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