Russian Alphabet

А а

А а

"ah" like in "father" or "car"

К к

"keh" like in "kitten" or "kangaroo"

М м

"meh" like in "man"

O o

stressed: "oh" like in "bore" unstressed: like "a"

Т т

"teh" like in "tap"

В в

"veh" like in "vet"

Е е

"yeh" like in "yes"

Н н

"nuh" like in "no"

Р р

rolled "ruh" like in "run"

С с

"seh" like in "see"

У у

"oo" like in "boot" or "root"

Х х

"heh" like in "hello", often pronounced like "chk" in "bach"

Б б

"beh" like in "bat"

Г г

"guh" like in "go"

Д д

"duh" like in "dog"

З з

"zuh" like in "zoo"

И и

"ee" like in "see"

Л л

"luh" like in "love"

П п

"puh" like in "pot"

Ф ф

"fuh" like in "fat"

Э э

"eh" like in "fed"

Ю ю

"yoo" like in "universe", pronounced like english word "you"

Я я

"yah" like in "yard"

Ё ё

"yah" like in "yonder"

Ж ж

"zjuh" like in "measure" or "pleasure" or "fusion" OR like in "beige"

Ц ц

"ts" like in "sits" or "its"

Ч ч

"chuh" like in "chips" or "church"

Ш ш

"shuh" like in "shut"

Щ щ

Pronounced like "shuh" but with your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Try putting your tongue in the same position as you would to say "ch" but say "sh" instead. English speakers may find it hard to define the difference between "ш" and "щ"

Ы ы

"eeh" like in "bit" or "ill"

Й й

used for diphthongs like "oy" in "boy" or "i" in "sigh"

Ъ ъ

hard sign, rarely used, indicates slight pause between syllables

Ь ь

soft sign, makes previous letter soft like "pew" (Try inflecting a very slight "y" sound onto letter before it.)