101 Basic Russian Phrases for Travel in Russia

The Russian language is wonderful if you're travelling through a country like Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and of course Russia itself! Overall, there are about 250 million Russophones spread over East Europe and Central Asia. No doubt, you'll find plenty of places there that are more than worth visiting.

If you're planning to travel through any Russian speaking country, English is only going to take you so far. While a lot of people speak it, you'll have a much easier and enjoyable time if you have some Russian under your belt. So a toolbox of some basic Russian words and phrases will make your experience more fun and give you a chance to impress the locals. It will also help you improve your Russian in no time.

So for this article we're going to give you the 101 more important Russian phrases for travelling.

The Absolute Essential Russian Words for Travel

Below we've gone over a range of topics to give you 101 essential phrases for Russian travel. This goes from the very basics to ordering out at a restaurant and what to say in an emergency. So with these basic phrases in Russian, you should have no problem introducing yourself, shopping, or travelling in a Russian speaking area.

The Very Basic Russian Phrases.

So let's get things started with the very, very basic words that you'll need to get by. This includes things like hello, yes, and no.

1. Здравствуйте. Hello (formal)
2. Привет. Hello (less formal)
3. Доброе утро. Good morning
4. Добрый день. Good day/good afternoon
5. Добрый вечер. Good evening
6. Очень приятно. Nice to meet you
7. Пожалуйста. Please
8. Спасибо. Thank you
9. Пожалуйста. You’re welcome
10. Не за что. You're welcome (less formal)
11. Да. Yes
12. Нет. No
13. Извините. Excuse me. (getting attention or begging pardon).
14. Простите. Excuse me. (begging pardon)
15. Простите. I'm sorry
16. где туалет? Where's the toilet?
17. Что это такое? What is this?
18. Это. This thing
19. До свидания. Goodbye
20. Пока. Goodbye (informal)

Communication Problems in Russian

Of course, you're bound to run into a few problems trying to communicate in Russian. For that you can use these phrases to make things easier.

21. Я не говорю по-русски (хорошо). I can't speak Russian (well)
22. Вы говорите по-английски? Do you speak English?
23. Здесь кто-то говорит по-английски? Is there someone here who speaks English.
24. Я не понимаю. I don't understand
25. Я не знаю - I don't know
26. Я не услышал/а - I didn't hear you (m/f)
27. Повторите, пожалуйста. Can you repeat that?

Introducing Yourself in Russian

Now that we've gone over the communication essentials in Russian, we can move onto the fun stuff. The parts where you actually get to talk about yourself and others.

28. Как Вас зовут? What is your name?
29. Меня зовут ... . My name is ... .
30. Откуда вы? Where are you from?
31. Я из ..... I'm from
32. Как дела? How are you?
33. Хорошо. Good/well
34. Не хорошо. Not good
35. Плохо. Bad(ly)

Numbers-How to Count in Russian

If you're travelling, you're going to be shopping and that means knowing your numbers is absolutely essential. Take a look at the list below, so you know how much money to give the shopkeeper at the restaurant or kiosk.

36. Один. one
37. Два. two
38. Три. three
39. Четыре. four
40. Пять. five
41. Шесть. six
42. Семь. seven
43. Восемь. eight
44. Девять. nine
45. Десять. Ten
46. Двадцать. Twenty
47. Тридцать. Thirty
48. Сорок. Fourty
49. Пятдесят. Fifty
50. Шестьдесят. Sixty
51. Семьдесят. Seventy
52. Восемьдесят. Eighty
53. Девяносто. Ninety
54. Сто. One hundred.
55. Сколько стоит? How much does it cost?

Ordering Food and Eating Out in Russian

Of course, once you know how to talk about numbers you should also get ready to go out and enjoy some food. If you're in Russia, you'll have a lot of options for cuisine including borsch, shchi, and shashlyk. You can find something at a kiosk, restaurant, or bar. So find something вкусный (tasty).

56. Ресторан. Restaurant
57. Бар. Bar
58. Вода. Water
59. Завтрак. Breakfast
60. Обед. Lunch
61. Ужин. Dinner
62. Я хочу... I want...
63. Дайте....., пожалуйста ..... I’d like a .... please
64. Кофе. Coffee
65. Суп. Soup
66. Чай. Tea
67. Я вегетарианец. I'm a vegetarian
68. я не ем свинину. I don't eat pork
69. я не ем мясо. I don't eat meat
70. Я принимаю только кошерную пищу. I only eat Kosher
71. Счёт, пожалуйста. Check, please

Travel And Transport

If you don't plan to spend all of your time in one spot, it's good to know how to get somewhere else.

72. Билет. Ticket
73. Автобус. Bus
74. Поезд. Train
75. Такси. Taxi
76. Лет. Flight
77. Метро. Subway/metro
78. Когда? When?
79. Сколько времени? At what time?
80. Который час? At what time?
81. Один билет в .... , пожалуйста. One ticket to ... please.

Directions

82. Как добраться до ... ? How do I get to...?
83. где находится...? Where is the...?
84. Хостел. Hostel
85. Гостиница. Hotel
86. Улица. Street
87. Направо. To the right
88. Налево. To the left
89. Вперёд. Straight ahead
90. Это недалеко отсюда. It’s not far away from here.
91. Это очень далеко. It’s very far.

Emergencies

Hopefully, you're trip to a Russian speaking country will go smoothly and without any problems. But it's always good to be prepared. So if you find yourself in a difficult situation, you'll know just what to say.

92. Полиция! - Police
93. Мне нужна ваша помощь. I need your help
94. Это срочно! It's an emergency.
95. Я заблудился/заблудилась - (m/f).) I'm lost
96. Я потерял(а) свою сумку. I lost my bag (m/f)
97. Я потерял(а) свой бумажник. I lost my wallet (m/f)
98. Я потерял(а) свой паспорт. I lost my passport (m/f)
99. Я болен (m.) / Я больна (f.) I'm sick
100. Я ранен(а) I've been injured (m/f)
101. Мне нужен врач. I need a doctor

How to Learn Basic Russian Vocabulary

What we've put down here will give you a great start into exploring the culture and people of so many Russian speaking countries and regions. However, if you want to go further in learning the Russian language, the only way is with plenty of practice. And for practicing Russian and more you can rely on Speechling!

With Speechling, you can listen to plenty of basic phrases in Russian and then practice saying them yourself. Then our language coaches will give you tips so that you can move from the basics of Russian to higher and higher levels until your talking with native speakers with ease!