By sarahbabcock Last updated: March 8, 2022

21 Russian Expressions for Adding Color to Your Conversation Skills

When it comes to mastering Russian, don’t limit yourself to beginner phrases or stock sayings. Mix in some authentic expressions.

In this post, I’ll show you 21 fun, colorful Russian expressions to put your language skills to the test.

Using these colorful expressions will take you one step closer to using the Russian language the way a native speaker would!

Why Learn Russian Expressions?
Tools to Practice Russian Expressions
Speak Real Russian with These 21 Authentic Expressions

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Why Learn Russian Expressions?

There’s a lot to master in Russian already: the alphabet, the case system, verbs of motion… Why add expressions to the list? And what are “expressions,” anyway?

First things first, expressions are informal words or phrases that are used most commonly in spoken language. Expressions can include colloquialisms, sayings and slang. They’re different from idioms in that the meaning of an expression can usually be understood from the language itself, whereas idioms are almost always figurative.

“Good luck!” is an expression, while “break a leg!” is an idiom. Russian has lots of wonderful idioms—it’s worth picking some up along with the expressions listed below.

And why is it worth learning Russian expressions (or idioms)? Here are just three reasons for starters:

Understanding expressions helps you communicate better. We use colloquialisms and slang in our everyday language, and knowing some of those sayings in Russian will allow you to pick up more nuance in your conversations and make yourself better understood.

Expressions provide a window into culture. English and Russian sometimes express similar ideas in very different ways, which provides some insight into our cultural differences (and similarities!).

Finally, expressions are a great way to liven up the vocabulary and grammar you’re learning. It’s nice to be able to throw a ты с ума сошёл (you’ve lost your mind) into your practice session on ordering in a restaurant.

Tools to Practice Russian Expressions

So if you’re ready to start picking up some Russian expressions, where do you go to learn them? In this day and age, the internet, of course.

In addition to the starter pack of Russian expressions listed below, there are plenty of great online resources for learning even more Russian expressions.

MasterRussian.com: This site has lots of Russian-language resources, broken down by topic area and split into lessons. There’s even an entire section on common proverbs and sayings.
FluentU: FluentU’s tool of choice for language learning is video-based media. From these videos, you can listen to native Russian speech, which will be jam-packed with expressions. You can also save unknown words and phrases to your flashcards for later review.
YouTube: YouTube has loads of Russian-language resources. There are many short videos covering basic and intermediate phrases, as well as segments on romantic phrases and compliments.

Speak Real Russian with These 21 Authentic Expressions

Here are some basic Russian expressions to start off with. Try mixing these into conversation with your Russian classmates or friends. They’ll be impressed by your authentic speech!

Talk Among Yourselves: Expressions for Conversation

Conversations with native Russian speakers usually include more, well, conversational language than the average guidebook or beginner’s textbook provides. So to really understand what your Russian friends are saying, and to make yourself understood, it’s worth learning some basic conversational expressions. Here are a handful to get you started:

Беспредел

Translated, it means, “without boundaries; bedlam; lawlessness; where’s this world going?”

Russians use this to express disbelief and a little bit of awe. They might use it in a sentence like the following while shaking their head:

Misha went out clubbing at 10 p.m. last night and didn’t make it back until 10 this morning. Беспредел!

Да нет

Literally, this expression means “yes no.”

But Russians use it to mean “not really,” with the same meaning as your response when your mom asked you, “Did you and your friends really sneak alcohol into the prom?” “Да нет, Mom, it was just a small flask…”

Yes, there’s probably an entire Ph.D dissertation somewhere explaining this expression.

Да ты/вы что

“Yes you what.” Your guess is as good as mine for where this expression came from, but it’s used to express surprise and disbelief, as in:

Maksim and I drank all the vodka last night.

What?! Да ты что?

Pro tip: The appropriate response to да ты что isn’t да я что (yes I what). I tried that with some Russian friends and just got blank stares in response.

Давай

Давай means “give,” but Russians have made it into a multipurpose word, using it as shorthand for “do it,” “let’s,” “go” and more.

Spend any time in Russia and you’ll hear it a lot.

Masha, you take the last piece of pickled herring. Давай!

You also might hear a conversation like:

Masha, should we take herring to the soccer game?

Yes, давай возьмём! (Let’s take it/Let’s do that!)

Or you might cheer on the star soccer player at the game:

Давай! Давай! Давай!

Ничего себе

This one literally means, “nothing to oneself.”

This saying expresses mild disbelief and/or interest with a twinge of envy, as in:

Sasha just got back from a three-week vacation in Greece.

Ничего себе!

Кошмар, Ужас

Nightmare, horror. These are the filler words you use when your bestie is telling you about the latest drama with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Accompanying head shakes and sympathetic clucks are optional.

Целую

“I kiss [you].” Close friends, usually women, will close a conversation with this sweet expression.

You can use it as a closing in written communications with friends, too.

I Object! Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Once you’ve got some basic conversational expressions under your belt, it’s time to add ways to agree and disagree with your conversation partners to the mix. These are pretty straightforward, but will improve your ability to hold forth with your Russian friends.

Я согласен/согласна

I agree.

Правда

True or truth.

Возможно

It’s possible.

Само собой разумеется

It’s self-evident.

Нет, наоборот

No, it’s the opposite.

Ты с ума сошёл/сошла

You’ve lost your mind.

Wandering Soul? Expressions for Travel

Travel phrases are usually among the first sayings we learn, and with good reason. You do really need to know where the туалет (restroom) is, after all. Here are some additional expressions that are a little off the beaten path, but still used frequently in Russia.

Сядем на дорожку

“Sitting on the road.” This expression gets at one of many Russian superstitions—sitting quietly on your suitcase before leaving to guarantee a successful trip.

It’s a nice way to leave behind any lingering stress from packing and to get excited for the journey ahead.

Ты будешь / вы будете … (tea, cookies, etc.)?

This expression literally translates to “you’ll be…?” but means “do you want…?”

If you’re ever a guest in a Russian home, get ready to be asked this question in relation to food and drink over and over and over.

Ты будешь borscht? Ты будешь bread? Ты будешь beet salad? Ты будешь vodka? Ты будешь more vodka? Ты будешь tea? Ты будешь cake?

You get the picture.

Вы не подскажете?

Here’s the most authentic way to ask for directions, which even in the age of Google maps and smartphones you’ll need to do on the confusing Russian streets.

When stopping someone to ask for directions, first say Вы не подскажете (Won’t you give me a hint?) and then tell them where you need to go. For example:

Вы не подскажете how to get to the Belorusskaya metro station?

Even the most cynical Russians will be so impressed by your expression that they’ll probably stop and help you.

But don’t be too surprised to hear something like, “take this street for two blocks, turn left, cut through the courtyard and спросите дальше (ask farther, i.e., ask someone else once you’ve gotten that far).”

Вы выходите на следующей?

You’ll hear this on every crowded bus and metro car. Someone behind you will use this expression to ask, “are you getting off at the next (stop)?”

If the answer is no, move aside so the questioner can get closer to the exit. If the answer is yes, the person behind you is expecting you to make a hasty exit from the train or bus.

So repeat the ritual and ask the person ahead of you, “Вы выходите на следующей?” Then when the stop comes, everyone who’s getting off is packed near the exit and can pour off the train or bus quickly, only to be replaced by the waves of waiting passengers.

Как ты съездил(а)/вы съездили?

Russians will ask you this when you return from a journey, with the meaning, “How was your trip?”

PG-13 Expressions

No list of expressions would be complete without some naughty words. These aren’t real expletives—more like substitutes for the real thing. Think “goshdarnit” or “what the heck” instead of, well, you know.

Блин

Блины are tasty thin pancakes, similar to crepes. But блин on its own is similar to, “shoot!”

Ё-моё

A modification of one of the more common Russian expletives, ё-моё is useful for expressing surprise with a side of anguish or despair.

Like when you find out the guy who hit your car doesn’t have insurance and you’ll have to pay $2,000 out-of-pocket for repairs. Ё-моё!

Тормоз

Тормозить means to brake, so тормоз refers to someone who just isn’t picking up what everyone else is putting down.

Now you’re ready to express yourself in Russian. No settling for second-best among this crowd!