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