Directions

1. Как мне добраться до Красной площади?

   Kak mne do-brat'-sya do Kras-noy plosh-cha-di?

   How do I get to Red Square?

   Usage

   Basic expression for asking directions. Replace the destination as needed.

   Grammar Note

   "Добраться до + genitive" = to reach/get to a place. Replace with "Эрмитажа" (Hermitage) or other destinations.

2. Идите прямо, потом поверните направо

   I-di-te pryamo, po-tom po-ver-ni-te na-pra-vo

   Go straight ahead, then turn right

   Usage

   Used when giving or confirming directions

   Grammar Note

   "Прямо" = straight ahead, "направо" = to the right. The "-те" ending on "Идите" and "поверните" marks the polite (вы) imperative. For left, use "налево".

3. Где ближайшая станция метро?

   Gde bli-zhay-sha-ya stan-tsi-ya met-ro?

   Where is the nearest metro station?

   Usage

   Used to find the nearest metro station. Moscow and St. Petersburg have extensive metro systems.

   Grammar Note

   Russian metro stations are often deep underground and famous for their ornate architecture. A tourist attraction in themselves.

4. Это далеко отсюда?

   E-to da-le-ko ot-syu-da?

   Is it far from here?

   Usage

   Used to check how far a destination is from your current location

   Grammar Note

   Opposite of "далеко" is "близко" (close/near). Common reply: "недалеко" (not far).

5. Остановите здесь, пожалуйста

   Os-ta-no-vi-te zdes', po-zha-luy-sta

   Please stop here

   Usage

   Used in a taxi or rideshare to ask the driver to stop

   Grammar Note

   In taxis, combine with "На следующем перекрёстке" (at the next intersection) for more specific instructions.

6. Покажите мне на карте, пожалуйста

   Po-ka-zhi-te mne na kar-te, po-zha-luy-sta

   Please show me on the map

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are hard to follow; ask someone to point on a map

   Grammar Note

   "На карте" uses the prepositional case of "карта". Very effective when used alongside a smartphone map app.

7. Я заблудился

   Ya za-blu-dil-sya

   I am lost

   Usage

   Used to tell someone you are lost and need help

   Grammar Note

   Women say "заблудилась". Follow with "Помогите мне, пожалуйста" (please help me) for a complete request.

8. Сколько минут пешком?

   Skol'-ko mi-nut pesh-kom?

   How many minutes on foot?

   Usage

   Used to ask how long it takes to reach a destination on foot

   Grammar Note

   "Сколько" governs the genitive. Replace "пешком" with "на метро" (by metro) or "на такси" (by taxi) as needed.

9. На каком автобусе мне ехать?

   Na ka-kom av-to-bu-se mne ye-khat'?

   Which bus should I take?

   Usage

   Used to ask which bus or tram to take to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Ехать" is used for transport-based travel. "Идти" is for going on foot. This distinction is important in Russian.

10. Это правильная дорога до вокзала?

    E-to pra-vil'-na-ya do-ro-ga do vok-za-la?

    Is this the right road to the train station?

    Usage

    Used to confirm you are heading in the right direction

    Grammar Note

    "Вокзал" = railway station. Replace with "аэропорт" (airport) or "автовокзал" (bus terminal) as needed.

11. Направо

    Na-pra-vo

    Right (turn right)

    Usage

    Point at this to indicate the direction in a taxi or on foot

12. Налево

    Na-le-vo

    Left (turn left)

    Usage

    Point at this to indicate the direction in a taxi or on foot

13. Прямо

    Prya-mo

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    A single word to tell a driver or guide to keep going straight

14. Назад

    Na-zad

    Back (go back)

    Usage

    Show this to a driver when you have gone too far and need to go back

15. Остановите

    Os-ta-no-vi-te

    Stop (the car)

    Usage

    Show this to a taxi driver to stop; one word stays readable while the car is moving

16. Автобусная остановка

    Av-to-bus-na-ya os-ta-nov-ka

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point at this to say a bus stop is where you want to go

17. Метро

    Met-ro

    Metro (subway)

    Usage

    Point at this to find a metro station; entrances are marked with a red Cyrillic М

18. Посольство

    Po-sol'-stvo

    Embassy

    Usage

    The bare word for an embassy; the Japanese embassy is "posolstvo Yaponii"

19. Банкомат

    Ban-ko-mat

    ATM

    Usage

    Point at this and people will help you find a cash machine

20. Обмен валюты

    Ob-men va-lyu-ty

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Point at this to find an exchange counter; the same wording appears on signs

21. Прачечная самообслуживания

    Pra-chech-na-ya sa-mo-ob-slu-zhi-va-ni-ya

    Self-service laundromat

    Usage

    A place where you run the machines yourself; a drop-off dry cleaner is "khimchistka"

22. Гостиница

    Gos-ti-ni-tsa

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point at this to say you want to get back to your hotel; also the most common word on signs

23. Аэропорт

    A-e-ro-port

    Airport

    Usage

    Point at this to tell a driver you are going to the airport

24. Север

    Se-ver

    North

    Usage

    Used when checking a map or bearings

25. Юг

    Yug

    South

    Usage

    Used when checking a map or bearings

26. Восток

    Vos-tok

    East

    Usage

    Used when checking a map or bearings

27. Запад

    Za-pad

    West

    Usage

    Used when checking a map or bearings

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