What’s my goal to learn Russian?
I want to have some conversational Russian so I can get by with friends
Learning Russian is Easy
There are around 2000 words that are the same in English and Russian
https://www.hackyourrussian.com/post/russian-english-similar-words-cognates
Did you know that a Russian student needs to know only between 1,500 and 3,000 words to finish high school which means that fluency in Russian is well within your grasp.
But in order to be fluent you need to know around 10,000+
Here is a list of some similar words
Администрация [administrátsiya] – administration
Ассоциация [asatsiátsiya] – association
Бизнес [bíznes] – business
Брифинг [brífink] – briefing
Бюджет [byudzhét] – budget
Вакансия [vakánsiya] – vacancy
Дедлайн [dedláin] – deadline
Дело [délo] – deal, affair
Документ [dakument] – document
Интервью [interv’yú] – interview
Контракт [kantrákt] – contract
Клиент [kliyént] – a client
Компания [kampániya] – company
Коллега [kaléga] – a colleague
Концепция [kantséptsiya] – conception, concept
Корпорация [karparátsiya] -corporation
You can see more similar words here.
What are the key ways to learn?
I think the best way I’ve found to learn a language is to have fun.
So I’m going to learn two cool things:
- Russian alphabet –
- How to type and write
- Vocabulary
- Common sentences
- Pronunciation
– How to type
– Some cool phrases
– Translate some conversations to understand them
The other best way is to learn a little bit everyday, so I’m going to surround myself with Russian gradually and consume some interesting content, and learn 10 words each day and write them down. Over time, I will gradually learn Russian. And I will write about it, because then it feels more interesting and it might also help others.
Watch Introductory Youtube Videos
The Russian Alphabet
| Russian Letter | Pronunciation | Closest English Sound |
| А, a | Ah or aah | Far, lamb |
| Б, б | B | Boy |
| В, в | V | Vest |
| Г, г | Gh | Guest |
| Д, д | D | Door |
| E, e | Yeh | Yes |
| Ё, ё | Yoh | York |
| Ж, ж | Zh | pleasure, beige |
| З, з | Z | Zoo |
| И, и | E | Meet |
| Й, й | Y | Toy |
| К, к | K | Kilo |
| Л, л | L | Love |
| М, м | M | Mop |
| Н, н | N | No |
| О, о | O | Morning |
| П, п | P | Pony |
| Р, р | R (rolled) | |
| С, с | S | Song |
| Т, т | T | Train |
| У, у | Ooh | Boo |
| Ф, ф | F | Fun |
| Х, х | H | Loch |
| Ц, ц | Ts | Ditzy |
| Ч, ч | Ch | Cherish |
| Ш, ш | Sch | Shhh |
| Щ, щ | Sh (softer than Ш) | Shoe |
| Ъ, ъ | hard sign (non-vocalized) | n/a |
| Ы, ы | Uhee | no equivalent sound |
| Ь, ь | soft sign (non-vocalized) | n/a |
| Э, э | Aeh | Aerobics |
| Ю, ю | Yu | You |
| Я, я | Ya | Yard |
To learn it easier, it’s easier to break them down into parts
Letters that Exist in English but sound different:
в – v
Е – yo
Р – rr
С – S
У – ooh
Х – h
Letters that don’t exist in English
Б – b
Г – gh
Д – d
Ё – yoh
З – z
И – e
Й – y
Л – l
П – p
ф – f
Э – aeh
Ю – yu
Я – ya
Learning how to type
Useful Words To Know
Make a list of useful words to know
I want – я хочу – ya khochu
because – потому что – potomu chto
Tea now please – чай сейчас пожалуйста – chay seychas pozhaluysta
And you? а вы – a vy
Do you want to have some tea? хочешь чаю? khochesh’ chayu? –
Did your friends reply? твои друзья ответили tvoi druz’ya otvetili
Get an Online Russian Teacher
On Italki or Upwork
Learn 10 Russian Words Each Day
Day 1:
мама – mum
кот – cat
нет – no
сестра – sister
Ресторан – restaurant
москва – moscow
папа – dad
Брат
Лондон – London
Мадрид – Madrid
пицца – Pizza
бургер – Burger
макароны Macaroni – Pasta
Это – this is
окно – window
компьютер – computer
Day 2:
сейчас – seychas – now
голодный – goldony hungry
я хочу -ya khochu I want
хлеб – khlep – (haliep) Bread
пожалуйста – pozhaluysta – please
масло – maslo – butter
учитель – uchitel – teacher
мне нравится – mne ravitsa I like
урок – lesson
прошу прощения
eto tebya nie shutke – I’m not joking
