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