Learn basic Russian phrases every beginner should know
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| нет (net) |
| ещё раз (yeshchyo raz) |
| медленно (medlenno) |
| What do these words mean? Stick around. |
| In this quick lesson, you’ll learn basic Russian phrases all beginners must know. |
| Before we start, did you know the Russian word спасибо (spasibo) or "thank you" is related to God? Can you guess how? |
| Keep watching for the answer at the end. |
| да (da) |
| "yes" |
| да (da) |
| да (da) |
| I think the short word да (da), "yes," is the most famous in the Russian language. In movies and funny videos, even if you don't understand anything in Russian, just answer да (da). Like in the movie "Heartbreakers." |
| Tom helps Oscar at an electronics store. |
| Oscar: Тебе нравится эта марка? (Tebe nravitsya eta marka?) |
| Tom: Да, я думаю, это хорошая марка. (Da, ya dumayu, eto khoroshaya marka.) |
| нет (net) |
| "no" |
| нет (net) |
| нет (net) |
| There is a funny informal phrase in Russian, да нет наверно (da net naverno), used to express uncertainty or doubt. |
| It combines the words да (da), "yes," нет (net), "no," and наверно (naverno), "probably," creating a contradiction that shows that the speaker is unsure or not confident in their answer. And this phrase means "rather not." |
| Jack mistakes Steve for a student. |
| Jack: Ты студент здесь? (Ty student zdes'?) |
| Steve: Нет. Я просто посетитель. (Net. Ya prosto posetitel'.) |
| ещё раз (yeshchyo raz) |
| "one more time" |
| ещё раз (yeshchyo raz) |
| ещё раз (yeshchyo raz) |
| Always remember. |
| When you are learning languages, don't be afraid to ask one more time ещё раз (yeshchyo raz) for clarification if you didn't understand or hear something. It will never be a mistake. |
| Lina asks Victoria for clarification. |
| Lina: Извините, я не расслышала. Повторите ещё раз, пожалуйста. (Izvinite, ya ne rasslyshala. Povtorite yeshchyo raz, pozhaluysta.) |
| Victoria: Конечно. (Konechno.) |
| медленно (medlenno) |
| "slowly" |
| медленно (medlenno) |
| медленно (medlenno) |
| There is an expression in the Russian language в час по чайной ложке (v chas po chaynoy lozhke), which literally translates to "one teaspoon per hour" and is used to describe something happening very slowly or gradually. Progress or results are so small that it feels like it’s taking forever, similar to the idea of moving at a very slow pace. |
| Susan needs clarification when asking Roman for directions. |
| Susan: Извините. Медленно, пожалуйста. (Izvinite. Medlenno, pozhaluysta.) |
| Roman: Поверните на первом перекрёстке налево, а потом - направо. (Povernite na pervom perekryostke nalevo, a potom - napravo.) |
| Извините. (Izvinite.) |
| "Excuse me." |
| Извините. (Izvinite.) |
| Извините. (Izvinite.) |
| The word извините (izvinite) is used to get someone's attention and ask a question. It is also used to apologize to another person for a mistake made. Equally in the meaning of "Excuse me" and in the meaning of "I'm sorry." |
| There is an informal phrase in Russian я дико извиняюсь (ya diko izvinyayus’), that literally translates as "I wildly apologize." In English, you would typically say "I deeply apologize" or "I'm terribly sorry" to convey the same meaning. |
| Jack expresses interest in an item at a store. |
| Jack: Извините. Сколько это стоит? (Izvinite. Skol'ko eto stoit?) |
| Tom: 20 рублей. Хотите купить? (20 rubley. Khotite kupit'?) |
| Прошу прощения. (Proshu proshcheniya.) |
| "I'm sorry." |
| Прошу прощения. (Proshu proshcheniya.) |
| Прошу прощения. (Proshu proshcheniya.) |
| The same meaning as the word “Извините” (Izvinite). You can say it before and after doing something good or bad. |
| Steve apologizes to Oscar for a misunderstanding. |
| Steve: Прошу прощения. Это моя ошибка. (Proshu proshcheniya. Eto moya oshibka.) |
| Oscar: Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.) |
| Спасибо. (Spasibo.) |
| "Thank you." |
| Спасибо. (Spasibo.) |
| Спасибо. (Spasibo.) |
| You can also say благодарю (blagodaryu), "thank you," instead of Спасибо (Spasibo). This is a more formal word for gratitude. Благодарю (blagodaryu) literally means "to give good" or "to bestow good," which expresses gratitude for a good deed. |
| Susan thanks Lina for a party invite. |
| Susan: Большое спасибо за приглашение. (Bol'shoye spasibo za priglasheniye.) |
| Lina: Не за что! Я рада, что ты смогла прийти. (Ne za chto! Ya rada, chto ty smogla priyti.) |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| "You are welcome." |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| In this context, the informal phrase не за что (ne za chto) is also used in Russian, which means "I didn't do anything for this" (even though that's not true). And also, if someone thanks you for food or something else that’s good for their body, you can reply with на здоровье, which means "for your health" or "for your well-being." |
| Valeria provides legal advice to Steve. |
| Steve: Большое спасибо за помощь! (Bol'shoye spasibo za pomoshch'!) |
| Valeria: Пожалуйста! Рада была помочь. (Pozhaluysta! Rada byla pomoch'.) |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| "Please." |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| In the word пожалуйста (pozhaluysta), "please," the letter й (y) is not pronounced as a separate sound. So, while the word is written пожалуйста (pozhaluysta), it is pronounced like пожалуста (pozhalusta). |
| Jack asks Victoria for a drink. |
| Jack: Воды, пожалуйста. (Vody, pozhaluysta.) |
| Victoria: Конечно, вот вода! (Konechno, vot voda!) |
| Let's review. |
| You'll see the words in English and your job is to say the words in Russian. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say "yes"? |
| да (da) |
| да (da) |
| And how to say "no"? |
| нет (net) |
| нет (net) |
| How about "one more time"? |
| ещё раз (yeshchyo raz) |
| ещё раз (yeshchyo raz) |
| Do you remember how to say "slowly"? |
| медленно (medlenno) |
| медленно (medlenno) |
| And how to say "Excuse me."? |
| Извините. (Izvinite.) |
| Извините. (Izvinite.) |
| What about "I'm sorry."? |
| Прошу прощения. (Proshu proshcheniya.) |
| Прошу прощения. (Proshu proshcheniya.) |
| Do you remember how to say "Thank you."? |
| Спасибо. (Spasibo.) |
| Спасибо. (Spasibo.) |
| Let's try "You are welcome."! |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| And finally, do you remember how to say "Please."? |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) |
| Did you know the Russian word спасибо (spasibo) or "thank you" is related to God? Can you guess how? |
| In Russian, when you say спасибо (spasibo), you're using a word that's really old. It comes from Спаси (тебя) Бог, (Spasi (tebya) Bog), which means "May God save you." People have been using this since the late 1500s! It shows how language and beliefs can be connected. |
| Thanks for watching! Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases, and see you next time! |
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