Russian Pronunciation & Phrases

Привет (Privet)

Hi (Informal)

Sounds like: pree-VYET

Focus: Soft 'v' with 'y' sound

Как тебя зовут? (Kak tebya zovut?)

What's your name? (Informal)

Sounds like: kahk tyeh-BYAH zah-VOOT?

Меня зовут (Menya zovut)

My name is...

Sounds like: myeh-NYAH zah-VOOT

Здорово (Zdo-RO-vo)

Hey / What's Up

Sounds like: zdah-ROH-vah (unstressed 'o' sounds like 'ah')

Как дела? (Kak dela?)

How are you? (Informal)

Sounds like: kahk dyeh-LAH

Хорошо (Khorosho)

Good / Well

Sounds like: khah-rah-SHOH

Отлично (Otlichno)

Great

Sounds like: aht-LEECH-nah

Нормально (Normal'no)

Okay

Sounds like: nahr-MAHL'-nah

Хорошо, а у тебя? (Khorosho, a u tebya?)

Good, and you? (Informal)

Sounds like: khah-rah-SHOH, ah oo tyeh-BYAH?

Спасибо (Spasibo)

Thank you

Sounds like: spah-SEE-boh

Пока (Poka)

Bye (Informal)

Sounds like: pah-KAH

Я устал (Ya ustal)

I'm tired (Informal)

Sounds like: yah oo-STAH

Доброе утро (Dobroye utro)

Good Morning

Sounds like: DOH-bruh-yuh OO-truh

Добрый день (Dobryy den')

Good Afternoon

Sounds like: DOH-bryy DYEHN'

Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher)

Good Evening

Sounds like: DOH-bryy VYEH-chehr

Спокойной ночи (Spokoynoy nochi)

Good Night

Sounds like: spuh-KOY-noy NOH-cheet

Мы можем провести тренировку

Can we conduct training?

Sounds like: My móghem provestí treniróvku

Я понимаю только чуть-чуть

I only understand a little bit

Sounds like: Ya ponimáyu tól'ko chut'-chut'

Помедленнее, пожалуйста

Can you say that slower, Please?

Sounds like: Pomedlenniye, pozhálusta

Что это значит?

What does that mean?

Sounds like: Shto éto znáchit?

Я скоро вернусь

I'll be right back

Sounds like: yah SKOH-rah vyehr-NOOS'

Который час?

What time is it?

Sounds like: kah-TOH-ryy CHAHS?

Не за что.

No Problem / You're welcome

Sounds like: NYEH zah shtoh

Серьёзно? / Правда?

Really? / Serious?

Sounds like: seer-YOHZ-nah? / PRAHV-dah?

Я согласен

I agree

Sounds like: yah sah-GLAH-syen

Дай подумать...

Let me think...

Sounds like: day pah-DOO-maht'

Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)

Hi (Formal)

Sounds like: ZDRAHV-stvooy-tyeh

Как ваши дела? (Kak vashi dela?)

How are you? (Formal)

Sounds like: kahk vah-shee dyeh-LAH

Хорошо, а у вас? (Khorosho, a u vas?)

Good, and you? (Formal)

Sounds like: khah-rah-SHOH, ah oo vahs?

До свидания (Do svidaniya)

Goodbye (Formal)

Sounds like: duh svee-DAH-nyee-yuh

Вы можете помочь мне попрактиковать русский?

Can you help me practice Russian?

Sounds like: vy MOH-zheh-tyeh pah-MOHCH' myeh-NYEH puh-pruhk-tee-kah-VAHT' ROOS-keey?

The 'O' Rule (Vowel Reduction)

Unstressed 'O' sounds like 'ah' (e.g., Спасибо -> spah-SEE-boh, Хорошо -> khah-rah-SHOH)

The Soft Consonants ('Y' Effect)

Tongue moves to make a tiny 'y' sound, like 'few' or 'music' (e.g., Привет -> pree-VYET)

The Tough 'Ы' Sound

Smile wide, pull tongue back, and say 'ee' like you got punched in the stomach (e.g., Ты -> ty)