By mastering the basics of polite conversation in Russian, you put yourself and the person you're talking to at ease. Everyone should learn essential Russian conversational words and phrases before traveling to a Russian -speaking country. These words and expressions are sure to come up in most everyday conversations.
Basic courtesies
Being polite is just as important in Russian-speaking countries as they are in the United States. The following words and phrases cover most of the pleasantries required for polite conversation. After all, learning to say the expressions of common courtesy in Russian before traveling is just good manners.
da! (dah) (yes)
nyet! (n’eht) (no)
Da, pozhalujsta (dah, pah-ZHAH-luh-stuh) (Yes, please.)
pozhalujsta (pah-ZHAH-luh-stuh) (please)
Spasibo (spuh-SEE-buh) (thank you)
Bol’shoye spasibo. (bahl’-SHOH-eh spuh-SEE-buh) (Thank you very much.)
Personal pronouns
Once you've mastered the common pleasantries, the next important thing to learn is how to refer to people using personal pronouns. In Russian, you'll use slightly different variations of the pronoun you depending on the number of people you are referring to and how well you know them.
ya (ya) (I)
on (ohn) (he)
ona (ah-nah) (she)
my (mih) (we)
oni (ah-nee) (they)
ty (tih) (you [informal singular])
vy (vih) (you [formal singular and plural])
Nouns and gender
So what about it? In English, inanimate objects are usually referred to with the pronoun it, but in Russian, an inanimate object is always referred to with the pronoun corresponding to its grammatical gender.
on (ohn), if the noun it refers to is masculine
ona (ah-NAH), if the noun it refers to is feminine
ono (ah-NOH), if the noun it refers to is neuter
oni (ah-NEE), if the noun it refers to is plural
Phrases for travelers
There are some phrases that are particularly helpful to international travelers. Below are several phrases that might be particularly helpful during your stay in a Russian-speaking country.
Izvinitye, ya nye ponyal. (eez-vee-NEE-t’eh ya nee POHH-n’uhl) (Sorry, I didn’t understand. [m])
Izvinitye, ya nye ponyala. (eez-vee-NEE-t’eh ya nee puh-nee-LAH))Sorry, I didn’t understand. [f])
Izvinitye, ya plokho ponimayu po-russki. (eez-vee-NEE-t’eh ya PLOH-khuh puh-nee-MAH-yu pah-ROOS-kee) (Sorry, I don’t understand Russian very well.)
Govoritye, pozhalujsta, myedlyennyeye! (guh-vah-REE-t’eh pah-ZHAHL-stuh M’EHD-lee-nee-eh!) (Speak more slowly, please!)
Kak vy skazali? (kahk vih skuh-ZAH-lee?) (What did you say?)
Povtoritye, pozhalujsta. (puhf-tah-ree-t’eh pah-ZHAH-luh-stuh) (Could you please repeat that?)
Vy govoritye po-anglijski? (vih guh-vah-REE-t’eh puh uhn-GLEEY-skee?) (Do you speak English?)