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