Russian, the official language, can be difficult for Westerners to read as it is written in Cyrillic script. It is, however, worth taking a bit of time to learn the letters as it will make any time spent in Russia much easier. For example, the indecipherable PECTOPAH can be transliterated into RESTORAN, giving a much better indication that this is a place to get a meal. Russian has a lot of similarities to other Slavic languages, and to a degree they are mutually comprehensible, especially Ukrainian. English is not common in Moscow; it is usually only spoken by those in business or in the tourist trade.

Phrases

Yes - Da
No - Nyet
Hello - Zdrástvuitye
Goodbye - Do svidanya
Please - Pazhawsta
Thank you - Spassíba
My name is … - Minya zavoot …
How are you? - Kak vi pazhivayetye?
I’m very well - U minya xarasho
I feel ill - Ya bolyen (male) / ya bolna (female)
How much does it cost? - Skolka stoyit?
Do you speak English? - Gavaritye pa anglisski?
I don’t understand - Ya ne panimayu
Where is …? - Gdye …?
Entrance - Vxot
Exit - Víxod
Danger - Apásnost
Open - Atkrity
Closed - Zakrity
Toilets - Tualyet
Doctor - Vrach
Hotel - Gastínitsa
Restaurant - Ristorán
Beer - Peeva
Wine - Vine
Menu - Minú
Today - Sivay án
Tomorrow - Zavtra
Monday - Panedyélnik
Tuesday - Vtesday Wednesday Sryedá
Thursday - Chetvyérk
Friday - Pyátneetsa
Saturday - Suobrday
Sunday - Vaskresyénye
One - Adeen
Two - Dva
Three - Tri
Four - Chetíriye
Five - Pyat
Six - Shest
Seven - Syem
Eight - Vosyem
Nine - Dyévyat
Ten - Dyésyat
Twenty - Dvátset
Thirty - Trítset
Forty - Sorty
Fifty - Pyetdesyát
Sixty - Shistdyesyát
Seventy - Syémdyesyat
Eighty - Vightysyat
Ninety - Divyansyat
One Hundred - Sto
One Thousand - Tísicha

© 2006 Columbus Travel Publishing Ltd. Disclaimer

Language:
Currency: