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