow? | |
| 23 | Я из… The country name takes the genitive after из: Канада → из Канады, Англия → из Англии. | ya iz… | I'm from… | Я из Канады, живу в Торонто. I'm from Canada, I live in Toronto. | |
| 24 | Да, конечно чн here sounds like "shn": "kanyeshna". | da, konechno | Yes, of course | — Можно спросить? — Да, конечно. "May I ask something?" "Yes, of course." | |
| 25 | Нет, спасибо A bare «нет» can sound blunt — add спасибо. | net, spasibo | No, thank you | — Ещё чаю? — Нет, спасибо. "More tea?" "No, thank you." | |
| 26 | Я не знаю In speech often just «Не знаю» without я. | ya ne znayu | I don't know | Я не знаю, где мой телефон. I don't know where my phone is. | |
| 27 | Я не понимаю For "I didn't catch that" Russians often use the past: «Я не понял» (man) / «Я не поняла» (woman). | ya ne ponimayu | I don't understand | Я не понимаю это слово. I don't understand this word. | |
| 28 | Повторите, пожалуйста Formal/polite. To a friend: повтори, пожалуйста. | povtorite, pozhaluysta | Could you repeat that, please | Повторите, пожалуйста, ещё раз. Please say that one more time. | |
| 29 | Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста Also heard as «Говорите, пожалуйста, помедленнее». To a friend: говори медленнее. | govorite medlenneye, pozhaluysta | Please speak more slowly | Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста, я учу русский. Please speak more slowly, I'm learning Russian. | |
| 30 | Вы говорите по-английски? Swap the language: по-немецки, по-французски, по-испански. | vy govorite po-angliyski? | Do you speak English? | Вы говорите по-английски? Хотя бы немного? Do you speak English? Even a little? | |
| 31 | Я плохо говорю по-русски Saying this early usually makes people slow down for you. | ya plokho govoryu po-russki | I don't speak Russian well | Я плохо говорю по-русски, но учусь. I don't speak Russian well, but I'm learning. | |
| 32 | Как это по-русски? Point at the thing while you ask; «не подскажете?» is a soft polite add-on. | kak eto po-russki? | How do you say this in Russian? | Как это по-русски, не подскажете? How do you say this in Russian, could you tell me? | |
| 33 | Что это? чт sounds like "sht": "shto eta". | chto eto? | What is this? | Что это? Никогда такого не пробовал. What is this? I've never tried anything like it. | |
| 34 | Сколько это стоит? Short version at a market: «Сколько?» | skolko eto stoit? | How much does this cost? | Скажите, сколько это стоит? Tell me, how much does this cost? | |
| 35 | Где туалет? On doors: М = men, Ж = women. | gde tualet? | Where is the toilet? | Извините, где туалет? Excuse me, where is the toilet? | |
| 36 | Как пройти к метро? Пройти = on foot. After к the noun takes the dative: к вокзалу (station), к центру (centre). Метро doesn't change. | kak proyti k metro? | How do I get to the metro? | Не подскажете, как пройти к метро? Could you tell me how to get to the metro? | |
| 37 | Я заблудился Male speaker. A woman says «Я заблудилась» (ya zabludilas). | ya zabludilsya | I'm lost | Кажется, я заблудился. I think I'm lost. | |
| 38 | Помогите! Emergency shout. For a small favour say «Помогите, пожалуйста» or the phrase below. | pomogite! | Help! | Помогите! Здесь человеку плохо! Help! Someone here is unwell! | |
| 39 | Мне нужна помощь Calm, everyday version of помогите. Нужна is feminine because помощь is feminine. | mne nuzhna pomoshch | I need help | Мне нужна помощь с чемоданом. I need help with my suitcase. | |
| 40 | Счёт, пожалуйста In cafés you can also say «Можно счёт?» Paying by card: «Картой, пожалуйста». | schyot, pozhaluysta | The bill, please | Простите, счёт, пожалуйста. Excuse me, the bill, please. | |
| 41 | Приятного аппетита Said by waiters and by anyone passing someone who is eating. | priyatnogo appetita | Enjoy your meal | Вот ваш заказ, приятного аппетита! Here's your order, enjoy your meal! | |
| 42 | Будьте здоровы Formal/plural. To a friend: будь здоров (to a man) / будь здорова (to a woman). | budte zdorovy | Bless you (after a sneeze); stay well | — Апчхи! — Будьте здоровы! "Atchoo!" "Bless you!" | |
| 43 | Подождите, пожалуйста Formal/plural. To a friend: подожди. | podozhdite, pozhaluysta | Please wait | Подождите, пожалуйста, я сейчас вернусь. Please wait, I'll be right back. | |
| 44 | Одну минуту Also «Минутку!» and «Секунду!» — all mean "hang on". | odnu minutu | Just a minute | Одну минуту, я допишу письмо. Just a minute, I'll finish this email. | |
| 45 | Что случилось? Works formally and informally — the phrase doesn't change. | chto sluchilos? | What happened? What's wrong? | Ты какой-то грустный. Что случилось? You look sad. What's wrong? | |
| 46 | Всё в порядке Literally "everything is in order". Also used as a question: «Всё в порядке?» | vsyo v poryadke | Everything's fine, it's all right | Не волнуйся, всё в порядке. Don't worry, everything's fine. | |
| 47 | Удачи! Casual and very common when parting. | udachi! | Good luck! | Удачи на экзамене! Good luck on the exam! | |
| 48 | Хорошего дня In the evening: «Хорошего вечера». г sounds like v: "khoroshevo". | khoroshego dnya | Have a nice day | До свидания, хорошего дня! Goodbye, have a nice day! | |
| 49 | До встречи Warmer than до свидания, and implies you will meet again. | do vstrechi | See you (later) | Ну всё, до встречи в субботу! Right, see you on Saturday! | |
| 50 | С днём рождения! Literally "with the day of birth". Often followed by «Поздравляю!» (congratulations). | s dnyom rozhdeniya! | Happy birthday! | С днём рождения! Это тебе. Happy birthday! This is for you. |
Alex Chernikov
Native Russian · Speaks English, German
Part of the team behind Reji. Publishes and reviews the vocabulary decks on this site.
Published
Questions about this deck
- When do I say здравствуйте instead of привет?
- Use здравствуйте with strangers, shop and hotel staff, officials, teachers, anyone clearly older, and any group of people. Привет is only for friends, relatives and peers you already address as ты. If you are unsure, здравствуйте (or добрый день) is never wrong; привет to the wrong person sounds too familiar.
- Why does пожалуйста mean both "please" and "you're welcome"?
- Russian uses one word for both functions. Added to a request it means "please": «Повторите, пожалуйста». Said on its own after спасибо it means "you're welcome". A common alternative reply is не за что ("don't mention it"). Note the pronunciation: the й is dropped, so it sounds like "pozhalusta", and in fast speech almost "pzhalsta".
- Извините or простите — which one for "sorry"?
- They are interchangeable for small apologies and for getting a stranger's attention; извините is slightly more frequent in everyday speech. For real regret or sympathy use мне очень жаль. To accept someone else's apology, answer ничего страшного. To a friend, use the ты forms извини / прости.
- How do Russians actually answer "Как дела?"
- Usually with one word: хорошо (good), нормально (fine), or in a bad mood так себе (so-so). Adding спасибо and bouncing the question back — «Хорошо, спасибо, а у вас?» — is polite. Unlike English, Как дела? is not a greeting for strangers; with a shop assistant you just say добрый день and state what you need.
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