Common Russian Phrases for Beginners
By Daily Cyrillic · Updated
Useful Russian phrases let you greet people, thank them, ask simple questions and request help before you know all the grammar. Learn whole expressions with their pronunciation and choose the right level of formality. This guide groups everyday phrases by situation, with transliterations, translations, audio and flashcards for repeated practice.
Reading time: about 1 min.
- Use
- Everyday conversations
- Register
- Formal and informal
- Practice
- Audio and flashcards
Turn this guide into words you can use
Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.
Why learn phrases first
When you are starting out, whole phrases beat isolated words. A phrase like извините, вы говорите по-английски? ("excuse me, do you speak English?") does real work the moment you learn it, no grammar required - you can say it correctly without yet knowing why each word has the form it does.
Phrases also carry the politeness and register that make a good first impression. Knowing when to say здравствуйте instead of привет, or спасибо and пожалуйста at the right moments, signals respect - and Russians genuinely warm to a guest who makes the effort.
Think of this page as your phrasebook core. Learn the greetings and courtesy sets first (you use them in every interaction), then the survival phrases for when you are stuck, and finally the questions and small talk that let a conversation actually start.
Phrases by topic
Greetings & goodbyes
| Russian | Translit. | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| привет | privét | hi (informal) | |
| здравствуйте | zdrávstvuyte | hello (formal) | |
| доброе утро | dóbroye útro | good morning | |
| добрый день | dóbryy den | good afternoon | |
| добрый вечер | dóbryy vécher | good evening | |
| до свидания | do svidániya | goodbye (formal) | |
| пока | poká | bye (informal) | |
| до встречи | do vstréchi | see you | |
| спокойной ночи | spokóynoy nóchi | good night |
Courtesy & politeness
| Russian | Translit. | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| спасибо | spasíbo | thank you | |
| большое спасибо | bolshóye spasíbo | thank you very much | |
| пожалуйста | pozháluysta | please / you're welcome | |
| извините | izviníte | excuse me / sorry (formal) | |
| прости | prostí | sorry (informal) | |
| ничего | nichevó | it's nothing / no problem | |
| не за что | né za chto | you're welcome (casual) | |
| будьте добры | búdte dobrý | would you be so kind |
Getting by (survival phrases)
| Russian | Translit. | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| да | da | yes | |
| нет | net | no | |
| я не понимаю | ya ne ponimáyu | I don't understand | |
| вы говорите по-английски? | vy govoríte po-anglíyski? | do you speak English? | |
| я не говорю по-русски | ya ne govoryú po-rússki | I don't speak Russian | |
| повторите, пожалуйста | povtoríte, pozháluysta | please repeat that | |
| помогите! | pomogíte! | help! | |
| сколько это стоит? | skólko eto stóit? | how much does this cost? |
Useful questions
| Russian | Translit. | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| как дела? | kak delá? | how are you? (informal) | |
| как вас зовут? | kak vas zovút? | what is your name? (formal) | |
| где туалет? | gde tualét? | where is the toilet? | |
| что это? | shto eto? | what is this? | |
| который час? | kotóryy chas? | what time is it? | |
| можно? | mózhno? | may I? / is it allowed? | |
| где находится...? | gde nakhóditsya...? | where is...? |
Small talk & introductions
| Russian | Translit. | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| меня зовут... | menyá zovút... | my name is... | |
| очень приятно | óchen priyátno | nice to meet you | |
| я из Америки | ya iz Amériki | I'm from America | |
| хорошо | khoroshó | good / okay | |
| рад тебя видеть | rad tebyá vídet | glad to see you (informal) | |
| хорошего дня | khoróshego dnya | have a nice day | |
| не знаю | ne znáyu | I don't know |
Practice the phrases
Practice deck
1 / 39Phrases in depth
- Russian Greetings
Hello, the times of day, goodbye and how are you - with formal vs informal usage notes and audio.
- How to Say "Thank You"
спасибо, большое спасибо and how to reply - the full breakdown with examples.
- How to Say "Hello"
привет vs здравствуйте, when to use each, and how to pronounce the tricky one.
- How to Say "Please"
пожалуйста - the word that also means "you're welcome", and how to say it.
- How to Say "Sorry"
извините vs прости, plus how to get someone's attention politely.
- How to Say "I Love You"
я тебя люблю, word by word, with formal and softer alternatives.
- How to Say "How Are You"
как дела? and the natural replies, from отлично to так себе.
- How to Say "Goodbye"
до свидания vs пока, and the in-between "see you" phrases.
- How to Say "Good Night"
спокойной ночи and сладких снов - the night-time goodbye.
- How to Ask "What Is Your Name"
как тебя зовут? and как вас зовут? - plus how to reply.
- How to Say "Happy Birthday"
с днём рождения! and the full поздравляю congratulation.
- How to Say "Cheers"
за здоровье! and будем здоровы! - and why it is not на здоровье.
- How to Say "Where Is"
где...? - asking where the toilet, metro or station is.
FAQ
What are the most useful Russian phrases for beginners?
How do you say hello and thank you in Russian?
What is the difference between formal and informal Russian phrases?
How can I memorize Russian phrases quickly?
Turn this guide into words you can use
Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.
Read the full guide
- Russian Greetings
Hello, times of day, goodbye and how are you - with audio.
- Basic Russian Words
The most common beginner words, grouped by part of speech.
- Russian Vocabulary
The vocabulary hub: what to learn first and every set.
- The Russian Alphabet
The foundation: all 33 letters with audio and a trainer.