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