Russian Vocabulary for Beginners: Meaning, Stress and Everyday Use
96 English-guided cards: recognise 72 everyday Russian words and expressions in short contexts, then retrieve 24 selected items from clear English cues. Includes Cyrillic stress marks and original examples.
Über dieses Lernkartenset
Practise a small, useful set of Russian words and expressions for greeting people, finding things at home, buying food, asking about places and talking about daily activities. This deck is written for English-speaking beginners who can read basic Cyrillic, or are learning it alongside a structured course.
What you retrieve
- 72 Russian words or expressions → their English meaning in a short Russian context. Noun gender, selected form notes and register are explained where useful.
- 24 selected English meaning or situation cues → a useful Russian word or expression. These are separate cards; the deck does not reverse every item mechanically. A model answer is supplied, and other natural answers can be valid when they fit the cue.
There are six groups of 16 cards: greetings and help; people and family; home; food and shopping; places and directions; daily activities and time. Each group introduces 12 recognition targets before four selected production tasks. A concept's two tasks have at least three intervening cards. Later review intervals are set by the app.
Stress marks show the stressed vowel in multisyllabic Russian words; ё already indicates stress in the words used here. These learning marks are usually absent from ordinary Russian writing. Monosyllabic words need no added mark. The examples show real forms, so the word in a sentence can have a different ending or stress from its dictionary form: вода́ → во́ду, for example.
This is text-based vocabulary practice. It does not test listening, supply native audio or phonetic transliteration, teach every word meaning, drill full conjugation or case tables, or constitute a complete A1 course or examination preparation. A stress mark alone does not explain all Russian pronunciation, including vowel reduction.
Sources and original work
The selection, English glosses, prompts, examples and order were authored independently with AI assistance. Spelling, lexical stress and relevant forms were checked against Akademos, the normative orthographic resource of the Vinogradov Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Its dictionary articles were not copied into these cards. General beginner scope was checked against the Pushkin Institute's beginner outcomes and the Между нами unit-one goals; no course vocabulary inventory, exercises or dialogues were copied.
The cover is an original AI-generated illustration. CC0 applies to the independently authored wording, selection, organization, metadata and original generated cover to the extent applicable rights exist. It does not claim ownership of ordinary language facts or grant rights in the reference websites. This is an independent study supplement, with no affiliation to or endorsement by the named reference providers.
Karten in diesem Lernkartenset
Karte 1
Frage
Russian meaning: Здра́вствуйте
Здра́вствуйте! Как дела́?
Antwort
hello (polite greeting)
Здра́вствуйте! Как дела́? — Hello! How are you?
A polite greeting to one person or a greeting to several people.
Karte 2
Frage
Russian meaning: приве́т
Приве́т! Я до́ма.
Antwort
hi; hello (informal)
Приве́т! Я до́ма. — Hi! I'm home.
Use with friends or people you address informally.
Karte 3
Frage
Russian meaning: спаси́бо
Спаси́бо за по́мощь.
Antwort
thank you
Спаси́бо за по́мощь. — Thank you for your help.
A common expression of thanks.
Karte 4
Frage
Russian meaning: пожа́луйста
Во́ду, пожа́луйста.
Antwort
please (in this request)
Во́ду, пожа́луйста. — Water, please.
It also means “you're welcome” when responding to thanks.
Karte 5
Frage
Russian meaning: извини́те
Извини́те, где апте́ка?
Antwort
excuse me; I'm sorry (polite)
Извини́те, где апте́ка? — Excuse me, where is the pharmacy?
A polite form for one person or a form for several people. Informal singular: извини́.
Karte 6
Frage
Russian meaning: да
Да, я гото́в.
Antwort
yes
Да, я гото́в. — Yes, I'm ready.
The example uses the masculine form гото́в.
Karte 7
Frage
Russian meaning: нет
Нет, я не зна́ю.
Antwort
no
Нет, я не зна́ю. — No, I don't know.
In other constructions нет can mean “there is no” or “do not have.”
Karte 8
Frage
Russian meaning: хорошо́
Всё хорошо́.
Antwort
well; fine
Всё хорошо́. — Everything is fine.
Here it describes how things are going.
Karte 9
Frage
Russian meaning: мо́жно
Мо́жно войти́?
Antwort
may; can; it is allowed
Мо́жно войти́? — May I come in?
In this request it asks permission.
Karte 10
Frage
Russian meaning: ну́жно
Мне ну́жно рабо́тать.
Antwort
need to; it is necessary
Мне ну́жно рабо́тать. — I need to work.
Мне ну́жно + infinitive expresses something I need to do.
Karte 11
Frage
Russian meaning: где
Где мой ключ?
Antwort
where (location)
Где мой ключ? — Where is my key?
Где asks about location. It does not mean “where to.”
Karte 12
Frage
Russian meaning: когда́
Когда́ обе́д?
Antwort
when
Когда́ обе́д? — When is lunch?
A question word for time.
Karte 13
Frage
Russian, polite greeting: Say “hello” to a shop assistant you do not know.
Antwort
Здра́вствуйте.
A polite greeting. Приве́т is informal.
Karte 14
Frage
Russian: Thank someone for helping you. Give the short expression for “thank you.”
Antwort
Спаси́бо.
For “thank you for your help”: Спаси́бо за по́мощь.
Karte 15
Frage
Russian: Add “please” to a request for water. Give only the word for “please.”
Antwort
Пожа́луйста.
Во́ду, пожа́луйста. — Water, please.
Karte 16
Frage
Russian, polite singular: Get a stranger’s attention with “excuse me.”
Antwort
Извини́те.
Извини́те, где апте́ка? — Excuse me, where is the pharmacy?
Karte 17
Frage
Russian meaning: челове́к
Э́тот челове́к здесь рабо́тает.
Antwort
person; human being
Э́тот челове́к здесь рабо́тает. — This person works here.
Masculine noun. The ordinary plural “people” is лю́ди.
Karte 18
Frage
Russian meaning: же́нщина
Э́та же́нщина — врач.
Antwort
woman
Э́та же́нщина — врач. — This woman is a doctor.
Feminine noun.
Karte 19
Frage
Russian meaning: мужчи́на
Э́тот мужчи́на — учи́тель.
Antwort
man (adult male)
Э́тот мужчи́на — учи́тель. — This man is a teacher.
Masculine noun despite its ending in -а.
Karte 20
Frage
Russian meaning: ребёнок
Ребёнок спит.
Antwort
child
Ребёнок спит. — The child is sleeping.
Masculine noun. The ordinary plural “children” is де́ти. Ё marks the stressed vowel here.
Karte 21
Frage
Russian meaning: друг
Мой друг живёт ря́дом.
Antwort
friend (male)
Мой друг живёт ря́дом. — My friend lives nearby.
Masculine noun; a female friend is подру́га.
Karte 22
Frage
Russian meaning: семья́
У меня́ больша́я семья́.
Antwort
family
У меня́ больша́я семья́. — I have a large family.
Feminine noun.
Karte 23
Frage
Russian meaning: ма́ма
Ма́ма до́ма.
Antwort
mum; mom
Ма́ма до́ма. — Mum is at home.
Feminine noun; a familiar family word.
Karte 24
Frage
Russian meaning: па́па
Па́па на рабо́те.
Antwort
dad
Па́па на рабо́те. — Dad is at work.
Masculine noun despite its ending in -а.
Karte 25
Frage
Russian meaning: брат
Мой брат чита́ет.
Antwort
brother
Мой брат чита́ет. — My brother is reading.
Masculine noun.
Karte 26
Frage
Russian meaning: сестра́
Моя́ сестра́ у́чится.
Antwort
sister
Моя́ сестра́ у́чится. — My sister is studying.
Feminine noun.
Karte 27
Frage
Russian meaning: и́мя
Моё и́мя — А́нна.
Antwort
name (a person's name)
Моё и́мя — А́нна. — My name is Anna.
Neuter noun. The more general name of a thing can be назва́ние.
Karte 28
Frage
Russian meaning: рабо́та
У меня́ но́вая рабо́та.
Antwort
work; job
У меня́ но́вая рабо́та. — I have a new job.
Feminine noun. In this example it means “job.”
Karte 29
Frage
Russian noun: a family, such as parents and children.
Antwort
Семья́.
Feminine. У меня́ больша́я семья́. — I have a large family.
Karte 30
Frage
Russian noun: a male friend.
Antwort
Друг.
Masculine. A female friend is подру́га.
Karte 31
Frage
Russian noun: a person’s name, as in “What is your name?”
Antwort
И́мя.
Neuter. Моё и́мя — А́нна. — My name is Anna.
Karte 32
Frage
Russian noun: a job, as in “I have a new job.”
Antwort
Рабо́та.
Feminine. У меня́ но́вая рабо́та. — I have a new job.
Karte 33
Frage
Russian meaning: дом
Э́то наш дом.
Antwort
house; home
Э́то наш дом. — This is our house.
Masculine noun. The example identifies a house or home.
Karte 34
Frage
Russian meaning: кварти́ра
У нас ма́ленькая кварти́ра.
Antwort
flat; apartment
У нас ма́ленькая кварти́ра. — We have a small flat.
Feminine noun.
Karte 35
Frage
Russian meaning: ко́мната
Э́та ко́мната све́тлая.
Antwort
room
Э́та ко́мната све́тлая. — This room is bright.
Feminine noun.
Karte 36
Frage
Russian meaning: дверь
Дверь закры́та.
Antwort
door
Дверь закры́та. — The door is closed.
Feminine noun despite having no -а ending.
Karte 37
Frage
Russian meaning: окно́
Окно́ откры́то.
Antwort
window
Окно́ откры́то. — The window is open.
Neuter noun.
Karte 38
Frage
Russian meaning: стол
Кни́га на столе́.
Antwort
table; desk
Кни́га на столе́. — The book is on the table.
Masculine noun. Столе́ is the form used here after на for location.
Karte 39
Frage
Russian meaning: стул
Э́тот стул свобо́ден.
Antwort
chair
Э́тот стул свобо́ден. — This chair is free.
Masculine noun.
Karte 40
Frage
Russian meaning: крова́ть
Крова́ть у окна́.
Antwort
bed
Крова́ть у окна́. — The bed is by the window.
Feminine noun.
Karte 41
Frage
Russian meaning: ку́хня
Ку́хня спра́ва.
Antwort
kitchen
Ку́хня спра́ва. — The kitchen is on the right.
Feminine noun.
Karte 42
Frage
Russian meaning: ва́нная
Ва́нная сле́ва.
Antwort
bathroom
Ва́нная сле́ва. — The bathroom is on the left.
Feminine noun, also expressed as ва́нная ко́мната.
Karte 43
Frage
Russian meaning: ключ
Ключ на столе́.
Antwort
key (for a lock)
Ключ на столе́. — The key is on the table.
Masculine noun. This example uses the lock-key meaning.
Karte 44
Frage
Russian meaning: телефо́н
Мой телефо́н здесь.
Antwort
telephone; phone
Мой телефо́н здесь. — My phone is here.
Masculine noun.
Karte 45
Frage
Russian noun: a flat or apartment.
Antwort
Кварти́ра.
Feminine. У нас ма́ленькая кварти́ра. — We have a small flat.
Karte 46
Frage
Russian noun: the door to a room.
Antwort
Дверь.
Feminine. Дверь закры́та. — The door is closed.
Karte 47
Frage
Russian noun: a window.
Antwort
Окно́.
Neuter. Окно́ откры́то. — The window is open.
Karte 48
Frage
Russian noun: a key that opens a lock.
Antwort
Ключ.
Masculine. Ключ на столе́. — The key is on the table.
Karte 49
Frage
Russian meaning: вода́
Вода́ холо́дная.
Antwort
water
Вода́ холо́дная. — The water is cold.
Feminine noun.
Karte 50
Frage
Russian meaning: хлеб
Хлеб на столе́.
Antwort
bread
Хлеб на столе́. — The bread is on the table.
Masculine noun.
Karte 51
Frage
Russian meaning: молоко́
Молоко́ в холоди́льнике.
Antwort
milk
Молоко́ в холоди́льнике. — The milk is in the fridge.
Neuter noun.
Karte 52
Frage
Russian meaning: чай
Я пью чай.
Antwort
tea
Я пью чай. — I'm drinking tea.
Masculine noun.
Karte 53
Frage
Russian meaning: ко́фе
Ко́фе гото́в.
Antwort
coffee
Ко́фе гото́в. — The coffee is ready.
Masculine in the standard usage practised here; the noun does not change its ending.
Karte 54
Frage
Russian meaning: суп
Суп горя́чий.
Antwort
soup
Суп горя́чий. — The soup is hot.
Masculine noun.
Karte 55
Frage
Russian meaning: я́блоко
Э́то кра́сное я́блоко.
Antwort
apple
Э́то кра́сное я́блоко. — This is a red apple.
Neuter noun.
Karte 56
Frage
Russian meaning: сыр
Сыр в холоди́льнике.
Antwort
cheese
Сыр в холоди́льнике. — The cheese is in the fridge.
Masculine noun.
Karte 57
Frage
Russian meaning: са́хар
Са́хар на по́лке.
Antwort
sugar
Са́хар на по́лке. — The sugar is on the shelf.
Masculine noun.
Karte 58
Frage
Russian meaning: соль
Мне нужна́ соль.
Antwort
salt
Мне нужна́ соль. — I need salt.
Feminine noun.
Karte 59
Frage
Russian meaning: магази́н
Магази́н уже́ откры́т.
Antwort
shop; store
Магази́н уже́ откры́т. — The shop is already open.
Masculine noun. It does not mean an English-language magazine.
Karte 60
Frage
Russian meaning: цена́
Цена́ сли́шком высо́кая.
Antwort
price
Цена́ сли́шком высо́кая. — The price is too high.
Feminine noun.
Karte 61
Frage
Russian noun: water. Give its dictionary form.
Antwort
Вода́.
Feminine. A direct request uses во́ду: Во́ду, пожа́луйста. — Water, please.
Karte 62
Frage
Russian noun: bread.
Antwort
Хлеб.
Masculine. Хлеб на столе́. — The bread is on the table.
Karte 63
Frage
Russian noun: milk.
Antwort
Молоко́.
Neuter. Молоко́ в холоди́льнике. — The milk is in the fridge.
Karte 64
Frage
Russian noun: the price of an item.
Antwort
Цена́.
Feminine. Цена́ сли́шком высо́кая. — The price is too high.
Karte 65
Frage
Russian meaning: у́лица
Э́та у́лица ти́хая.
Antwort
street
Э́та у́лица ти́хая. — This street is quiet.
Feminine noun.
Karte 66
Frage
Russian meaning: го́род
Э́то большо́й го́род.
Antwort
city; town
Э́то большо́й го́род. — This is a large city.
Masculine noun.
Karte 67
Frage
Russian meaning: остано́вка
Остано́вка ря́дом.
Antwort
stop (for a bus or tram)
Остано́вка ря́дом. — The stop is nearby.
Feminine noun. Here it means a public-transport stop.
Karte 68
Frage
Russian meaning: ста́нция
Э́та ста́нция метро́ закры́та.
Antwort
station (railway or metro)
Э́та ста́нция метро́ закры́та. — This metro station is closed.
Feminine noun. Вокза́л usually means the station building or passenger terminal.
Karte 69
Frage
Russian meaning: вокза́л
Вокза́л далеко́.
Antwort
railway station; passenger terminal
Вокза́л далеко́. — The railway station is far away.
Masculine noun; commonly used for the railway station building or terminal.
Karte 70
Frage
Russian meaning: апте́ка
Апте́ка ря́дом.
Antwort
pharmacy; chemist's
Апте́ка ря́дом. — The pharmacy is nearby.
Feminine noun.
Karte 71
Frage
Russian meaning: банк
Банк откры́т.
Antwort
bank (financial institution)
Банк откры́т. — The bank is open.
Masculine noun.
Karte 72
Frage
Russian meaning: парк
Парк недалеко́.
Antwort
park
Парк недалеко́. — The park is not far away.
Masculine noun.
Karte 73
Frage
Russian meaning: нале́во
Поверни́те нале́во.
Antwort
to the left; left
Поверни́те нале́во. — Turn left.
An adverb used for a direction of movement.
Karte 74
Frage
Russian meaning: напра́во
Поверни́те напра́во.
Antwort
to the right; right
Поверни́те напра́во. — Turn right.
An adverb used for a direction of movement.
Karte 75
Frage
Russian meaning: пря́мо
Иди́те пря́мо.
Antwort
straight ahead (here)
Иди́те пря́мо. — Go straight ahead.
It has other meanings, but this card practises a direction.
Karte 76
Frage
Russian meaning: ря́дом
Магази́н ря́дом.
Antwort
nearby; next to
Магази́н ря́дом. — The shop is nearby.
Ря́дом с + instrumental means “next to.” This card tests the standalone meaning.
Karte 77
Frage
Russian noun: a pharmacy where medicines are sold.
Antwort
Апте́ка.
Feminine. Апте́ка ря́дом. — The pharmacy is nearby.
Karte 78
Frage
Russian direction: turn left. Give only the adverb for “left.”
Antwort
Нале́во.
Поверни́те нале́во. — Turn left.
Karte 79
Frage
Russian direction: go straight ahead. Give only the adverb for “straight ahead.”
Antwort
Пря́мо.
Иди́те пря́мо. — Go straight ahead.
Karte 80
Frage
Russian adverb: nearby, as in “The shop is nearby.”
Antwort
Ря́дом.
Магази́н ря́дом. — The shop is nearby.
Karte 81
Frage
Russian meaning: чита́ть
Я люблю́ чита́ть.
Antwort
to read
Я люблю́ чита́ть. — I like reading.
Imperfective infinitive; this card tests the meaning, not conjugation.
Karte 82
Frage
Russian meaning: писа́ть
Я хочу́ писа́ть.
Antwort
to write
Я хочу́ писа́ть. — I want to write.
Imperfective infinitive. The stressed final а distinguishes this verb from пи́сать, a colloquial verb meaning “to pee.”
Karte 83
Frage
Russian meaning: говори́ть
Я могу́ говори́ть по-ру́сски.
Antwort
to speak; to talk
Я могу́ говори́ть по-ру́сски. — I can speak Russian.
Imperfective infinitive.
Karte 84
Frage
Russian meaning: слу́шать
Я люблю́ слу́шать му́зыку.
Antwort
to listen to
Я люблю́ слу́шать му́зыку. — I like listening to music.
Imperfective infinitive. Russian uses слу́шать + a direct object, without a separate word for “to.”
Karte 85
Frage
Russian meaning: смотре́ть
Мы бу́дем смотре́ть фильм.
Antwort
to watch; to look
Мы бу́дем смотре́ть фильм. — We will watch a film.
Imperfective infinitive; the example uses “watch.”
Karte 86
Frage
Russian meaning: жить
Я хочу́ жить здесь.
Antwort
to live
Я хочу́ жить здесь. — I want to live here.
Imperfective infinitive.
Karte 87
Frage
Russian meaning: рабо́тать
Здесь мо́жно рабо́тать.
Antwort
to work
Здесь мо́жно рабо́тать. — You can work here.
Imperfective infinitive.
Karte 88
Frage
Russian meaning: учи́ться
Мне нра́вится учи́ться.
Antwort
to study; to learn
Мне нра́вится учи́ться. — I like studying.
Imperfective reflexive infinitive. It ends in -ся.
Karte 89
Frage
Russian meaning: сего́дня
Сего́дня понеде́льник.
Antwort
today
Сего́дня понеде́льник. — Today is Monday.
An adverb of time; the example is a practice sentence, not today's date.
Karte 90
Frage
Russian meaning: за́втра
До за́втра!
Antwort
tomorrow
До за́втра! — See you tomorrow!
The full expression literally means “until tomorrow.”
Karte 91
Frage
Russian meaning: у́тром
Я рабо́таю у́тром.
Antwort
in the morning
Я рабо́таю у́тром. — I work in the morning.
An adverb of time. Compare the noun у́тро, “morning.”
Karte 92
Frage
Russian meaning: ве́чером
Ве́чером я чита́ю.
Antwort
in the evening
Ве́чером я чита́ю. — I read in the evening.
An adverb of time. Compare the noun ве́чер, “evening.”
Karte 93
Frage
Russian infinitive: to read.
Antwort
Чита́ть.
Imperfective. Я люблю́ чита́ть. — I like reading.
Karte 94
Frage
Russian infinitive: to write. Mark the stressed vowel.
Antwort
Писа́ть.
Stress falls on а. Я хочу́ писа́ть. — I want to write.
Karte 95
Frage
Russian: tomorrow.
Antwort
За́втра.
До за́втра! — See you tomorrow!
Karte 96
Frage
Russian: in the morning. Give the single-word time expression.
Antwort
У́тром.
Я рабо́таю у́тром. — I work in the morning.
96 Karten
Russian Vocabulary for Beginners: Meaning, Stress and Everyday Use
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