Vehicles

1. Машина

   Ma-shi-na

   Car

   Usage

   The everyday word for a car; forms and signs use the formal "avtomobil"

2. Автобус

   Av-to-bus

   City bus

   Usage

   The city bus; the stop is "ostanovka". In many cities you pay on board after getting on

3. Междугородный автобус

   Mezh-du-go-rod-nyy av-to-bus

   Long-distance coach

   Usage

   The intercity coach, leaving from the "avtovokzal" — the bus terminal

4. Маршрутка

   Mar-shrut-ka

   Shared minibus

   Usage

   A shared minibus on a fixed route; say "Ostanovite zdes" and the driver stops anywhere

   Grammar Note

   You hand the fare to the driver directly, often passed forward by other passengers

5. Троллейбус

   Trol-ley-bus

   Trolleybus

   Usage

   An electric bus drawing from overhead wires, still running in many cities

6. Трамвай

   Tram-vay

   Tram

   Usage

   The tram, found in cities across the country including Moscow and St Petersburg

7. Метро

   Met-ro

   Metro

   Usage

   The metro; the Moscow stations are famous enough to be sights in themselves

8. Электричка

   E-lek-trich-ka

   Suburban train

   Usage

   The suburban commuter train — the cheap way out to nearby towns and dacha country

   Grammar Note

   Buy at the station "kassa" or a machine; you cannot pass the gates without one

9. Поезд

   Po-yezd

   Train

   Usage

   The long-distance train; rail is still the backbone of intercity travel, often overnight

10. Сапсан

    Sap-san

    High-speed train

    Usage

    The high-speed train between Moscow and St Petersburg, about four hours, reserved seats only

11. Ласточка

    Las-toch-ka

    Fast regional train

    Usage

    A faster regional train used on medium-distance runs such as Sochi and Nizhny Novgorod

12. Плацкарт

    Plats-kart

    Open sleeper carriage

    Usage

    The open sleeper carriage on a night train — no compartments, and the cheapest class

    Grammar Note

    The side lower berths are cramped; a lower berth — "nizhneye mesto" — is the comfortable pick

13. Купе

    Ku-pe

    Four-berth compartment

    Usage

    A four-berth compartment with a door that closes — the easier choice travelling alone

14. Такси

    Tak-si

    Taxi

    Usage

    App-hailed taxis are the norm and are safer and clearer on price than flagging a car down

15. Мотоцикл

    Mo-to-tsikl

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    A motorbike is a hobby vehicle here rather than everyday city transport

16. Велосипед

    Ve-lo-si-ped

    Bicycle

    Usage

    The bicycle; big cities have app-based bike sharing

17. Самокат

    Sa-mo-kat

    E-scooter

    Usage

    The e-scooter, now widespread in big cities and speed-limited on pavements

18. Самолёт

    Sa-mo-lyot

    Airplane

    Usage

    Given the distances, flying is the realistic option to Siberia and the Far East

19. Теплоход

    Tep-lo-khod

    River boat

    Usage

    The river boat, used for cruises on the Volga and sightseeing on the Moskva

20. Паром

    Pa-rom

    Ferry

    Usage

    The ferry — for Baltic crossings or the boats on Lake Baikal

21. Скорая помощь

    Sko-ra-ya po-moshch'

    Ambulance

    Usage

    The ambulance. Dial 103, or 112 for the single emergency number

22. Прокат автомобилей

    Pro-kat av-to-mo-bi-ley

    Rental car

    Usage

    Car rental; expect to show an international licence and a credit card

23. Грузовик

    Gru-zo-vik

    Truck

    Usage

    The truck, a word that comes up around roadworks and highways

24. Каршеринг

    Kar-she-ring

    Car sharing

    Usage

    Car sharing by the minute is huge in Moscow, though signing up needs local documents

25. Аэроэкспресс

    A-e-ro-eks-press

    Airport express

    Usage

    The direct airport train in Moscow — the way to skip the traffic

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