Russian

RUSSIAN

Lonely Planet Publications

russian alphabet

A
a

be

ve

ge

de

ye

yo

zhe

ze

ee

eekratkaye

Kk
ka

el

M
em

en

Oo
o

pe

er

es

T
te

ef

kha

tse

che

sha

shcha

tvyordi znak

ih

myakhki znak

yu

ya

introduction

russian
NOTE: SIBERIAN RUSSIA AND THE
CAUCASUS OMIT TED FROM THIS
MAP FOR REASONS OF SCALE

Novaya
Zemlya

Siberian
Lowland

Nor w a y
Ob

Ob

Ur

ia
hn
G u l f of Bot

Fi n la nd

RUS S IA

Eston i a

Volga

La t v ia
Lith u a n ia

Nizhny Novgorod

Omsk

Yekaterinburg

K a z a k hs t a n
0
0

ki

er

iep

Ukraine
Sl

500 km

Samara

500 mi

Sy

Belarus
Pol a n d

Irtysh

Darya

K a l i n i n g ra d
(R U S S IA)

Volga

Moscow

Dn

St. Petersburg

Novosibirsk

Irtysh

Arkhangelsk

ountains
al M

Sw e de n

Volgograd V
olg

Aral
Sea
a

Astrakhan

Uzbek istan
Amu D

arya

i ntro d uc t ion RUS S I AN

BARENTS
SEA

Words such as apparatchik, tsar and vodka come from Russian ( ruskee)
the language which unites the largest nation in the world, the riddle wrapped in a
mystery inside an enigma spread over two continents and 11 time zones. The official
language of the Russian Federation, Russian is also used as a second language in the
former republics of the USSR and is widely spoken throughout Eastern Europe. With
a total of more than 270 million speakers, its the fifth most spoken language in the
world.
Russian belongs to the East Slavic group of languages, together with Belarusian
and Ukrainian. These languages were initially considered so similar that they were
classified as one language Old Russian. Russian was recognised as a distinct, modern language in the 10th century, when the Cyrillic alphabet was adopted along with
Orthodox Christianity by way of Old Church Slavonic. This South Slavic language was
used principally in religious literature, while written secular texts were much closer to
the spoken East Slavic language. For centuries these two forms of Old Russian coexisted, and it was a third, middle style which emerged in the 18th century as the basis
of modern Russian. Pushkin, the nations first great poet, was essentially writing in the
Russian of today when he published Eugene Onegin in 1831. The alphabet was radically
simplified at two major turning points in Russian history as part of Peter the Greats
reforms at the turn of the 17th century, and after the October Revolution in 1917.
For a language spoken across such a vast geographical area, Russian is surprisingly uniform, and the regional differences dont get in the way of communication.
The language was standardised by the centralised education system in the USSR,
which spread literacy and enforced literary Russian. In practical terms, Russian is
divided into the northern and the southern dialects; Moscows dialect has some features of both. From the 16th century onward Muscovite Russian was the standard
tongue, even after Peter the Greats court had moved to St Petersburg.
Some admirers of Russian literature have claimed that the ruskaya
dusha (Russian soul) of Dostoevsky, Chekhov and Tolstoy simply cant be understood,
or at least fully appreciated, in translation. All exaggeration aside, the Russian
language boasts a rich vocabulary and highly colourful expressions. This linguistic
flamboyance has thankfully resisted the influence of dour communist style and the
socrealist literature of the 20th century, as youll soon find out on your travels!

331

 pr o n un ci a ti on

consonant sounds

Russian is often considered difficult to learn because of its script, but this is merely
prejudice some Cyrillic letters look and sound the same as their English peers, and
the others arent difficult to learn. Contrary to popular caricatures of the harsh Russian accent, the language has a pleasant, soft sound characterised by several lisping
consonants. Most of the sounds in Russian are also found in English, and those that
are unfamiliar arent difficult to master. Use the coloured pronunciation guides to
become familiar with them, and then read from the Cyrillic alphabet when you feel
more confident.
There are remarkably few variations in modern Russian pronunciation and vocabulary. This phrasebook is written in standard Russian as its spoken around Moscow,
and youre sure to be understood by Russian speakers everywhere.

Most Russian consonants are similar to English sounds, so they wont cause you too
much difficulty. The soft sign and the hard sign dont have a sound of their own,
but show in writing whether the consonant before them is pronounced soft (with a
slight y sound after it) or hard (as its written). In our pronunciation guides, the soft
sign is represented with an apostrophe () as in byednast but the hard
sign isnt included as its very rarely used.
symbol

english
equivalent

russian
example

transliteration

bed

brat

ch

cheat

chai

vowel sounds

dog

vada

fat

kofee

symbol

english
equivalent

russian
example

transliteration

go

gorat

kit

sok

father

da

kh

loch

smyekh

ai

aisle

mai

lot

leeft

bet

eta

man

myesta

meer

not

naga

basyeyn

pet

peesmo

mila

run (rolled)

reeka

sun

snyek

sh

shot

dusha

top

tak

ts

hats

atyets

very

vrach

yes

moy

zoo

zvuk

zh

pleasure

zhizn

a slight y sound

vlast

ee
ey
i
o

see
hey
bit
pot

dom

oy

toy

siroy

put

uzheen

word stress
Russian stress is free (it can fall on any syllable) and mobile (it can change in different
forms of the same word). Each word has only one stressed syllable, which youll need
to learn as you go. In the meantime, follow our pronunciation guides, which have the
stressed syllable marked in italics.

pronun c ia t io n RUS S I AN

332

pronunciation

333

tools

numbers
0
1

language difficulties

334

vi gavareetye paangleeskee
vi paneemaeetye
ya (nye) paneemayu
shto abaznachaeet slova (pup)
kak budeet paruskee

How do you ?
pronounce this
write ()

?

()

kak
eta praeeznoseetsa
peeshitsa (puteen)

Could you please ?

repeat that
speak more
slowly
write it down

, .

pazhalsta
paftareetye
gavareetye
pameedleenyeye
zapeeshitye

essentials
Yes.
No.
Please.
Thank you
(very much).
Youre welcome.
Excuse me.
Sorry.

.
.
.

().
.
, .
, .

da
nyet
pazhalsta
spaseeba
(balshoye)
pazhalsta
eezveeneetye pazhalsta
eezveeneetye pazhalsta

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

nol
adeen
adna
adno
dva
dvye
tree
cheetiree
pyat
shest
syem
voseem
dyeveet
dyeseet
adeenatsat
dveenatsat
treenatsat
cheetirnatsat

15
16
17
18
19
20
21

22
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000

peetnatsat
shistnatsat
seemnatsat
vaseemnatsat
deeveetnatsat
dvatsat
dvatsat
adeen
dvatsat dva
treetsat
sorak
peedeesyat
shisdeesyat
syemdeeseet
voseemdeeseet
deeveenosta
sto
tiseecha

time & dates

What time is it?
Its one oclock.
Its (two/three/four)
oclock.
Its (10) oclock.
Quarter past (10).
Half past (10).
Twenty to (11).

katori chas
chas
(dva/tree/cheetiree)
cheesa
(dyeveet) cheesof
(dyeseet) peetnatsat
(dyeseet) treetsat
(dyeseet) sorak

At what time ?
At

?
.
(//)
.
() .
() .
() .
() .
(lit: ten forty)
?
.

in the morning
in the afternoon
in the evening

utra
dnya
vyecheera

f katoram cheesu
v cheesof

t o ol s RUS S I AN

t o ol s

Do you speak English?

-?
Do you understand?
?
I (dont) understand.
() .
What does () mean?
()?
How do you say in Russian?
-?

m
f
n
m&n
f

335

 t o ol s

paneedyelneek
ftorneek
sreeda
cheetvyerk
pyatneetsa
subota
vaskreesyenye

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

yeenvar
feevral
mart
apryel
mai
eeyun
eeyul
avgust
seentyabr
aktyabr
nayabr
deekabr

What date is it today?

Its (1 May).

? kakoye seevodnya cheeslo

( ).
(pyervaye maya)

since (May)
until (June)

()
()

s (maya)
da (eeyunya)

last
night
week
month
year

fcheera vyecheeram
na proshley needyelye
f proshlam myeseetse
f proshlam gadu

na slyeduyushee
needyelye
f slyeduyusheem myeseetse
f slyeduyusheem gadoo

next
week
month
year

yesterday/tomorrow /
morning

afternoon

evening

fcheera/zaftra
utram
dnyom
vyecheeram

weather
Whats the weather like?

kakaya pagoda

Its
cloudy
cold
hot
raining
snowing
sunny
warm
windy

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

oblachna
kholadna
zharka
eedyot dozhd
eedyot snyek
solneechna
teeplo
vyetreena

spring
summer
autumn
winter

f
n
f
f

veesna
lyeta
oseen
zeema

border crossing
Im here
for study
on business
on holiday

ya zdyes
uchus
pa beezneesu
v otpuskye

Im here for
(10) days
(three) weeks
(two) months

()
()
()

ya zdyes
(dyeseet) dnyey
(tree) needyelee
(dva) myeseetsa

Im going to (Akademgorodok).
().
Im staying at (the Kosmos).
().
I have nothing to declare.
.
I have something to declare.
- .
Thats (not) mine.
() .

ya yedu v (akadeemgaradok)
ya astanavleevayus v (kosmasye)
mnye nyecheeva deeklareeravat
mnye nuzhna shtota zadeeklareeravat

t o ol s RUS S I AN

336

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

eta (nye) mayo

337

transport

My luggage
has been
damaged
lost
stolen

tickets & luggage

338

gdye mozhna kupeet beelyet

getting around

mnye nuzhna zarezerveeravat

myesta

Where does flight (M2) arrive?

(M2)?
Where does flight (M2) depart?

(M2)?
Which gate for (Omsk)?
()?

One ticket (to

Novgorod), please.
one-way
return

( ).

Id like to
my ticket, please.
cancel
change
collect
confirm

/
ya bi khatyel/khatyela
, . m/f beelyet pazhalsta

atmeeneet

pameenyat

zabrat

patveerdeet

Id like a (non)smoking seat, please.

/
(),
. m/f
How much is it?
?
Is there air conditioning?
?
Is there a toilet?
?
How long does the trip take?

?
Is it a direct route?
?
Wheres the luggage locker?
-?

beelyet
(na novgarat)
v adeen kanyets
v oba kantsa

ya bi khatyel/khatyela myesta v
adeelyeneeee dlya (nee)kuryasheekh
pazhalsta
skolka stoeet
yest kandeetsianyer
yest tualyet
skolka vryemeenee
uydyot na etu payestku
eta preemoy ryeys
gdye kameeraaftamat

moy bagash
pavreedeelee
prapal
ukralee

kuda preebivaet samalyot (em dva)

atkuda atpravlyaeetsa
samalyot (em dva)
kakoy vikhat na pasatku da (omska)

Wheres (the) ?
arrivals hall
departures hall
duty-free shop
gate (three)

?
gdye

zal preebiteeye

zal atpravlyenee

tavari byes poshleeni
() vikhat na pasatku (tree)

Is this the
to (Moscow)?
boat
bus
plane
train

()?

etat eedyot
v (maskvu)
parakhot
aftobus
samalyot
poyeest

What times
the bus?
first
last
next

kagda budeet
aftobus
pyervi
paslyednee
slyeduyushee

At what time does it arrive/leave?

/
?
How long will it be delayed?
?

kagda on preebivaet/
atpravlyaeetsa
na skolka on apazdivayet

t r an sp or t RUS S I AN

t r a n sp or t

Where can I buy a ticket?

?
Do I need to book a seat?

?

339

340

Id like a taxi
at (9am)
now
tomorrow

mnye nuzhna taksee
( )
v (dyeveet cheesof utra)

seechas

zaftra

Is this taxi available?

?
How much is it to ?
?
Please put the meter on.
, !
Please take me to (this address).
( ) ?
Please
slow down
stop here
wait here

svabodeen

car, motorbike & bicycle hire

Id like to hire a
bicycle
car
motorbike
with
a driver
air conditioning
antifreeze
snow chains

air
oil
petrol
tyre

fklyucheetye shotcheek pazhalsta

Wheres the ?
bank
city centre
hotel
market
police station
post office
public toilet

pazhalsta
nee tak bistra
astanaveetyes zdyes
padazhdeetye zdyes

s
shafyoram
kandeetsianyeram
anteefreez
snyegoviye tsepee

m
n
m
f

I need a mechanic.
.
Ive run out of petrol.
.
I have a flat tyre.
.

directions

, !

ya bi khatyel/khatyela
vzyat na prakat
veelaseepyet
mashinu
matatsikl

How much for hire? ? skolka stoeet prakat

hourly

chasavoy
daily

adnadnyevni
weekly

needyelni

skolka stoeet dayekhat da

da (etava adreesa) nye daveezyotye

/
. m/f

vozdukh
masla
beenzeen
shina
mnye nuzhin aftameekhaneek
u meenya koncheelsa beenzeen
u meenya lopnula shina

() ?
gdye (zdyes)

bank

tsentr gorada

gasteeneetsa

rinak

paleetseyskee uchastak

pochta

apshestveeni tualyet

t r an sp or t RUS S I AN

t r a n sp or t

What station/stop is this?

kakaya eta stantsiya/astanofka
/?
Whats the next station/stop?
kakaya slyeduyushaya

/?
stantsiya/astanofka
Does it stop at (Solntsevo)?
poyeest astanavleevayeetsa

()?
v (sontseeva)
Please tell me when we get to (Magadan).
abyeeveetye pazhalsta kagda
, ,
().
mi padyedeem k (magadanu)
How long do we stop here?
skolka vryemeenee poeest

?
staeet na etay stantsee
Is this seat available?
eta myesta zaneeta
?
Thats my seat.
.
eta mayo myesta

341

342

eta daroga veedyot f (kursk)

pakazhitye mnye
pazhalsta (na kartye)
kakoy adrees
bleeska/daleeko
kak tuda papast

Turn
at the corner
at the traffic lights
left/right

paveerneetye
zaugal
na sveetaforye
nalyeva/naprava

Its
behind
far away
here
in front of
left
near
next to
on the corner
opposite
straight ahead
right
there

.
.

.


.

.
.
.

za
daleeko
zdyes
pyereet
nalyeva
okala
ryadam s
na uglu
naproteef
pryama
naprava
tam

by bus
by taxi
by train
on foot

aftobusam
na taksee
eleektreechkey
peeshkom

north
south
east
west

syeveer
yuk
vastok
zapat

signs
/
/

()
()
/

vyest/viyest
atkrita/zakrita
svabodniye meesta
myest nyet
eenfarmatsiya
adeelyeneeye meeleetsi
zapreesheeno
tualyet
mushskoy
zhenski
garyachi/khalodni

Entrance/Exit
Open/Closed
Rooms Available
No Vacancies
Information
Police Station
Prohibited
Toilets
Men
Women
Hot/Cold

accommodation
finding accommodation
Wheres a ?
camping ground
guesthouse
hotel
youth hostel

gdye
kyempeeng
panseeanat
gasteeneetsa
apsheezhiteeye

Can you
recommend
somewhere ?
cheap
good
luxurious
nearby

- ?
o

vi mozhitye
pareekameendavat
shtoneebud
deeshovaye
kharosheye
raskoshnaye
bleeska atsyuda

Id like to book a room, please.

/
. m/f
I have a reservation.
/ . m/f
My surname is

ya bi khatyel/khatyela
zabraneeravat nomeer
ya zakazal/zakazala nomeer
maya fameeleeya

a ccomm o d at io n R US S IA N

t r a n sp or t

Is this the road to (Kursk)?

()?
Can you show me (on the map)?
,
( ).
Whats the address?
?
Is it nearby/far away?
/?
How do I get there?
?

343

 ?
u vas yest

adnamyesni

nomeer

nomeer z dvuspalnyey

kravatyu

dvukhmyesni

nomeer

Could I have my key, please?

,
.
Can I get another (blanket)?
, ().
Is there an elevator/a safe?
/?

How much is it
per/for ?
night
two people

skolka stoeet
za
noch
dvaeekh

The room is too

cold
noisy
small

f komnatye ocheen
kholadna
shumna
tyesna

Can I pay ?

mozhna
rasplateetsa
kreedeetnay
kartachkay
darozhnim
chekam

The doesnt work.

air conditioner
heater
toilet

nye rabotayeet
kandeetsianyer
ataplyeneeye
tualyet

This isnt clean.

pillow
sheet

eta gryaznaya
padushka
prastinya

This towel isnt clean.

o oe.

eta palatyentse gryaznoye

Do you have a room?

single
double
twin

by credit card

344

For (three) nights.

() .
From (5 July) to (8 July).
( )
( ).
Can I see it?
?
Am I allowed to camp here?
?
Where can I find a camp site?
?

(troye) sutak

u vas yest leeft/syeyf

s (pyatava eeyulya)
pa (vasmoye eeyulya)
mozhna pasmatryet
mozhna ustroeet stayanku zdyes
gdye kyempeenk

requests & queries

When/Where is breakfast served?
/ ?
Please wake me at (seven).
,
, () .

daytye pazhalsta yeesho (adeeyala)

kagda/gdye zaftrak
pazvaneetye mnye
pazhalsta v (syem) cheesof

checking out
What time is checkout?
?
Can I leave my bags here?
?
Could I have
my , please?
deposit
passport
valuables

kagda nuzhna asvabadeet nomeer

zdyes mozhna astavlyat bagash

daytye
pazhalsta
moy avans
moy paspart
maee tsenastee

a ccomm o d at io n R US S IA N

a c com m oda ti on

with a travellers
cheque

daytye pazhalsta klyuch

at mayeevo nomeera

345

communications & banking

call (Singapore)

the internet
Wheres the local Internet caf?
-?
How much is it per hour?
?
Id like to

346

get Internet
access
use a printer
use a scanner

make a local call

gdye zdyes eenternetkafe
skolka stoeet chas

/
m/f

ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
pravyereet
svoy eemeyl
patklyucheetsa
k eenternetu
vaspolzavatsa
eenternetam
vaspolzavatsa
skanyeram

mobile/cell phone
Id like a
mobile/cell
phone for hire
SIM card for your
network
What are the rates?

/
m/f


-

ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
vzyat mabeelni
teeleefon naprakat
seemkartu
dlya vashey setee

kakeeye tareefi

telephone
Whats your phone number?
?
The number is

Wheres the nearest public phone?

-?

mozhna vash nomeer teeleefona

teeleefon
gdye bleezheyshee
teeleefonaftamat

reverse the charges

/
ya bi khatyel/
m/f
khatyela

pazvaneet
( )
(v seengapor)

sdyelat myestni

zvanok

pazvaneet s aplatey

vizivayeemava

How much does each minute cost?

?
(Five) roubles per (30) seconds.
() () .
Id like to buy a phonecard.
/
. m/f

skolka stoeet meenuta

(pyat) rublyey za (treetsat) seekunt
ya bi khatyel/khatyela kupeet
teeleefonuyu kartachku

post office
I want to send a
fax
letter
parcel
postcard

ya khachu paslat
faks
peesmo
pasilku
atkritku

I want to buy
an envelope
a stamp

yak hachu kupeet

kanvyert
marku

Please send it
(to Australia) by
airmail
express mail
registered mail
surface mail

, ,
().

pashleetye pazhalsta
v (afstraleeyu)
aveea pochtay
eekspres pochtay
zakaznoy pochtay
abichnay pochtay

Is there any mail for me? ?

yest pochta dlya meenya

commu ni ca ti ons & ba n k i n g RU S S I AN

c om m un i ca ti ons & ba nk i ng

check my email

I want to

347

sightseeing

bank
Wheres a/an ?
ATM
foreign exchange
office

Where can I ?
Id like to

?
/
m/f
ee

348

cash a cheque
change a travellers
cheque
change money
get a cash
advance
withdraw money

gdye mozhna
ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
sdyelat dyeneezhni
peereevod
abmeenyat chek
abmeenyat
darozhni chek
pameenyat dyengee
snyat dyengee
pa kreedeetney
kartachkye
snyat dyengee

getting in
What time does it open/close?
/
?
Whats the admission charge?
?
Is there a discount for students/children?
/?
Id like a
catalogue
guide
local map
Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?

kagda atkrivayeetsa/
zakrivayeetsa
skolka stoeet fkhadnoy beelyet
yest skeetka dlya studyentaf/deetyey

/
m/f

ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
katalok
geeda
kartu gorada

/
m/f
?

ya bi khatyel/khatyela
paseeteet
shto eta
mozhna
sfatagrafeeravat

tours
Whats the charge for that?
?
Whats the exchange rate?
?
Its (12) roubles.
() .
Its free.
.
What time does the bank open?
?
Has my money arrived yet?
?

skolka nuzhna zaplateet

kakoy kurs
eta budeet (dveenatsat) rublyey
eta budeet beesplatna
kagda atkrivayeetsa bank
moy dyengee uzhe preeshlee

Whens the next tour?

?
How long is the tour?

?
What time should we be back?
?

kagda slyeduyushaya ekskurseeya

kag dolga pradalzhayeetsa
ekskurseeya
kagda mi vazvrashayeemsa

Is included?
?
accommodation

the admission charge

food

transport

tsena fklyuchayeet
pameesheneeye
fkhadnoy beelyet
abyet
transpart

si gh t see in g RUS S I AN

c om m un i ca ti ons & ba nk i ng

arrange a transfer

gdye
bankamat
abmyen valyuti

349

sightseeing
castle
cathedral
church
main square
monastery
monument
museum
old city
palace
ruins
stadium
statue

m
m
f
f
m
m
m
m
m
f pl
m
f

zamak
sabor
tserkaf
glavnaya ploshat
manastir
pamyeetneek
muzyey
stari gorat
dvaryets
razvaleeni
stadeeon
statuya

Can I have it sent overseas?

?
Can you repair this?
?
Its faulty.
.
Id like
a bag
a refund
to return this

/
m/f

vi mozhitye peereeslat
eta za graneetsu
vi mozhitye eta pacheeneet
eta z brakovana
ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
pakyet
palucheet
abratna dyengee
eta vazvrateet

paying

shopping
enquiries

350

department store
grocery store
market
newsagency
supermarket

Where can I buy ?

?
Can I look at it?
, .
Do you have any others?
?
Does it have a guarantee?
?

gdye
bank
kneezhni magazeen
fotografeecheeskee
magazeen
uneeveermak
gastranom
rinak
gazyetni keeosk
uneeveersam

Do you accept ?
gdye mozhna kupeet
pakazhitye pazhalsta
u vas yest drugeeye
yest garanteeya

credit cards
debit cards
travellers cheques
Id like
a receipt
my change

skolka stoeet
zapeeshitye pazhalsta tsenu
eta ocheen doraga
vi mozhitye sneezeet tsenu
ya vam dam (sto) rublyey
meenya apsheetalee

vi prinimaitye
?
aplatu

kriditney kartachkey

dyebitney kartachkey

darozhnihm chekam
/
m/f

ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
kveetantsiyu
zdachu

s h o ppin g RUS S I AN

s h opp in g

Wheres a ?
bank
bookshop
camera shop

How much is it?

?
Can you write down the price?
, , .
Thats too expensive.
.
Can you lower the price?
?
Ill give you (100) roubles.
() .
Theres a mistake in the bill.
.

351

clothes & shoes

meeting people

Can I try it on?

My size is (40).
It doesnt fit.

? mozhna eta preemyereet

().
moy razmyer (sorak)
.
eta nye patkhodeet

greetings, goodbyes & introductions

small
medium
large

maleenkee
sryednee
balshoy

books & music

Id like a
newspaper
(in English)
pen

/
m/f

( )

ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
gazyetu
(na angleeskam)
ruchku

s h opp in g

photography

352

Can you ?
develop this film
load this film
transfer photos
from my camera
to CD

vi mozhitye
prayeeveet etu plyonku
vlazhit etu plyonku
peereebroseet
sneemkee s kamyeri
na kampaktdeesk

I need a film
for this camera.
B&W
colour
slide
(high) speed

.
-

-
(-)

mnye nuzhna plyonka

na etu kamyeru
chornabyelaya
tsvetnaya
slaidavaya
(visako)
chusveeteelnaya

When will it be ready?

? kagda ana budeet gatova

.
.
/.
.

zdrastvuytye
preevyet
da sveedanya/paka
da skorey fstryechee

Mr
Mrs/Miss

gaspadeen
gaspazha

How are you?

Fine, thanks.
And you?
Whats your name?
My name is
Im pleased to meet you.

?
, .
?
?

.

kag dyeela
spaseeba kharasho
a u vas
kak vaz zavut
meenya zavut
ocheen preeyatna

This is my
boyfriend
brother
daughter
father
friend
girlfriend
husband
mother
partner
(intimate)
sister
son
wife

m
f



m
f

eta
moy pareen
moy brat
maya dochka
moy atyets
moy druk
maya padruga
maya dyevushka
moy mush
maya mat
moy pareen
maya dyevushka
maya seestra
moy sin
maya zhina

Heres my
Whats your ?
address
email address
fax number
phone number

vot moy
mozhna vash
adrees
eemeyl
nomeer faksa
nomeer teeleefona

me e ti ng p eop l e RUS S I AN

Is there an English-language bookshop?

?
yest magazeen angleeskey kneegee
Can I listen to this?
?
mozhna paslushat

Hello.
Hi.
Goodbye/Bye.
See you later.

353

occupations

feelings

Whats your occupation?

Im a/an
artist

ya
m
khudozhneek
f
khudozhneetsa

beezneesmyen

fyermeer
m
sluzhashee
f
sluzhasheeya
/ m/f
uchoni/uchonaya
m
studyent
f
studyentka

reemyesleeneek

businessperson
farmer
office worker
scientist
student
tradesperson

kyem vi rabotayeetye

354

hot
hungry
sad
thirsty
What about you?

ya (nye)
zamyors
zamyorzla
shasleef
shasleeva
umeerayu ad zhari
goladeen
galadna
grushu
khachu peet

a vih

entertainment
going out

Where are you from?

vi atkuda

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA

ya eez
afstraleeee
kanadi
angleeee
novoy zeelandeeee
seshaa

Are you married?

? m
? f
/. m/f
/. m/f

vi zhinati
vi zamuzhim
ya zhinat/zamuzhim
ya kholast/khalasta

How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son

skolka lyet
vam
vashey dochkye
vashimu sinu

Im years old.
He/She is years old.

.
/ .

mnye lyet
yemu/yey lyet

Im married.
Im single.

happy

()
m
f
m
f

m
f

age

Where can I find ?

clubs
gay venues
pubs

gdye nakhodeetsa
klubi
gyeyklubi
peevniye

I feel like
going to a/the
concert
movies
party
restaurant
theatre

mnye khocheetsa
peytee
na kantsert
v keeno
na tusofku
v reestaran
f teeatr

?
()

vam nraveetsa
mnye (nye) nraveetsa
eeskustva
gatoveet
keeno
cheetat
sport
puteeshestvavat

interests
Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
cooking
movies
reading
sport
travelling

e nte r t a in m en t RU S S I AN

m ee t ing p e ople

background

Im (not)
cold

355

Do you like to ?
dance
go to concerts
listen to music

vi
tantsueetye
khodeetye na
kantserti
slushayeetye muziku

food & drink

finding a place to eat

356

Id like ,
/
please.
m/f
a table for (three)
()
the nonsmoking

section
the smoking section

vi mozhitye
pareekameendavat
bar
kafe
reestaran
ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
stoleek na (traeekh)
nyekuryashchee
kuryashchee

ordering food

cup of coffee/tea
with milk
without sugar

chashka kofye/chayu
s malakom
byez sakharu

water
boiled
(sparkling) mineral

()

vada
keepeechonaya
(shipuchaya)
meeneeralnaya

(orange) juice
soft drink

(a) m

(apeelseenavi) sok
byezalkagolni
napeetak

Ill have
Ill buy you a drink.
What would you like?
Cheers!

, .
.
?
!

pazhalsta
ya ugashayu
shto vi khateetye
pyey da dna

in the bar

breakfast
lunch
dinner
snack

m
m
m
f

zaftrak
abyet
uzhin
zakuska

champagne
cocktail
vodka
whisky

n
m
f
m

shampanskaye
kakteyl
votka
veeskee

What would you

recommend?

shto vi
reekameendueetye

Id like (the) ,
please.
bill
drink list
menu
that dish

/
m/f

ya bi khatyel/
khatyela
shot
kartu veen
meenyu
eta blyuda

a of beer
bottle
glass

peeva
butilka
stakan

a bottle/glass
of wine
red
sparkling
white

butilka/ryumka
veena
krasnava
shipucheeva
byelava

food & drink RUSSIAN

food & drink

Can you
recommend a ?
bar
caf
restaurant

drinks

357

self-catering

358

beefstraganof

braised beef with sour cream &

mushrooms

f pl

beetochkee

meatballs, often in tomato sauce

m pl

bleencheekee

pancakes with meat, cheese, jam or

another sweet filling

borsh
maskofskee

beetroot soup with beef & frankfurters

m pl

varyeneekee

dumplings with berries inside

veeneegryet

salad of potatoes, carrots, beetroot,

onion & pickles

m pl

galubtsi

cabbage rolls with meat & rice

special diets & allergies

m pl

greebi f
smeetanye

mushrooms baked in sour cream

Is there a vegetarian restaurant nearby?

?
Do you have vegetarian food?
?

zharkoye
padamashneemu

meat & vegetables stew

zharcho

lamb soup with cherries, walnuts,

rice & vegetables

a f

eekra krasnaya

red caviar (salmon)

eekra chornaya

black caviar (sturgeon)

katlyeta
pazharskaya

minced chicken croquette

- f

katlyeta
pakeeeefskee

rolled boneless chicken, stuffed with

butter, crumbed & deep-fried

kuleebyaka

salmon cooked in wine with eggs,

rice & vegetables

lapsha

chicken noodle soup

f pl

manti

steamed meat dumplings

shto teepeechna myesnaye

shto eta
skolka stoeet (keelo sira)

Id like
(200) grams
(two) kilos
(three) pieces
(six) slices

()
()
()
()

deytye
(dvyestee) gram
(dva) keelo
(tree) kuska
(shest) lomteeka

Less.
Enough.
More.

.
.
.

myenshi
dastatachna
neemnoga

zdyes yest veegeetareeanskee

reestaran
u vas yest avashchniye blyuda

Could you
prepare a meal
without ?
butter
eggs
meat stock

vi maglee bi
preegatoveet
bluda byez
masla
yaeets
myasnova bulona

Im allergic to
dairy produce

u meenya aleergeeya na
malochniye
pradukti
klyeykaveenu
emenge
aryekhee
moryepradukti

gluten
MSG
nuts
seafood

me n u rea d er RU S S I AN

food & drink

Whats the local speciality?

?
Whats that?
?
How much (is a kilo of cheese)?
( )?

menu reader

359

 m en u rea de r

mareenovaniye
greebi

pickled mushrooms

emergencies

avashnaya
akroshka

cold vegetable soup

basics

avashnoy
peerok

cabbage, mushrooms & cheese pie

akroshka

soup of cucumber, sour cream,

potato, egg & meat

f pl

aladee

fritters topped with syrup or sour

cream, often fried with fruit

aleevye

salad of meat & vegetables with

sour cream

m pl

peelmyenee

meat dumplings

peerok ees
tikvi

baked pumpkin filled with rice,

apples, raisins & cherries

m pl

peerashkee

spicy, deep-fried mutton pies

rasolneek

soup with pickles & kidney

salat
staleechni

vegetable, beef & egg salad

m pl

salyoniye
greebi

marinated mushrooms

salyanka

meat or fish soup with salted

cucumbers

tabaka

seasoned chicken, fried or grilled

ukha

fish soup with potato & carrot

farshmak

baked beef & lamb with herrings

soaked in milk

khash

tripe soup

m pl

shee

cabbage, meat & potato soup

Help!
Stop!
Go away!
Thief!
Fire!
Watch out!

!
!
!
!
!
!

pamageetye
preekrateetye
eedeetye atsyuda
vor
pazhar
astarozhna

Call !
a doctor
an ambulance
the police

vizaveetye
vracha
skoruyu pomash
vizaveetye meeleetsiyu

Its an emergency.
!
Could you help me, please?
, !
Can I use your phone?
?
Where are the toilets?
?
Im lost.
/. m/f

eta srochna
pamageetye pazhalsta
mozhna vaspolzavatsa teeleefonam
gdye zdyes tualyet
ya pateeryalsa/pateeryalas

police
Wheres the police station?
?
I want to report an offence.
.
I have insurance.
.
Ive been
assaulted
raped
robbed

gdye meeleetseyskee uchastak

ya khachu zayaveet v meeleetsiyu
u meenya yest strakhofka

meenya
pabeelee
eeznaseelavalee
agrabeelee

e me rgen c ies RUS S I AN

360

m pl

361

Ive lost my
My was/were stolen.
backpack
bags
credit card
handbag
jewellery
money
passport
travellers cheques
wallet
I want to contact
my
consulate
embassy

/
m/f

ya pateeryal/
pateeryala
u meenya ukralee
ryugzak
bagash
kreedeetnuyu
kartachku
sumku
dragatsenastee
dyengee
paspart
darozhniye
chekee
bumazhneek

ya khachu abrateetsa
f svayo
kansulstvo
pasolstva

health

362

Wheres the nearest ?

dentist
doctor
hospital
(night) pharmacist

()

I need a doctor (who speaks English).

,
(
).
Could I see a female doctor?

-?
Ive run out of my medication.
.

gdye zdyes
zubnoy vrach
vrach
balneetsa
(nachnaya) aptyeka

mnye nuzhin vrach

(gavaryashee na
angleeskam yazikye)
mozhna zapeesatsa na
preeyom k zhensheenyevrachu
u meenya koncheelas leekarstva

Im sick.
It hurts here.
I have (a)

.
.

ya balyeyu
zdyes baleet
u meenya

asthma
bronchitis
constipation
cough
diarrhoea
fever
headache
heart condition
nausea
pain
sore throat
toothache

f
m
m
m
m
f
f
f
f
f
n
f

astma
brankheet
zapor
kashel
panos
teempeeratura
galavnaya bol
balyezn syerdtsa
tashnata
bol
baleet gorla
zubnaya bol

Im allergic to
antibiotics
antiinflammatories

u meenya aleergeeya na
anteebeeoteekee
prateeva
vaspaleeteelniye
preeparati
aspeereen
pcheeleeni ukus
kadyeeen
peeneetsileen

m
m
m

n pl
ooca n
n
n
n pl

f pl

anteesyepteek
beent
preezeervateef
prateevazachatachniye
sryetstva
likarstva at panosa
sryetstva at naseekomikh
slabeeteelnaye
boleeutalyayusheeye
nyukhateelnaya
sol
snatvorniye
tablyetkee

aspirin
bees
codeine
penicillin
antiseptic
bandage
condoms
contraceptives
diarrhoea medicine
insect repellent
laxative
painkillers
rehydration salts
sleeping tablets

h ea l t h RUS S I AN

h ea l t h

medical needs

symptoms, conditions & allergies

363

 Lonely Planet Publications

englishrussian dictionary
Russian nouns in this dictionary have their gender indicated by masculine, feminine or neuter. If
its a plural noun youll also see pl. Adjectives are given in the masculine form only. Words are also marked as
a (adjective), v (verb), sg (singular), pl (plural), inf (informal) or pol (polite) where necessary.

accident avareeya
accommodation pameesheeeye
adaptor adapteer
address adrees
after poslye
air conditioning
kandeetsianeeravaneeye
airplane samalyot
airport aeraport
alcohol alkagol
all fsye
allergy alyergeeya
ambulance skoraya pomash
and ee
ankle ladishka
arm ruka
ashtray pyepeelneetsa
ATM bankamat

364

baby reebyonak
back (body) speena
backpack ryugzak
bad plakhoy
bag meeshok
baggage claim
vidacha bagazha
bank bank
bar bar
bathroom vanaya
battery bataryeya
beautiful kraseevi
bed kravat
beer peeva
before do
behind za
bicycle veelaseepyet
big balshoy
bill shot
black chorni
blanket adeeyala
blood group grupa krovee

caf kafe
camera fotoaparat
camp site kyempeenk
cancel atmeeneet
can opener atkrivashka
car mashina
cash pl naleechniye
cash (a cheque) v abmeenyat
cell phone
mabeelni teeleefon
centre tsentr
change (money) v abmeenyat
cheap deeshovi
check (bill) shot
check-in reegeestratsiya
chest grudnaya klyetka
child reebyonak
cigarette seegaryeta
city gorat
clean a cheesti
closed zakriti
coee kofye
coins pl manyeti
cold a khalodni
collect call
zvanok pa kalyektu
come preetee
computer kampyuteer

D
dangerous apasni
date (time) cheeslo
day dyen
delay zadyershka
dentist zubnoy vrach
depart atpraveetsa
diaper padguzneek
dictionary slavar
dinner uzhin
direct preemoy
dirty gryazni
disabled eenvaleet
discount skeetka
doctor vrach
double bed
dvuspalnaya kravat
double room nomeer na
dvaeekh
drink napeetak
drive v vadeet mashinu
drivers licence pl
vadeeteelskeeye prava
drugs (illicit) pl narkoteekee
dummy (pacifier) soska

ear ukha
east vastok
eat yest
economy class
pasazhirskee klas
electricity eleektreecheestva
elevator leeft
email - eemeyl
embassy pasolstva
emergency avareeya
English (language) angleeskee
entrance fkhot

evening vyecheer
exchange rate abmyeni kurs
exit vikhat
expensive daragoy
express mail ekspres pochta
eyes pl glaza

F
far daleeko
fast bistri
father atyets
film (camera) plyonka
finger paleets
first-aid kit
saneetarnaya sumka
first class f pyervam klasye
fish riba
food yeeda
foot naga
fork veelka
free (of charge) beesplatni
friend / / druk/padruga
fruit pl frukti
full polni
funny smeeshnoy

gift padarak
girl (teenage) dyevushka
girl (pre-teen) dyevachka
glass (drinking) stakan
glasses pl achkee
go (on foot) eetee
go (by vehicle) yekhat
good kharoshi
green zeelyoni
guide geet

half palaveena
hand ruka
handbag sumachka
happy sheesleevi
have u yest
he on
head galava
heart syerdtsi
heat zhara
heavy tyazholi
help v pamoch

en gl ish r ussia n

D IC TI O N ARY

blue (dark) seenee

blue (light) galuboy
boat lotka
book (make a reservation) v zakazat
bottle butilka
bottle opener (beer) atkrivalka
bottle opener (wine) shtopar
boy malcheek
brakes (car) pl tarmaza
breakfast zaftrak
broken (faulty) ashibachni
bus aftobus
business beeznees
buy kupeet

condom preezeervateef
contact lenses pl
kantaktniye leenzi
cook v gatoveet
cost tsena
credit card
krideetnaya kartachka
cup chashka
currency exchange
abmyen valyuti
customs (immigration) tamozhnya

365

here zdyes
high visokee
highway shase
hike v khadeet peeshkom
holiday pl kaneekuli
homosexual
gomoseeksualeest
hospital bolneetsa
hot zharkee
hotel gasteeneetsa
hungry goladeen
husband mush

I
I ya
identification (card)
eedyenteefeekatsionaya karta
ill boleen
important vazhni
included fklyuchaya
injury travma
insurance strakhavaneeye
Internet eenternet
interpreter peereevotcheek

jewellery pl
yuvileerniye eezdyeleeya
job rabota

K
D IC TI O N ARY
366

laundry (place) pracheechnaya

lawyer advakat
left (direction) lyevi
left-luggage oce
kameera khranyeneeya
leg naga
lesbian leesbeeanka
less myenshe
letter (mail) peesmo
lift (elevator) leeft
light svyet

mail pochta
man mushcheena
map karta
market rinak
matches pl speechkee
meat myasa
medicine leekarstva
menu meenyu
message zapeeska
milk malako
minute meenuta
mobile phone
mabeelni teeleefon
money pl dyengee
month myeseets
morning utra
mother mat
motorcycle matatsikl
motorway shase
mouth rot
music muzika

name (personal) eemya

name (of object) nazvaneeye
napkin salfyetka
nappy padguzneek
near bleeska
neck sheya
new novi
news pl novastee
newspaper gazyeta
night noch
no nyet
noisy shumni
nonsmoking neekuryashee
north syeveer
nose nos
now seechas
number nomeer

oil (engine) masla

old stari
one-way ticket
beelyet v adeen kanyets
open a atkriti
outside snaruzhi

package pasilka
paper bumaga
park (a car) v ()
pastaveet (mashinu)
passport paspart
pay zaplateet
pen ruchka
petrol beenzeen
pharmacy a aptyeka
phonecard
teeleefonaya kartachka
photo sneemak
plate taryelka
police meeleetsiya
postcard atkritka
post oce pochta
pregnant beeryemeenaya
price tsena

Q
quiet tikhee

rain dozht
razor breetva
receipt kveetantsiya
red krasni
refund
vazvrasheneeye dyeneek
registered mail zakaznoy
rent v areendavat
repair v pacheeneet
reservation zakas
restaurant reestaran
return v veernutsa
return ticket abratni beelyet
right (direction) pravi
road daroga
room (hotel) nomeer
room (house) komnata
Russia raseeya

Russian (language) ruskee

Russian a / / ruskee/ruskaya

safe a beezapasni
sanitary napkin
geegeeeeneecheeskaya salfyetka
seat myesta
send paslat
service station
zapravachnaya stantsiya
sex syeks
shampoo shampun
share (a dorm)
zhit v adnoy komnatye
shaving cream
kryem dlya breetya
she ana
sheet (bed) prastinya
shirt rubashka
shoes pl tuflee
shop magazeen
short karotkee
shower dush
single room
adnamesni nomeer
skin kozha
skirt yupka
sleep v spat
slowly myedleena
small maleenkee
smoke (cigarettes) v kureet
soap mila
some nyeskalka
soon skora
south yuk
souvenir shop
suveeneerni magazeen
speak gavareet
spoon loshka
stamp marka
stand-by ticket -
styendbai beelyet
station (train) stantseeya
stomach zhiludak
stop v peereestat
stop (bus) astanofka
street uleetsa
student / /
studyent/studyentka
sun solntse
sunscreen
sontsezasheetni kryem
swim v plavat

en gl ish r ussia n

key klyuch
kilogram keelagram
kitchen kukhnya
knife nosh

like v lyubeet
lock zamok
long dleeni
lost prapafshi
lost-property oce
byuro nakhodak
love v lyubeet
luggage bagash
lunch abyet

367

D IC TI O N ARY

368

tampons tampon
taxi taksee
teaspoon cheynaya loshka
teeth pl zubi
telephone teeleefon
television teeleeveezar
temperature (weather)
teempeeratura
tent palatka
that (one) to
they anee
thirsty (be) khocheetsa peet
this (one) eta
throat gorla
ticket beelyet
time vryemya
tired ustal
tissues pl salfyetkee
today seevodnya
toilet tualyet
tomorrow zaftra
tonight seevodnya vyecheeram
toothbrush zubnaya shotka
toothpaste zubnaya pasta
torch (flashlight) fanareek
tour ekskurseeya
tourist oce
tureesteecheeskaye byuro
towel palatyentse
train poeest
translate peereeveestee
travel agency
byuro puteeshestvee
travellers cheque
darozhni chek
trousers pl bryukee
twin beds
dvye adnaspalniye kravatee
tyre shina

underwear beelyo
urgent srochni

V
vacant svabodni
vacation pl kaneekuli
vegetable ovash
vegetarian / /
veegeetareeaneets/veegeetareeanka
visa veeza

waiter / /
afeetsiant/afeetsiantka
walk v gulyat
wallet kashelyok
warm a tyopli
wash (something) visteerat
watch pl cheesi
water vada
we mi
weekend pl vikhadniye
west zapat
wheelchair
eenvaleednaya kalyaska
when kagda
where gdye
white byeli
who kto
why pacheemu
wife zhina
window akno
wine veeno
with s
without byez
woman zhensheena
write napeesat

Y
yellow zholti
yes da
yesterday fcheera
you sg inf ti
you sg pol & pl vi

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