By meredithkreisa Last updated: February 13, 2022

31 Russian Travel Phrases to Know Before You Go

Maybe St. Basil’s Cathedral beckons you.

Maybe you want to ride the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Maybe you just really like good vodka—everyone needs a hobby.

Regardless of your reason for visiting Russia, one thing remains true: You’ll need to learn some Russian travel phrases.

When you’re traveling, it’s important to speak (or try to speak) at least a little of the local language. After all, it’s necessary for clear communication and it’s an important sign of respect.

Luckily, when you’re traveling to Russia, you have a lot of options to help you gain the necessary skills. Russian translator apps are a vital tool for once you’re in Russia. They provide a quick and easy way to look up any phrases you need on the spot. Russian dictionary apps are also helpful for looking up individual words. Before you go, Russian learning apps are also a good tool to prepare yourself. Many of them feature vocabulary lists focused on travel phrases that you can study ahead of time.

Whatever your plans, the following words and phrases will get you off to a great start as you prepare for your trip to Russia!

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Why Learn Russian Travel Phrases?

Some Russians don’t speak English, but you’ll still need their help. While many Russians speak at least some English, others don’t, and you’re likely to encounter some of those Russians who don’t speak English. Rather than relying on using hand gestures, knowing a few key Russian phrases can help save you time, frustration and embarrassment.

Even if someone speaks English, it’s more polite to at least attempt to speak a little Russian with them. Assuming everyone will speak English with you is asking a lot of them. Trying to speak Russian will show respect. This will also make people who do speak English that much more willing to go out of their way to speak it with you and help you out.

Learning Russian travel phrases will open new doors and opportunities for your travels. If you only know English, you’re perpetually doomed to sticking to hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations intended for international visitors because these places are more likely to have someone on staff who speaks English. However, if you have those limitations, you’ll miss out on a lot of culture. Knowing some travel phrases will allow you to hang out where locals hang out.

How to Learn Russian Travel Phrases

Target specific words and phrases that you know you’ll likely use

Think about the words and phrases you use when you travel within your home country. Chances are good that you’ll need to use those same words and phrases if you travel to Russia, as well as a few more.

What do you intend to do in Russia? What destinations do you want to visit? Do you have any special needs like dietary restrictions? Considering these things will help you see what sorts of words and phrases you might need. You can then target them for additional studying.

Create DIY vocabulary and phrase lists

Based on your target words, make a list of vocabulary and phrases. You can craft it to study at home or even format it to use on the go when you travel.

For a particularly helpful DIY travel vocabulary list, you might try organizing it in the order in which you would likely use these words or phrases. For instance, consider putting together a list for how to order at a restaurant, but put them in order of courses. That way, you can read straight through your list without having to search for the right entry.

Study the phrases before you go

There are a few ways to go about this:

Repeat the phrases often. The more often you repeat them, the more easily you’ll be able to say them when you’re traveling. You can even run through mock conversations, saying all the necessary phrases in order. This is an important confidence builder.

Do listening activities. For instance, Russian flashcard apps often offer spoken flashcards. The more you listen to the words and phrases, the more likely you are to be able to pronounce them yourself. With enough practice, you’ll even be able to use the phrases without having to refer back to a dictionary, translator or vocabulary list.

Enlist a friend to engage in basic conversation practice. Even if your friend doesn’t speak Russian, it can help to have them give you English-language prompts which you can respond to in Russian. This will give you the practice you need to speak confidently and clearly.

Print out the phrase list below. You can use it to practice at home, or use it in a pinch during your travels. Don’t know how to pronounce something? Simply point at the word or phrase.

Use audio to practice the pronunciation

Since you’ll actually be saying these words to people, it’s important to focus on correct pronunciation. Here are a few tips to do that:

Type any word or phrase into Google Translate to hear it being spoken aloud. You can type phrases in English and see and hear the Russian translation, or you can type the word in Russian for the English translation. You can play audio of any word or phrase. Plus, if you click it a second time, it will say it more slowly, which is great for nailing down tricky sounds.

To help you out, the word/phrase headings in the phrase list below are linked to their Google Translate entries, where you can hear them being spoken and review translations and transliterations. Be sure to check them out!

Many audio translations are also available from Forvo. These translations are provided by native speakers, and many words/phrases have multiple different audio examples. This way, you can compare and contrast how pronunciations vary between regions and/or speakers. Plus, the website offers translations spoken by both men and women. Listening to translations provided by someone of the same gender as you can make mimicking the pronunciation easier.

31 Russian Travel Phrases to Know Before You Go

Basic Expressions

1. Здравствуйте

Здравствуйте means “hello.” For a common word, the pronunciation may be a bit daunting for beginning speakers. However, once you’ve listened to it a few times and broken it down into shorter chunks, it’s not as difficult as it seems at first blush.

2. Привет

Привет is an informal “hi.”

3. Меня зовут…

This means “My name is…” Simply tack your name onto the end to introduce yourself.

4. Как вас зовут?

This is the formal version of “What is your name?” When interacting with strangers, it’s usually best to be formal.

5. Доброе утро

Good morning

6. Добрый день

Good afternoon

7. Добрый вечер

Good evening