Basic Nouns

32 phrases · Russian with romanization, English and audio

  1. Вода

    Vo-da

    Water

    Usage

    The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

    Grammar Note

    Headwords are nominative (the dictionary case). Prepositions and verbs change it: accusative воду, genitive воды.

  2. Еда

    Ye-da

    Food

    Usage

    The general word when you are looking for something to eat

  3. Деньги

    Den'-gi

    Money

    Usage

    Comes up when paying or changing currency

    Grammar Note

    "Деньги" exists only in the plural; there is no singular form in use.

  4. Туалет

    Tu-a-let

    Toilet

    Usage

    The word alone is enough to ask for directions

  5. Салфетки

    Sal-fet-ki

    Tissue

    Usage

    For asking at a shop or a diner

  6. Лекарство

    Le-kar-stvo

    Medicine

    Usage

    The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

  7. Багаж

    Ba-gazh

    Luggage

    Usage

    For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

  8. Ключ

    Klyuch

    Key

    Usage

    For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

  9. Билет

    Bi-let

    Ticket

    Usage

    The base word for transport and admission tickets

  10. Паспорт

    Pas-port

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

  11. Телефон

    Te-le-fon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

  12. Зарядное устройство

    Za-ryad-no-ye ust-roy-stvo

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

  13. Вокзал

    Vok-zal

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

  14. Больница

    Bol'-ni-tsa

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

  15. Полиция

    Po-li-tsi-ya

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

  16. Магазин

    Ma-ga-zin

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

  17. Комната

    Kom-na-ta

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

  18. Дорога

    Do-ro-ga

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

  19. Семья

    Sem'-ya

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

  20. Имя

    I-mya

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

  21. Голова

    Go-lo-va

    Head

    Usage

    Point at this to report a problem with your head

  22. Глаз

    Glaz

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at this to report an eye problem

  23. Зуб

    Zub

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at this to report a toothache

  24. Горло

    Gor-lo

    Throat

    Usage

    Reports a sore throat; the outside of the neck is a different word, "sheya"

  25. Живот

    Zhi-vot

    Stomach (belly)

    Usage

    Point at this to report stomach pain

  26. Спина

    Spi-na

    Back

    Usage

    Reports back pain; the lower back is a separate word, "poyasnitsa"

  27. Поясница

    Po-yas-ni-tsa

    Lower back

    Usage

    Reports lower-back pain; the whole back is "spina"

  28. Нога

    No-ga

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Russian "noga" covers the whole limb from thigh to toes — point at your own body to show where it hurts

  29. Рука

    Ru-ka

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Russian "ruka" covers both hand and arm — point at your own body to show where you mean

  30. Грудная клетка

    Grud-na-ya klet-ka

    Chest

    Usage

    A neutral word for the chest; "grud" on its own can also mean the breasts, so it is avoided here

  31. Пожарная машина

    Po-zhar-na-ya ma-shi-na

    Fire engine

    Usage

    The everyday word for a fire engine; written and official Russian uses "pozharnyy avtomobil'"

  32. Консульство

    Kon-sul'-stvo

    Consulate

    Usage

    For finding your country's consulate after losing a passport; the embassy in the capital is "posol'stvo"

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