🇷🇺 Russian vocabulary
The 300 most common Russian words
Learn these first: they make up a big share of everything you'll read. Ranked by frequency, with meanings, romanization and examples for the top 50.
| # | Russian | Romanization | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | я Я живу в Москве. — I live in Moscow. | ja | I | pronoun |
| 2 | не Я не знаю. — I don't know. | ne | not | particle |
| 3 | что Что ты делаешь? — What are you doing? | čto | what; that | pronoun |
| 4 | в Мы были в театре. — We were at the theater. | v | in, into, at | preposition |
| 5 | и Чай и кофе. — Tea and coffee. | i | and | conjunction |
| 6 | ты Ты где? — Where are you? | ty | you (informal) | pronoun |
| 7 | это Это мой брат. — This is my brother. | èto | this, that, it | pronoun |
| 8 | на Книга на столе. — The book is on the table. | na | on, onto, at | preposition |
| 9 | с Я иду с другом. — I'm going with a friend. | s | with; from, off | preposition |
| 10 | он Он врач. — He's a doctor. | on | he, it | pronoun |
| 11 | мы Мы опаздываем. — We're running late. | my | we | pronoun |
| 12 | как Как дела? — How are things? | kak | how; like, as | adverb |
| 13 | вы Вы говорите по-английски? — Do you speak English? | vy | you (formal or plural) | pronoun |
| 14 | да Да, конечно. — Yes, of course. | da | yes | particle |
| 15 | мне Мне холодно. — I'm cold. | mne | me, to me | pronoun |
| 16 | у У меня есть собака. — I have a dog. | u | at, by; (у меня есть = I have) | preposition |
| 17 | нет Нет, спасибо. — No, thank you. | net | no; there is no | particle |
| 18 | меня Меня зовут Анна. — My name is Anna. | menja | me (accusative/genitive) | pronoun |
| 19 | так Не делай так. — Don't do it like that. | tak | so, like this, thus | adverb |
| 20 | но Дорого, но вкусно. — It's expensive, but tasty. | no | but | conjunction |
| 21 | а Я дома, а ты где? — I'm at home, and where are you? | a | and, but, while | conjunction |
| 22 | его Я его знаю. — I know him. | ego | him, it; his | pronoun |
| 23 | все Все уже пришли. — Everyone has already arrived. | vse | all, everyone | pronoun |
| 24 | она Она учится в университете. — She studies at university. | ona | she, it | pronoun |
| 25 | тебя Я тебя люблю. — I love you. | tebja | you (informal, accusative/genitive) | pronoun |
| 26 | о Расскажи о себе. — Tell me about yourself. | o | about, of | preposition |
| 27 | если Если хочешь, пойдём вместе. — If you want, let's go together. | esli | if | conjunction |
| 28 | за Спасибо за помощь. — Thanks for the help. | za | behind; for; beyond | preposition |
| 29 | бы Я бы хотел чаю. — I would like some tea. | by | would (conditional particle) | particle |
| 30 | тебе Тебе нравится? — Do you like it? | tebe | you, to you (informal, dative) | pronoun |
| 31 | они Они живут рядом. — They live nearby. | oni | they | pronoun |
| 32 | чтобы Я пришёл, чтобы помочь. — I came to help. | čtoby | in order to, so that | conjunction |
| 33 | же Я же говорил! — I told you so! | že | (emphatic particle) indeed, after all | particle |
| 34 | есть Здесь есть кафе? — Is there a café here? | estʹ | there is; to eat | verb |
| 35 | просто Это просто шутка. — It's just a joke. | prosto | simply, just; simple | adverb |
| 36 | из Я из Петербурга. — I'm from St. Petersburg. | iz | from, out of | preposition |
| 37 | к Я иду к врачу. — I'm going to the doctor. | k | to, towards | preposition |
| 38 | для Это подарок для тебя. — This is a present for you. | dlja | for | preposition |
| 39 | ну Ну, что скажешь? — Well, what do you say? | nu | well, so | particle |
| 40 | когда Когда ты вернёшься? — When will you be back? | kogda | when | adverb |
| 41 | хорошо Хорошо, договорились. — OK, it's a deal. | xorošo | well, good, OK | adverb |
| 42 | здесь Я здесь работаю. — I work here. | zdesʹ | here | adverb |
| 43 | по Мы гуляли по парку. — We walked around the park. | po | along, by, according to | preposition |
| 44 | был Вчера был хороший день. — Yesterday was a good day. | byl | was (masc.) | verb |
| 45 | знаю Я знаю этот город. — I know this city. | znaju | I know | verb |
| 46 | то То, что ты сказал, правда. — What you said is true. | to | that; then | pronoun |
| 47 | только У меня только пять минут. — I only have five minutes. | tolʹko | only, just | adverb |
| 48 | всё Всё хорошо. — Everything's fine. | vsë | everything, all; that's all | pronoun |
| 49 | было Это было давно. — That was a long time ago. | bylo | was (neuter) | verb |
| 50 | вас Рад вас видеть. — Glad to see you. | vas | you (formal/pl., accusative/genitive) | pronoun |
| 51 | может | možet | can, may; maybe | verb |
| 52 | нас | nas | us | pronoun |
| 53 | вот | vot | here is, there is; look | particle |
| 54 | от | ot | from, away from | preposition |
| 55 | быть | bytʹ | to be | verb |
| 56 | кто | kto | who | pronoun |
| 57 | будет | budet | will be | verb |
| 58 | почему | počemu | why | adverb |
| 59 | вам | vam | you, to you (formal/pl., dative) | pronoun |
| 60 | их | ix | them; their | pronoun |
| 61 | очень | očenʹ | very | adverb |
| 62 | могу | mogu | I can | verb |
| 63 | уже | uže | already | adverb |
| 64 | спасибо | spasibo | thank you | interjection |
| 65 | или | ili | or | conjunction |
| 66 | нам | nam | us, to us | pronoun |
| 67 | ещё | eščë | more, still, yet | adverb |
| 68 | там | tam | there | adverb |
| 69 | нужно | nužno | it is necessary, need to | adverb |
| 70 | сейчас | sejčas | now, right away | adverb |
| 71 | где | gde | where | adverb |
| 72 | чем | čem | than; with what | conjunction |
| 73 | хочу | xoču | I want | verb |
| 74 | ничего | ničego | nothing; it's OK | pronoun |
| 75 | этого | ètogo | of this, this (genitive) | pronoun |
| 76 | была | byla | was (fem.) | verb |
| 77 | мой | moj | my, mine | pronoun |
| 78 | её | eë | her; hers | pronoun |
| 79 | ладно | ladno | OK, all right | particle |
| 80 | знаешь | znaešʹ | you know | verb |
| 81 | до | do | until, before, up to | preposition |
| 82 | потому | potomu | because (потому что) | adverb |
| 83 | теперь | teperʹ | now | adverb |
| 84 | думаю | dumaju | I think | verb |
| 85 | больше | bolʹše | more, bigger; no longer | adverb |
| 86 | со | so | with (variant of с) | preposition |
| 87 | раз | raz | time, once; one | noun |
| 88 | ему | emu | him, to him | pronoun |
| 89 | надо | nado | need to, must | adverb |
| 90 | время | vremja | time | noun |
| 91 | этот | ètot | this | pronoun |
| 92 | ли | li | whether (question particle) | particle |
| 93 | пока | poka | while; for now; bye | adverb |
| 94 | даже | daže | even | particle |
| 95 | привет | privet | hi | interjection |
| 96 | сказал | skazal | said (masc.) | verb |
| 97 | себя | sebja | oneself | pronoun |
| 98 | должен | dolžen | must, have to (masc.) | adjective |
| 99 | тоже | tože | also, too | adverb |
| 100 | хочешь | xočešʹ | you want | verb |
| 101 | давай | davaj | let's; come on | verb |
| 102 | что-то | čto-to | something | pronoun |
| 103 | никогда | nikogda | never | adverb |
| 104 | тогда | togda | then | adverb |
| 105 | ни | ni | not a, neither, nor | particle |
| 106 | тут | tut | here | adverb |
| 107 | были | byli | were | verb |
| 108 | конечно | konečno | of course | adverb |
| 109 | правда | pravda | truth; really | noun |
| 110 | моя | moja | my, mine (fem.) | pronoun |
| 111 | пожалуйста | požalujsta | please; you're welcome | particle |
| 112 | сказать | skazatʹ | to say | verb |
| 113 | сегодня | segodnja | today | adverb |
| 114 | один | odin | one; alone | number |
| 115 | лучше | lučše | better | adverb |
| 116 | можешь | možešʹ | you can | verb |
| 117 | сюда | sjuda | here (direction) | adverb |
| 118 | значит | značit | so, that means | verb |
| 119 | сделать | sdelatʹ | to do, to make | verb |
| 120 | всегда | vsegda | always | adverb |
| 121 | дело | delo | matter, business, affair | noun |
| 122 | можно | možno | may, it's possible | adverb |
| 123 | должны | dolžny | must (pl.) | adjective |
| 124 | порядок | porjadok | order (в порядке = OK, fine) | noun |
| 125 | без | bez | without | preposition |
| 126 | день | denʹ | day | noun |
| 127 | буду | budu | I will (be) | verb |
| 128 | делать | delatʹ | to do, to make | verb |
| 129 | хотел | xotel | wanted (masc.) | verb |
| 130 | эти | èti | these | pronoun |
| 131 | много | mnogo | a lot, many, much | adverb |
| 132 | после | posle | after | preposition |
| 133 | твой | tvoj | your, yours (informal) | pronoun |
| 134 | лет | let | years (genitive pl.) | noun |
| 135 | боже | bože | God! (exclamation) | interjection |
| 136 | ведь | vedʹ | after all, you know | particle |
| 137 | жизнь | žiznʹ | life | noun |
| 138 | потом | potom | then, later | adverb |
| 139 | такой | takoj | such, so | pronoun |
| 140 | который | kotoryj | which, who, that | pronoun |
| 141 | через | čerez | through, across; in (time) | preposition |
| 142 | возможно | vozmožno | possibly, maybe | adverb |
| 143 | немного | nemnogo | a little | adverb |
| 144 | слишком | sliškom | too | adverb |
| 145 | зачем | začem | why, what for | adverb |
| 146 | должна | dolžna | must (fem.) | adjective |
| 147 | люди | ljudi | people | noun |
| 148 | знаете | znaete | you know (formal/pl.) | verb |
| 149 | думаешь | dumaešʹ | you think | verb |
| 150 | точно | točno | exactly; for sure | adverb |
| 151 | человек | čelovek | person, human | noun |
| 152 | под | pod | under | preposition |
| 153 | сказала | skazala | said (fem.) | verb |
| 154 | назад | nazad | back; ago | adverb |
| 155 | из-за | iz-za | because of | preposition |
| 156 | можем | možem | we can | verb |
| 157 | случилось | slučilosʹ | happened | verb |
| 158 | мама | mama | mom | noun |
| 159 | мог | mog | could (masc.) | verb |
| 160 | вместе | vmeste | together | adverb |
| 161 | отец | otec | father | noun |
| 162 | сделал | sdelal | did, made (masc.) | verb |
| 163 | кажется | kažetsja | seems | verb |
| 164 | друг | drug | friend | noun |
| 165 | куда | kuda | where (to) | adverb |
| 166 | никто | nikto | nobody | pronoun |
| 167 | поэтому | poètomu | therefore, that's why | adverb |
| 168 | два | dva | two | number |
| 169 | тот | tot | that, that one | pronoun |
| 170 | сколько | skolʹko | how much, how many | adverb |
| 171 | понимаю | ponimaju | I understand | verb |
| 172 | снова | snova | again | adverb |
| 173 | нравится | nravitsja | is pleasing (мне нравится = I like) | verb |
| 174 | помочь | pomočʹ | to help | verb |
| 175 | видел | videl | saw (masc.) | verb |
| 176 | люблю | ljublju | I love, I like | verb |
| 177 | хочет | xočet | wants | verb |
| 178 | место | mesto | place, seat | noun |
| 179 | знать | znatʹ | to know | verb |
| 180 | кто-то | kto-to | someone | pronoun |
| 181 | прости | prosti | sorry, forgive me (informal) | verb |
| 182 | отлично | otlično | excellent, great | adverb |
| 183 | похоже | poxože | looks like, seems | adverb |
| 184 | парень | parenʹ | guy, boyfriend | noun |
| 185 | домой | domoj | home (direction) | adverb |
| 186 | деньги | denʹgi | money | noun |
| 187 | иди | idi | go (command) | verb |
| 188 | дома | doma | at home | adverb |
| 189 | именно | imenno | exactly, precisely | particle |
| 190 | доктор | doktor | doctor | noun |
| 191 | думал | dumal | thought (masc.) | verb |
| 192 | говорил | govoril | spoke, said (masc.) | verb |
| 193 | будем | budem | we will (be) | verb |
| 194 | прямо | prjamo | straight; right (now) | adverb |
| 195 | стоит | stoit | costs; is worth; stands | verb |
| 196 | поговорить | pogovoritʹ | to have a talk | verb |
| 197 | найти | najti | to find | verb |
| 198 | разве | razve | really? (doubting) | particle |
| 199 | слушай | slušaj | listen | verb |
| 200 | лишь | lišʹ | only | particle |
| 201 | сам | sam | oneself (masc.) | pronoun |
| 202 | что-нибудь | čto-nibudʹ | anything, something | pronoun |
| 203 | прошу | prošu | I ask; please | verb |
| 204 | три | tri | three | number |
| 205 | совсем | sovsem | quite, completely; at all | adverb |
| 206 | какой | kakoj | what, which, what kind | pronoun |
| 207 | скажи | skaži | tell, say (command) | verb |
| 208 | дом | dom | house, home | noun |
| 209 | говорит | govorit | speaks, says | verb |
| 210 | несколько | neskolʹko | several, a few | number |
| 211 | про | pro | about | preposition |
| 212 | ваш | vaš | your, yours (formal/pl.) | pronoun |
| 213 | происходит | proisxodit | is happening | verb |
| 214 | жаль | žalʹ | pity, sorry | adverb |
| 215 | туда | tuda | there (direction) | adverb |
| 216 | действительно | dejstvitelʹno | really, indeed | adverb |
| 217 | папа | papa | dad | noun |
| 218 | завтра | zavtra | tomorrow | adverb |
| 219 | оно | ono | it | pronoun |
| 220 | чёрт | čërt | devil; damn | noun |
| 221 | перед | pered | in front of, before | preposition |
| 222 | наш | naš | our, ours | pronoun |
| 223 | уверен | uveren | sure (masc.) | adjective |
| 224 | отсюда | otsjuda | from here | adverb |
| 225 | нужен | nužen | needed | adjective |
| 226 | свой | svoj | one's own | pronoun |
| 227 | верно | verno | right, correct | adverb |
| 228 | работа | rabota | work, job | noun |
| 229 | каждый | každyj | each, every | pronoun |
| 230 | хватит | xvatit | enough! | verb |
| 231 | понял | ponjal | understood (masc.) | verb |
| 232 | уж | už | really, already (emphatic) | particle |
| 233 | имя | imja | name | noun |
| 234 | против | protiv | against | preposition |
| 235 | кое-что | koe-čto | something | pronoun |
| 236 | раньше | ranʹše | earlier, before | adverb |
| 237 | говорю | govorju | I say, I speak | verb |
| 238 | более | bolee | more | adverb |
| 239 | надеюсь | nadejusʹ | I hope | verb |
| 240 | итак | itak | so, thus | conjunction |
| 241 | при | pri | at, in the presence of, during | preposition |
| 242 | вообще | voobšče | in general; at all | adverb |
| 243 | пошли | pošli | let's go; went | verb |
| 244 | мать | matʹ | mother | noun |
| 245 | нельзя | nelʹzja | must not, impossible | adverb |
| 246 | наверное | navernoe | probably | adverb |
| 247 | дай | daj | give (command) | verb |
| 248 | ради | radi | for the sake of | preposition |
| 249 | ребята | rebjata | guys, kids | noun |
| 250 | хотя | xotja | although | conjunction |
| 251 | понимаешь | ponimaešʹ | you understand | verb |
| 252 | идти | idti | to go (on foot) | verb |
| 253 | откуда | otkuda | where from | adverb |
| 254 | ясно | jasno | clear, I see | adverb |
| 255 | другой | drugoj | other, another | adjective |
| 256 | извините | izvinite | excuse me, sorry (formal) | verb |
| 257 | вижу | vižu | I see | verb |
| 258 | видеть | videtʹ | to see | verb |
| 259 | над | nad | above, over | preposition |
| 260 | равно | ravno | equal (всё равно = anyway) | adverb |
| 261 | скоро | skoro | soon | adverb |
| 262 | будто | budto | as if | conjunction |
| 263 | зовут | zovut | is called (меня зовут = my name is) | verb |
| 264 | между | meždu | between | preposition |
| 265 | вопрос | vopros | question | noun |
| 266 | почти | počti | almost | adverb |
| 267 | год | god | year | noun |
| 268 | подожди | podoždi | wait (command) | verb |
| 269 | рука | ruka | hand, arm | noun |
| 270 | нормально | normalʹno | fine, OK, normal | adverb |
| 271 | возьми | vozʹmi | take (command) | verb |
| 272 | минута | minuta | minute | noun |
| 273 | извини | izvini | sorry (informal) | verb |
| 274 | вещь | veščʹ | thing | noun |
| 275 | смотри | smotri | look (command) | verb |
| 276 | хоть | xotʹ | at least; although | particle |
| 277 | сын | syn | son | noun |
| 278 | пора | pora | time (it's time to) | noun |
| 279 | жить | žitʹ | to live | verb |
| 280 | видишь | vidišʹ | you see | verb |
| 281 | достаточно | dostatočno | enough | adverb |
| 282 | быстро | bystro | quickly, fast | adverb |
| 283 | весь | vesʹ | all, whole | pronoun |
| 284 | убить | ubitʹ | to kill | verb |
| 285 | ночь | nočʹ | night | noun |
| 286 | готов | gotov | ready (masc.) | adjective |
| 287 | первый | pervyj | first | adjective |
| 288 | пусть | pustʹ | let (him/her/it) | particle |
| 289 | плохо | ploxo | badly, bad | adverb |
| 290 | дети | deti | children | noun |
| 291 | рад | rad | glad (masc.) | adjective |
| 292 | иногда | inogda | sometimes | adverb |
| 293 | брат | brat | brother | noun |
| 294 | вроде | vrode | like, sort of | particle |
| 295 | рядом | rjadom | nearby, next to | adverb |
| 296 | мир | mir | world; peace | noun |
| 297 | вчера | včera | yesterday | adverb |
| 298 | помощь | pomoščʹ | help | noun |
| 299 | долго | dolgo | for a long time | adverb |
| 300 | женщина | ženščina | woman | noun |
Frequency ranking based on OpenSubtitles 2018 subtitles (hermitdave/FrequencyWords).
Questions
What are the most common Russian words?
The top ten are я (I), не (not), что (what; that), в (in), и (and), ты (you (informal)), это (this), на (on), с (with; from), он (he).
How many Russian words do I need to know?
The few hundred most frequent words make up a large share of any everyday text, which is why they're the best place to start. To read graded stories comfortably you need roughly 1,000–2,000; for unadapted books, several thousand. Test yourself with the Russian vocabulary size test.
Where does this list come from?
The ranking is based on OpenSubtitles 2018 subtitles (hermitdave/FrequencyWords), cleaned by hand to remove names, fragments and noise, with meanings added for learners.