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Essential Russian phrases
for travellers (printable)
how to say hello in russian
Здравствуйте — ZDRAST-vooy-tyeh — is how you say hello in Russian. It works at any hour, anywhere the language is spoken, with anyone. Pair it with Спасибо (spah-SEE-bah) for thank you and you already have the two words you will use most.
Below are 36 phrases worth knowing before you land, grouped by the situation you will need them in. Every one has a plain-English respelling — stressed syllable in capitals — because IPA is no use to anyone standing at a pharmacy counter. Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and widely across the former Soviet states — around 255 million speakers. Also searched as Russia.
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The whole card, on one page
All 36 phrases on a single sheet — print it, fold it into a passport, or keep it on your phone. Free, no signup, no watermark.
The essentials
The six words that carry most of a trip.
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| Hello | ЗдравствуйтеZDRAST-vooy-tyehПривет (pree-VYET) is the informal version. |
| Goodbye | До свиданияdah svee-DAH-nee-yah |
| Please | Пожалуйстаpah-ZHAH-loo-stahAlso means "you’re welcome". |
| Thank you | Спасибоspah-SEE-bah |
| Yes / No | Да / Нетdah / nyet |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Извинитеeez-vee-NEE-tyeh |
Getting by
What to say when the conversation outruns you.
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Вы говорите по-английски?vy gah-vah-REE-tyeh pah ahn-GLEE-skee |
| I don't understand | Я не понимаюyah nyeh pah-nee-MAH-yoo |
| Could you repeat that? | Повторите, пожалуйстаpahf-tah-REE-tyeh pah-ZHAH-loo-stah |
| Please speak slowly | Говорите медленноgah-vah-REE-tyeh MYED-lyen-nah |
| My name is… | Меня зовут…mee-NYAH zah-VOOT |
| Nice to meet you | Очень приятноOH-cheen pree-YAHT-nah |
Getting around
Streets, stations and the one question everyone needs.
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | Где…?gdyeh |
| How do I get to…? | Как пройти к…?kahk prahy-TEE k |
| Where is the toilet? | Где туалет?gdyeh too-ah-LYET |
| Left / Right | Налево / Направоnah-LYEH-vah / nah-PRAH-vah |
| Straight ahead | ПрямоPRYAH-mah |
| Is it far? | Это далеко?EH-tah dah-lee-KOH |
Food and drink
Ordering, allergies, and asking for the bill.
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Столик на двоихSTOH-leek nah dvah-EEKH |
| The menu, please | Меню, пожалуйстаmee-NYOO pah-ZHAH-loo-stah |
| I would like… | Я хочу…yah khah-CHOO |
| Water, please | Воду, пожалуйстаVOH-doo pah-ZHAH-loo-stah |
| I am allergic to… | У меня аллергия на…oo mee-NYAH ah-leer-GEE-yah nah |
| The bill, please | Счёт, пожалуйстаshchoht pah-ZHAH-loo-stah |
Shopping and money
Prices, cards, and politely not buying anything.
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | Сколько стоит?SKOL-kah STOH-eet |
| That's too expensive | Это слишком дорогоEH-tah SLEESH-kahm DOH-rah-gah |
| Do you take cards? | Можно картой?MOZH-nah KAR-tahy |
| I am just looking | Я просто смотрюyah PROH-stah smah-TRYOO |
| Do you have…? | У вас есть…?oo vahs yest |
| A receipt, please | Чек, пожалуйстаchyek pah-ZHAH-loo-stah |
Emergencies
Worth reading once before you need them.
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| Help! | Помогите!pah-mah-GEE-tyeh |
| Call the police | Вызовите полициюVY-zah-vee-tyeh pah-LEE-tsee-yoo |
| Call an ambulance | Вызовите скоруюVY-zah-vee-tyeh SKOH-roo-yoo |
| I need a doctor | Мне нужен врачmnyeh NOO-zhen vrahch |
| I am lost | Я заблудилсяyah zah-bloo-DEEL-syahЗаблудилась (zah-bloo-DEE-lahs) if you are female. |
| Where is the hospital? | Где больница?gdyeh bahl-NEE-tsah |
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Four things that fix
most of the accent
Unstressed о becomes "ah"
Хорошо (good) is written with three o’s and said khah-rah-SHOH. Only the stressed vowel keeps its full value — which is why the capitals below matter more in Russian than in most languages.
Cyrillic is full of false friends
Р is R, not P. Н is N. В is V. С is S. Х is a throaty kh. Once those five stop tricking you, most signs become readable.
ы has no English equivalent
Say "ee" and pull your tongue back towards your throat. Approximating it with "i" is perfectly understood.
Здравствуйте is easier than it looks
Eleven letters, but only ZDRAST-vooy-tyeh. If it defeats you, Привет (pree-VYET) works with anyone young and informal.
Spotted a mistake in the Russian? Tell us and we will fix it.
You will not remember
all 36
Nobody does. OmniTalk speaks Russian for you in real time — point the camera at a menu, or put the phone between you and let it translate both sides of the conversation as you talk. It works offline once you download the language, so it keeps going when your roaming does not.