Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Russian. Ruski. Ruskiy. Russkiy. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Russian Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Russian words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...
ih is pronounced as ɨ (a high schwa ə or New Zealand i)
y after a consonant indicates a palatalised consonant ʲ
eg. ty indicates tʲ, ly indicates lʲ etc.

Zdrastvuitye.
Privyet.
Hello.
Da svidanya.
Goodbye.
Vih gavarite pa-angliyski?
Do you speak English?
Ya nye panimayu.
I don't understand.
Nimnoga.
A little.
Da. Nyet.
Yes. No.
Skolyka eta stoit?
How much is it?
Slishkam doraga. Kharasho.
Too expensive. OK.
Pazhalsta.
Please.
(Balyshoe) spasiba.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

Kak vas zavut?
What is your name?
Minya zavut ...
My name is ...
Kak dyila?
How are you?
Kharasho. A vih?
Fine. And you?
Gdye ...?
Where is ...?
Gdye tualyet? Mushchinih/Zhenshchin
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Prastyitye. Izivinitye.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Nikakikh problem.
Bes problem.
No problem.
Ya khachu ...
I want ...
Ya nye khachu ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

Atkuda vih?
Where are you from?
Ya iz Afstralii.*
I am from Australia.
Shyot, pazhalsta.
The bill, please.
Ya pateryalsa. (man)
Ya pateryalasy. (woman)
I'm lost.
Stop! Padazhditye!
Stop! Wait!
Zdesy, tam.
Here, there.
Taksi. Gastinitsa. Aeraport. Vogzal.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Ya lyubyu ...
I like ...
Ya nye lyubyu ...
I don't like ...
adyin (ras), dva, tri, chetiri, pyaty.
one, two , three, four, five.
shesty, semy, vosemy, deviaty, desiat.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
*Or choose your country:
iz Amerikii - from America
iz Kanady - from Canada
iz Anglii - from England
iz Irlandii - from Ireland
iz Novoy Zelandii - from New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Za vashe zdarovye!
Cheers!
kharoshiy / plakhoy
good / bad
balyshoy / malenykiy
big / small
bliska / daleko
near / far
menyshe / bolyshe
less / more
drugoy / dastatachna
another one / enough
Ya vegetarianets. (man)
Ya vegetarianka. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Ya nye yem myasnova.
I don't eat meat.
... kuritsih.
... chicken.
... rihbih.
... fish.
U minya allirgiya na aryekhi.
I am allergic to nuts.
... arakhis.
... peanuts.
... rihbu.
... fish.
... moryepraduktih.
... seafood.
... yaytsa.
... eggs.