Russia Travel Guide: Useful Russian Words and Phrases

Millions of people travel thousands of miles annually to see and explore new places, cities or countries. And for most of them, once they are bitten by the travel bug, they cannot seem to stop. There is something that compels them to look for new places to visit. It’s a delight to make new discoveries and have once-in-a-lifetime adventures. What can be more exciting than meeting new people, learning about new cultures and traditions, tasting well-known and exotic cuisines and learning to speak a new language?

While for the regular traveler planning a trip to another country or city has become so easy and routine, learning a new language is not. It is not that easy to speak a language other than the one that you use daily, as there are nuances in the grammar, intonation, accent and conjugations. But it is a practical thing to do, as learning to speak the language of the country where you are planning to visit makes you appreciate the place better. It also shows the people you will meet that you respect them and while you may not fully grasp how their language is spoken, it will definitely earn you a warm smile of appreciation and acceptance. It can break the ice and help you have an easier time when asking for help and directions, understanding signs and your travel guide and even order a meal from a restaurant.

Leaning a new language is a skill, but others do have a knack for picking it up easily. However difficult or easy it will be for you to learn a new language, it is still better if you at least know some basic greetings and the usual common words and phrases, enough for you to get by during your stay in a new country. It you are student or someone who is planning to stay in a new country longer, it will be very advantageous to enroll in a language class before you make the trip. But if you are only staying in the country for a few days or a few weeks, a phrase book will definitely help you to get around.

However, if you will be going to a new country for business, it will help to have your documents translated correctly and accurately. And the way to go will be to get professional translators to do it for you. But you have to be sure that you are hiring the services of a language translation company or service provider that will give you professional, accurate and reliable translation and interpretation services around the clock.

World Interpreting, Inc. is a professional language translation service provider and it is our business goal to always provide the highest quality translations in any language you require. It does not matter to us whether your account is big or small. We approach each job with a high degree of professionalism and excellent customer service. Our translators and interpreters are all professionals and highly skilled in language translation, backed by years of experience. We are a corporate member of the American Translators Association or ATA. We at World Interpreting, Inc. stand by our work and level of service and we guarantee that your documents will be correctly and efficiently translated in the fastest time possible.

For your document translation needs, go ahead and contact us now using the provided online form. For your convenience, you can also email your documents to info@worldinterpreting.com.

And for the travelers who are headed for a grand time in Russia, our pocket travel guide to Russia will be a very handy tool for you to take along. Our travel guide is well written and easy to understand. We have divided the guide into sections for your easy reference. You will find descriptions of some of the best places to see in Russia as well as some of the exciting things you can do while in the country. There is also a section on some things you may find fascinating to know about Russia, travel safety tips, a country overview and a practical list of basic greetings, courtesies and other useful Russian words and phrases that will be helpful as you go around Russia.

Useful Russian Words and Phrases

For your convenience, here’s a list of some Russian words and phrases that you will find useful when you travel to Russia.

What are you doing now?
Not too bad
I am happy you are fine
Just a little.
What’s your name?
My name is …
Mr…/ Mrs.…/ Miss…
You’re very kind!
I understand you
I don’t understand you
I wish you all the best
Do you speak English?
I don’t speak Russian
Sorry, I don’t understand Russian
very well.
Thank you
No, thank you
What is your name?
Speak louder, please
Please, speak slower
You are so kind
I wish you all the best
I don’t know
See you later
How are you feeling
I hope you are feeling well
I am fine
Excuse me
Please
How is everything?
Yes
No
Today
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Can you say it again?
Can you speak slowly?
My Russian is bad
I will be right back
I’m sorry, what did you say?
Do you understand me?
What?
Where?
Very well
Not so good
Please, speak slower
Have a comfortable journey
Good/ So-So.
Thank you very much!
You’re welcome! (for “thank you”)
I’m sorry! (if you don’t hear something)
Sorry (for a mistake)
Can you say it again?
Can you speak slowly?
Speak more slowly, please
Write it down please!
I don’t understand!
I don’t know!
I have no idea.
What’s that called in Russian?
What did you say?
Fine
Cool
Wait
I forgot.
Yes, please

Chemtyseychaszanimaeshsya?
Neplokho
Ochen rad chto u tebyavsyokhorosho
Da, nimnoga
Kak vas zavut?
MinyAzavut …
Gn / Gzha {Gaspadin/Gaspazha}
Vi ochin’ dabry
Yatebyapanimayu
Ya ne panimayutebia
Zhelayuvsegokhoroshego
Govorite li vypoangliyski?
Ya ne govo’ryupoRusski
Izvinitye, yaplokhoponimayupo-russki.
–
Spasibo
Net, spasiba
Kak vas zavut
Govoripazhaluistagromche
Govoripazhaluistamedlennee
Ti takayadobraya
Zhelayuvsevo khoroshego
Ya ne znayu
Da vstrechi
Kaktysebyachuvstvuesh?
Nadeyustysebyaharoshochuvstvuesh
U menyavsyokhorosho
Izvinite
Pozhalujsta
Kakdela?
Da
Nyet
Sevodnya
Vchera
Zaftra
Paftaritepazhalusta
Mozhnapamedlenej?
U mina plokha s ruskim
Yasichasvirnus
Prostitechtovyskazali
Vymenyapanimayete?
Shto?
Gde?
Ochenkhorosho
Ne ochenkhorosho
Govoritepazhaluistamedlennee
Schastlivogoputi
Harasho/ taksibe
Bol’shoyespasibo
Pazhalusta
Prastiteminya, kakvyskazali?
Prastite/Izvinite
Paftaritepazhalusta!
Mozhnapamedlenej?
Govoritye, pozhalujsta, myedlyennyeye!
Napichitepazhalusta
Yanipanimaju
Ni znaju!
Panyatiyaniimeyu
Kak Eta skazat’ paruski?
Kakvyskazali?
Kharasho
Klass
Pa dozhdee
Yazabyl.
Da, pozhalujsta

YahachuYest’/ Yahachu pit’
Paydyomte v reestaran (kafe)
Daytepazhaloostamenyoo
Preeyatnavaapeeteeta
Yah khachoopaprobavat’ natseeanal’naye
–
Daytemnepazhaloosta
Preeneeseetemne…
Ochen’fkoosna
Mneeta ne nraveetsa
Shtovipasavyetooeetye
Zavashezdaroveeyeeeblagapaloocheeye
Bol’sheneecheevo nee noozhna, spaseeba
Schyotpazhaloosta
Stakanchayapazhaloosta
Chashkookofeepazhaloosta
Yakhatel bi / Yakhatela bi
… sok
… malako
… meeneeral’nooyoovodoo
… khleb
… frukty
… pivo
… voda

where
here
there
street
where is Tveskaya street?
far / near
left / right
straight ahead
behind
excuse me, where’s the nearest metro
behind the corner
up there
down there
train station
airport
transport
metro
bus
mini-bus, shuttle
car
taxi
train
number
a ticket
a trip
a stop
a station
next
when does the train depart
what time
when does the train arrive
time
what time is it?
how much time it takes to get
there (by car)?
when
why
after dinner
until tomorrow
directly (in time)
sometimes
always
never
not yet
rouble / roubles
dollars
currency exchange
bank
how much
price
how much does it cost
what’s the exchange rate
i want to change dollars
red
yellow
white
black
green
blue
water
cheese
butter
meat
plate
cup
glass
fork
spoon
knife
small
big
wife
husband
mother
father
sister
son
daughter
lunch

gde
`zdes’
tam
`ulitsa
G`deTvers`kaya `ulitsa?
dale`ko / b`lizko
`levo / `pravo
p`ryamo
poza`di
izvi’nite, gdebli’zhaisheemet’ro
zapovo’rotom
naverkhu
vnizu
vok`zal
aero`port
t`ransport
metro
av`tobus
marsh`rutka
ma`shina
tak`si
`poezd
`nomer
bi`let
po`ezdka
osta`novka
s`tantsia
s`leduyushchaya
kog’daotprav’lyaetsya ‘poezd?
voskolko?
kog’dapreby’vaet ‘poezd?
v`remya
s`kolkov`remya
s’kolkovremya ‘ekhat
–
kogda
pochemu
posleobeda
do zavtra
srazu
inogda
vsegda
nikogda
poka net
`rubl’ / rub`li
`dollary
ob`menva`luty
bank
s`kol’ko
tse`na
s’kolkoetos’toit
ka’koikurs
yahochuobmenyatdollary
krasniy
zholtiy
beliy
chorniy
zelioniy
siniy
vada
syr
maslo
miaso
tarelka
chashka
stakan
vilka
loshka
nozh
malinkiy
bolshoy
zhena
muzh
mama
otets
sisra
syn
doch
obed

Further reading and information reference/sources

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Russia Travel Guide: Useful Russian Words and Phrases

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Russia Useful Words and Phrases – When Dining Out

Russia Useful Words and Phrases – Other Useful Words