The Around the World phrasebook
Let's learn traveller's Russian
Not the school kind — the airport, taxi and dinner-table kind. Every phrase with a say-it-out-loud pronunciation.
Nobody expects you to speak fluent Russian. But ten words in the right places — and the market seller smiles, the driver drops the price, the waiter brings the good stuff. We've gathered 65 phrases that actually work, sorted by the moment you'll need them: the landing, the taxi, check-in, the table. Each with a pronunciation you can read aloud without cringing.
Phrasebook · 1/8
First words
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (formal) | Здравствуйте | ZDRA-stvooy-teh |
| Hello (informal) | Привет | pri-VYET |
| Goodbye | До свидания | dah svee-DAH-nya |
| Thank you | Спасибо | spa-SEE-bah |
| Please/You're welcome | Пожалуйста | pa-ZHAL-stah |
| Yes | Да | dah |
| No | Нет | nyet |
| Sorry | Извините | eez-vee-NEE-teh |
| I don't understand | Я не понимаю | ya neh pa-nee-MA-yoo |
| Do you speak English? | Вы говорите по-английски? | vui ga-va-REE-teh pa-an-GLEES-kee |
Phrasebook · 2/8
Courtesy & introductions
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Доброе утро | DA-bro-yeh OO-tra |
| Good evening | Добрый вечер | DA-bri VYE-cher |
| How are you? | Как дела? | KAK dee-LA |
| My name is... | Меня зовут... | mi-NYA za-VOOT |
| Nice to meet you | Приятно познакомиться | pri-YAT-na paz-na-KO-mit-sa |
| I'm from Israel | Я из Израиля | YA iz iz-RA-il-ya |
| See you | До свидания | da-svi-DA-ni-ya |
Phrasebook · 3/8
At the airport & on the flight
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the gate? | Где выход на посадку? | GDEH VEE-khod na pa-SAD-ku? |
| Is the flight delayed? | Рейс задерживается? | REYS za-DZER-zhi-vuy-ET-sya? |
| Boarding pass | Посадочный талон | pa-SAD-och-nee ta-LON |
| My luggage hasn’t arrived | Мой багаж не прибыл | MOY ba-GASH ne PREE-bil |
| I have a connecting flight | У меня пересадка | oo mee-NYA pe-re-SAD-ka |
| Window/aisle seat | Место у окна/в проходе | MEST-u oo ak-NA/v pra-KHO-de |
| Where is passport control? | Где паспортный контроль? | GDEH PAS-part-nee kon-TROL? |
Phrasebook · 4/8
Transport & directions
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| To this address, please. | К этому адресу, пожалуйста. | K EH-to-moo AD-reh-soo, pa-ZHA-loos-ta. |
| How much to the center? | Сколько до центра? | SKOL'-ka da TSEN-tra? |
| One ticket to… | Один билет до… | a-DEEN bi-LET da… |
| Which platform? | Какой перрон? | ka-KOY pe-RON? |
| Where is the bus station? | Где автобусная станция? | GDYE av-TO-bus-na-ya STAN-tsi-ya? |
| Stop here, please. | Остановите здесь, пожалуйста. | a-sta-na-VEE-teh ZDYES', pa-ZHA-loos-ta. |
| Is it far? | Это далеко? | E-ta da-lee-KO? |
| Turn left/right. | Поверните налево/направо. | pa-veer-NEE-teh na-LE-va/na-PRA-va. |
| Straight. | Прямо. | PRYA-ma. |
Phrasebook · 5/8
Hotel & stay
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| I have a reservation | У меня бронь | oo men-YA BRON |
| check-in | Регистрация | re-gis-TRA-tsi-ya |
| check-out | Выезд | VY-ezd |
| Is breakfast included? | Завтрак включён? | ZAV-trak fkloo-CHON |
| room key | Ключ от номера | klooCH ot NO-me-ra |
| Wi-Fi password | Пароль от Wi-Fi | pa-ROL' ot VAI-fai |
| Can I leave my luggage? | Можно оставить багаж? | MOZH-na a-sta-VIT' ba-GAZH? |
| The air conditioner doesn't work | Кондиционер не работает | kon-di-tsi-o-NER ne ra-BO-ta-yet |
Phrasebook · 6/8
Restaurant & food
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Table for two | столик на двоих | STO-lik nah dva-YIKH |
| The menu, please | меню, пожалуйста | me-NYU, pa-ZHA-lus-ta |
| What do you recommend? | что вы посоветуете? | shto vy pa-sa-VE-tu-ye-te? |
| The bill, please | счёт, пожалуйста | shchot, pa-ZHA-lus-ta |
| Tap water | водопроводная вода | va-da-pra-VOD-na-ya va-DA |
| I have a nut allergy | у меня аллергия на орехи | u mi-NYA al-LER-gi-ya na a-RE-khi |
| No meat | без мяса | bez MYA-sa |
| It was excellent | это было отлично | E-ta BY-la at-LEECH-na |
| Can I pay by card? | можно заплатить картой? | MOZH-na za-pla-TIT' KAR-toy? |
Phrasebook · 7/8
Shopping & money
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | Сколько это стоит? | SKOL-ka E-ta STO-it? |
| It's too expensive. | Это слишком дорого. | E-ta SLEESH-kam DO-ra-ga. |
| Do you accept cards? | Вы принимаете карты? | VY pri-nee-MA-ye-te KAR-ty? |
| I'm just looking. | Я просто смотрю. | YA PROS-ta smat-RYU. |
| Can I have a receipt? | Можно чек? | MOZH-na CHEK? |
| Where is an ATM? | Где банкомат? | GDYE banko-MAT? |
| A smaller size. | Меньший размер. | MEN-shee raz-MER. |
Phrasebook · 8/8
Emergencies & health
| What you want to say | Russian | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Помогите! | po-ma-GI-teh |
| Call a doctor | Вызовите врача | vi-zo-VI-teh v'ra-CHA |
| Call the police | Вызовите полицию | vi-zo-VI-teh po-LI-tsi-yu |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Где аптека? | gd'YEH ap-TYE-ka |
| I don't feel well | Мне плохо | mn'YEH PLO-kha |
| I'm lost | Я потерялся | ya po-tye-RYAL-sya |
| I need a hospital | Мне нужна больница | mn'YEH nu-ZHNA bol-NI-tsa |
| It hurts here | У меня здесь болит | u mn'YA zd'YES' bo-LIT |
Q&A
Answers to your questions
How do you say "thank you" in Russian?
"Спасибо" (spa-SEE-bah). It's one of the five words worth knowing by heart before you land.
How much Russian do I need for a trip?
Not much. Five or six courtesy words (hello, thank you, please, sorry, yes/no) open doors, and another ten to fifteen phrases for fixed situations — a taxi, check-in, the restaurant bill — cover almost any trip. The rest: a camera-translation app.
Can you get by in English where Russian is spoken?
In city centres, hotels and tourist sites — usually yes, especially with younger people. Outside them — markets, transport, small towns — a few words of the local language make a real difference and are warmly received.
Which countries have Russian as an official language?
Russian is a main language in 4 countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia.
What's the difference between the formal and casual greeting?
Most languages have a formal "hello" for strangers, service staff and elders, and an everyday version for friends and peers. As a traveller it's always safer to open with the formal one — nobody is offended by too much politeness.
How do you politely ask someone to speak English?
"Вы говорите по-английски?" (vui ga-va-REE-teh pa-an-GLEES-kee) — "do you speak English?". Lead with "excuse me" in the local language and it comes across as respectful.
About this page
Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.
Sources: Phrasebook: the Around the World team · Language-to-country: Around the World data