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.
Sellest kaardipakist
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.
Selle kaardipaki kaardid
Kaart 1
Küsimus
Russian meaning: Здра́вствуйте
Здра́вствуйте! Как дела́?
Vastus
hello (polite greeting)
Здра́вствуйте! Как дела́? — Hello! How are you?
A polite greeting to one person or a greeting to several people.
Kaart 2
Küsimus
Russian meaning: приве́т
Приве́т! Я до́ма.
Vastus
hi; hello (informal)
Приве́т! Я до́ма. — Hi! I'm home.
Use with friends or people you address informally.
Kaart 3
Küsimus
Russian meaning: спаси́бо
Спаси́бо за по́мощь.
Vastus
thank you
Спаси́бо за по́мощь. — Thank you for your help.
A common expression of thanks.
Kaart 4
Küsimus
Russian meaning: пожа́луйста
Во́ду, пожа́луйста.
Vastus
please (in this request)
Во́ду, пожа́луйста. — Water, please.
It also means “you're welcome” when responding to thanks.
Kaart 5
Küsimus
Russian meaning: извини́те
Извини́те, где апте́ка?
Vastus
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.
Kaart 6
Küsimus
Russian meaning: да
Да, я гото́в.
Vastus
yes
Да, я гото́в. — Yes, I'm ready.
The example uses the masculine form гото́в.
Kaart 7
Küsimus
Russian meaning: нет
Нет, я не зна́ю.
Vastus
no
Нет, я не зна́ю. — No, I don't know.
In other constructions нет can mean “there is no” or “do not have.”
Kaart 8
Küsimus
Russian meaning: хорошо́
Всё хорошо́.
Vastus
well; fine
Всё хорошо́. — Everything is fine.
Here it describes how things are going.
Kaart 9
Küsimus
Russian meaning: мо́жно
Мо́жно войти́?
Vastus
may; can; it is allowed
Мо́жно войти́? — May I come in?
In this request it asks permission.
Kaart 10
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ну́жно
Мне ну́жно рабо́тать.
Vastus
need to; it is necessary
Мне ну́жно рабо́тать. — I need to work.
Мне ну́жно + infinitive expresses something I need to do.
Kaart 11
Küsimus
Russian meaning: где
Где мой ключ?
Vastus
where (location)
Где мой ключ? — Where is my key?
Где asks about location. It does not mean “where to.”
Kaart 12
Küsimus
Russian meaning: когда́
Когда́ обе́д?
Vastus
when
Когда́ обе́д? — When is lunch?
A question word for time.
Kaart 13
Küsimus
Russian, polite greeting: Say “hello” to a shop assistant you do not know.
Vastus
Здра́вствуйте.
A polite greeting. Приве́т is informal.
Kaart 14
Küsimus
Russian: Thank someone for helping you. Give the short expression for “thank you.”
Vastus
Спаси́бо.
For “thank you for your help”: Спаси́бо за по́мощь.
Kaart 15
Küsimus
Russian: Add “please” to a request for water. Give only the word for “please.”
Vastus
Пожа́луйста.
Во́ду, пожа́луйста. — Water, please.
Kaart 16
Küsimus
Russian, polite singular: Get a stranger’s attention with “excuse me.”
Vastus
Извини́те.
Извини́те, где апте́ка? — Excuse me, where is the pharmacy?
Kaart 17
Küsimus
Russian meaning: челове́к
Э́тот челове́к здесь рабо́тает.
Vastus
person; human being
Э́тот челове́к здесь рабо́тает. — This person works here.
Masculine noun. The ordinary plural “people” is лю́ди.
Kaart 18
Küsimus
Russian meaning: же́нщина
Э́та же́нщина — врач.
Vastus
woman
Э́та же́нщина — врач. — This woman is a doctor.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 19
Küsimus
Russian meaning: мужчи́на
Э́тот мужчи́на — учи́тель.
Vastus
man (adult male)
Э́тот мужчи́на — учи́тель. — This man is a teacher.
Masculine noun despite its ending in -а.
Kaart 20
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ребёнок
Ребёнок спит.
Vastus
child
Ребёнок спит. — The child is sleeping.
Masculine noun. The ordinary plural “children” is де́ти. Ё marks the stressed vowel here.
Kaart 21
Küsimus
Russian meaning: друг
Мой друг живёт ря́дом.
Vastus
friend (male)
Мой друг живёт ря́дом. — My friend lives nearby.
Masculine noun; a female friend is подру́га.
Kaart 22
Küsimus
Russian meaning: семья́
У меня́ больша́я семья́.
Vastus
family
У меня́ больша́я семья́. — I have a large family.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 23
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ма́ма
Ма́ма до́ма.
Vastus
mum; mom
Ма́ма до́ма. — Mum is at home.
Feminine noun; a familiar family word.
Kaart 24
Küsimus
Russian meaning: па́па
Па́па на рабо́те.
Vastus
dad
Па́па на рабо́те. — Dad is at work.
Masculine noun despite its ending in -а.
Kaart 25
Küsimus
Russian meaning: брат
Мой брат чита́ет.
Vastus
brother
Мой брат чита́ет. — My brother is reading.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 26
Küsimus
Russian meaning: сестра́
Моя́ сестра́ у́чится.
Vastus
sister
Моя́ сестра́ у́чится. — My sister is studying.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 27
Küsimus
Russian meaning: и́мя
Моё и́мя — А́нна.
Vastus
name (a person's name)
Моё и́мя — А́нна. — My name is Anna.
Neuter noun. The more general name of a thing can be назва́ние.
Kaart 28
Küsimus
Russian meaning: рабо́та
У меня́ но́вая рабо́та.
Vastus
work; job
У меня́ но́вая рабо́та. — I have a new job.
Feminine noun. In this example it means “job.”
Kaart 29
Küsimus
Russian noun: a family, such as parents and children.
Vastus
Семья́.
Feminine. У меня́ больша́я семья́. — I have a large family.
Kaart 30
Küsimus
Russian noun: a male friend.
Vastus
Друг.
Masculine. A female friend is подру́га.
Kaart 31
Küsimus
Russian noun: a person’s name, as in “What is your name?”
Vastus
И́мя.
Neuter. Моё и́мя — А́нна. — My name is Anna.
Kaart 32
Küsimus
Russian noun: a job, as in “I have a new job.”
Vastus
Рабо́та.
Feminine. У меня́ но́вая рабо́та. — I have a new job.
Kaart 33
Küsimus
Russian meaning: дом
Э́то наш дом.
Vastus
house; home
Э́то наш дом. — This is our house.
Masculine noun. The example identifies a house or home.
Kaart 34
Küsimus
Russian meaning: кварти́ра
У нас ма́ленькая кварти́ра.
Vastus
flat; apartment
У нас ма́ленькая кварти́ра. — We have a small flat.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 35
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ко́мната
Э́та ко́мната све́тлая.
Vastus
room
Э́та ко́мната све́тлая. — This room is bright.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 36
Küsimus
Russian meaning: дверь
Дверь закры́та.
Vastus
door
Дверь закры́та. — The door is closed.
Feminine noun despite having no -а ending.
Kaart 37
Küsimus
Russian meaning: окно́
Окно́ откры́то.
Vastus
window
Окно́ откры́то. — The window is open.
Neuter noun.
Kaart 38
Küsimus
Russian meaning: стол
Кни́га на столе́.
Vastus
table; desk
Кни́га на столе́. — The book is on the table.
Masculine noun. Столе́ is the form used here after на for location.
Kaart 39
Küsimus
Russian meaning: стул
Э́тот стул свобо́ден.
Vastus
chair
Э́тот стул свобо́ден. — This chair is free.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 40
Küsimus
Russian meaning: крова́ть
Крова́ть у окна́.
Vastus
bed
Крова́ть у окна́. — The bed is by the window.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 41
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ку́хня
Ку́хня спра́ва.
Vastus
kitchen
Ку́хня спра́ва. — The kitchen is on the right.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 42
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ва́нная
Ва́нная сле́ва.
Vastus
bathroom
Ва́нная сле́ва. — The bathroom is on the left.
Feminine noun, also expressed as ва́нная ко́мната.
Kaart 43
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ключ
Ключ на столе́.
Vastus
key (for a lock)
Ключ на столе́. — The key is on the table.
Masculine noun. This example uses the lock-key meaning.
Kaart 44
Küsimus
Russian meaning: телефо́н
Мой телефо́н здесь.
Vastus
telephone; phone
Мой телефо́н здесь. — My phone is here.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 45
Küsimus
Russian noun: a flat or apartment.
Vastus
Кварти́ра.
Feminine. У нас ма́ленькая кварти́ра. — We have a small flat.
Kaart 46
Küsimus
Russian noun: the door to a room.
Vastus
Дверь.
Feminine. Дверь закры́та. — The door is closed.
Kaart 47
Küsimus
Russian noun: a window.
Vastus
Окно́.
Neuter. Окно́ откры́то. — The window is open.
Kaart 48
Küsimus
Russian noun: a key that opens a lock.
Vastus
Ключ.
Masculine. Ключ на столе́. — The key is on the table.
Kaart 49
Küsimus
Russian meaning: вода́
Вода́ холо́дная.
Vastus
water
Вода́ холо́дная. — The water is cold.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 50
Küsimus
Russian meaning: хлеб
Хлеб на столе́.
Vastus
bread
Хлеб на столе́. — The bread is on the table.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 51
Küsimus
Russian meaning: молоко́
Молоко́ в холоди́льнике.
Vastus
milk
Молоко́ в холоди́льнике. — The milk is in the fridge.
Neuter noun.
Kaart 52
Küsimus
Russian meaning: чай
Я пью чай.
Vastus
tea
Я пью чай. — I'm drinking tea.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 53
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ко́фе
Ко́фе гото́в.
Vastus
coffee
Ко́фе гото́в. — The coffee is ready.
Masculine in the standard usage practised here; the noun does not change its ending.
Kaart 54
Küsimus
Russian meaning: суп
Суп горя́чий.
Vastus
soup
Суп горя́чий. — The soup is hot.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 55
Küsimus
Russian meaning: я́блоко
Э́то кра́сное я́блоко.
Vastus
apple
Э́то кра́сное я́блоко. — This is a red apple.
Neuter noun.
Kaart 56
Küsimus
Russian meaning: сыр
Сыр в холоди́льнике.
Vastus
cheese
Сыр в холоди́льнике. — The cheese is in the fridge.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 57
Küsimus
Russian meaning: са́хар
Са́хар на по́лке.
Vastus
sugar
Са́хар на по́лке. — The sugar is on the shelf.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 58
Küsimus
Russian meaning: соль
Мне нужна́ соль.
Vastus
salt
Мне нужна́ соль. — I need salt.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 59
Küsimus
Russian meaning: магази́н
Магази́н уже́ откры́т.
Vastus
shop; store
Магази́н уже́ откры́т. — The shop is already open.
Masculine noun. It does not mean an English-language magazine.
Kaart 60
Küsimus
Russian meaning: цена́
Цена́ сли́шком высо́кая.
Vastus
price
Цена́ сли́шком высо́кая. — The price is too high.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 61
Küsimus
Russian noun: water. Give its dictionary form.
Vastus
Вода́.
Feminine. A direct request uses во́ду: Во́ду, пожа́луйста. — Water, please.
Kaart 62
Küsimus
Russian noun: bread.
Vastus
Хлеб.
Masculine. Хлеб на столе́. — The bread is on the table.
Kaart 63
Küsimus
Russian noun: milk.
Vastus
Молоко́.
Neuter. Молоко́ в холоди́льнике. — The milk is in the fridge.
Kaart 64
Küsimus
Russian noun: the price of an item.
Vastus
Цена́.
Feminine. Цена́ сли́шком высо́кая. — The price is too high.
Kaart 65
Küsimus
Russian meaning: у́лица
Э́та у́лица ти́хая.
Vastus
street
Э́та у́лица ти́хая. — This street is quiet.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 66
Küsimus
Russian meaning: го́род
Э́то большо́й го́род.
Vastus
city; town
Э́то большо́й го́род. — This is a large city.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 67
Küsimus
Russian meaning: остано́вка
Остано́вка ря́дом.
Vastus
stop (for a bus or tram)
Остано́вка ря́дом. — The stop is nearby.
Feminine noun. Here it means a public-transport stop.
Kaart 68
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ста́нция
Э́та ста́нция метро́ закры́та.
Vastus
station (railway or metro)
Э́та ста́нция метро́ закры́та. — This metro station is closed.
Feminine noun. Вокза́л usually means the station building or passenger terminal.
Kaart 69
Küsimus
Russian meaning: вокза́л
Вокза́л далеко́.
Vastus
railway station; passenger terminal
Вокза́л далеко́. — The railway station is far away.
Masculine noun; commonly used for the railway station building or terminal.
Kaart 70
Küsimus
Russian meaning: апте́ка
Апте́ка ря́дом.
Vastus
pharmacy; chemist's
Апте́ка ря́дом. — The pharmacy is nearby.
Feminine noun.
Kaart 71
Küsimus
Russian meaning: банк
Банк откры́т.
Vastus
bank (financial institution)
Банк откры́т. — The bank is open.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 72
Küsimus
Russian meaning: парк
Парк недалеко́.
Vastus
park
Парк недалеко́. — The park is not far away.
Masculine noun.
Kaart 73
Küsimus
Russian meaning: нале́во
Поверни́те нале́во.
Vastus
to the left; left
Поверни́те нале́во. — Turn left.
An adverb used for a direction of movement.
Kaart 74
Küsimus
Russian meaning: напра́во
Поверни́те напра́во.
Vastus
to the right; right
Поверни́те напра́во. — Turn right.
An adverb used for a direction of movement.
Kaart 75
Küsimus
Russian meaning: пря́мо
Иди́те пря́мо.
Vastus
straight ahead (here)
Иди́те пря́мо. — Go straight ahead.
It has other meanings, but this card practises a direction.
Kaart 76
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ря́дом
Магази́н ря́дом.
Vastus
nearby; next to
Магази́н ря́дом. — The shop is nearby.
Ря́дом с + instrumental means “next to.” This card tests the standalone meaning.
Kaart 77
Küsimus
Russian noun: a pharmacy where medicines are sold.
Vastus
Апте́ка.
Feminine. Апте́ка ря́дом. — The pharmacy is nearby.
Kaart 78
Küsimus
Russian direction: turn left. Give only the adverb for “left.”
Vastus
Нале́во.
Поверни́те нале́во. — Turn left.
Kaart 79
Küsimus
Russian direction: go straight ahead. Give only the adverb for “straight ahead.”
Vastus
Пря́мо.
Иди́те пря́мо. — Go straight ahead.
Kaart 80
Küsimus
Russian adverb: nearby, as in “The shop is nearby.”
Vastus
Ря́дом.
Магази́н ря́дом. — The shop is nearby.
Kaart 81
Küsimus
Russian meaning: чита́ть
Я люблю́ чита́ть.
Vastus
to read
Я люблю́ чита́ть. — I like reading.
Imperfective infinitive; this card tests the meaning, not conjugation.
Kaart 82
Küsimus
Russian meaning: писа́ть
Я хочу́ писа́ть.
Vastus
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.”
Kaart 83
Küsimus
Russian meaning: говори́ть
Я могу́ говори́ть по-ру́сски.
Vastus
to speak; to talk
Я могу́ говори́ть по-ру́сски. — I can speak Russian.
Imperfective infinitive.
Kaart 84
Küsimus
Russian meaning: слу́шать
Я люблю́ слу́шать му́зыку.
Vastus
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.”
Kaart 85
Küsimus
Russian meaning: смотре́ть
Мы бу́дем смотре́ть фильм.
Vastus
to watch; to look
Мы бу́дем смотре́ть фильм. — We will watch a film.
Imperfective infinitive; the example uses “watch.”
Kaart 86
Küsimus
Russian meaning: жить
Я хочу́ жить здесь.
Vastus
to live
Я хочу́ жить здесь. — I want to live here.
Imperfective infinitive.
Kaart 87
Küsimus
Russian meaning: рабо́тать
Здесь мо́жно рабо́тать.
Vastus
to work
Здесь мо́жно рабо́тать. — You can work here.
Imperfective infinitive.
Kaart 88
Küsimus
Russian meaning: учи́ться
Мне нра́вится учи́ться.
Vastus
to study; to learn
Мне нра́вится учи́ться. — I like studying.
Imperfective reflexive infinitive. It ends in -ся.
Kaart 89
Küsimus
Russian meaning: сего́дня
Сего́дня понеде́льник.
Vastus
today
Сего́дня понеде́льник. — Today is Monday.
An adverb of time; the example is a practice sentence, not today's date.
Kaart 90
Küsimus
Russian meaning: за́втра
До за́втра!
Vastus
tomorrow
До за́втра! — See you tomorrow!
The full expression literally means “until tomorrow.”
Kaart 91
Küsimus
Russian meaning: у́тром
Я рабо́таю у́тром.
Vastus
in the morning
Я рабо́таю у́тром. — I work in the morning.
An adverb of time. Compare the noun у́тро, “morning.”
Kaart 92
Küsimus
Russian meaning: ве́чером
Ве́чером я чита́ю.
Vastus
in the evening
Ве́чером я чита́ю. — I read in the evening.
An adverb of time. Compare the noun ве́чер, “evening.”
Kaart 93
Küsimus
Russian infinitive: to read.
Vastus
Чита́ть.
Imperfective. Я люблю́ чита́ть. — I like reading.
Kaart 94
Küsimus
Russian infinitive: to write. Mark the stressed vowel.
Vastus
Писа́ть.
Stress falls on а. Я хочу́ писа́ть. — I want to write.
Kaart 95
Küsimus
Russian: tomorrow.
Vastus
За́втра.
До за́втра! — See you tomorrow!
Kaart 96
Küsimus
Russian: in the morning. Give the single-word time expression.
Vastus
У́тром.
Я рабо́таю у́тром. — I work in the morning.
96 kaarti
Russian Vocabulary for Beginners: Meaning, Stress and Everyday Use
Nibomo avaneb, et saaksid õppimist alustada.