Your First Russian Lesson? Here Are Some Useful Phrases to Learn Beforehand
Booked your very first Russian lesson? Learn these greetings, introductions, and classroom phrases ahead of time to feel confident, keep things smooth, and make a great first impression on your teacher.
You booked your very first Russian lesson? Great! 🎉
Here are some phrases you might want to learn ahead of time (or at least make a note of) to make your first lesson even smoother — and to leave a great first impression on your teacher.
First things first: say hello!
Before anything else, you'll need to greet the person on the other end of the screen — or the one sitting across the table from you.
The safest option is the famously long and slightly intimidating word:
Здравствуйте
Hello (formal)
Psst… did you know we don't actually pronounce the first в? Most native speakers say something closer to здраствуйте than the spelling suggests.
If that word feels a bit too scary for now, don't worry — there are alternatives!
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Доброе утро | Good morning |
| Добрый день | Good afternoon / Good day |
| Добрый вечер | Good evening |
Introducing yourself
After saying hello, you'll probably want to tell your teacher your name. The phrase you'll need is:
Меня зовут …
My name is …
Literally “I am called…” or “they call me…” — quite similar to the Spanish Me llamo.
Your teacher may introduce themselves first and then ask for your name. They might say:
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Как вас зовут? | What's your name? (formal) |
| Как тебя зовут? | What's your name? (informal) |
| Меня зовут … А вас? | My name is … And yours? (formal) |
| Меня зовут … А тебя? | My name is … And yours? (informal) |
Don't panic! No matter which version you hear, your answer stays exactly the same: Меня зовут …
And to finish the introduction nicely, add:
Очень приятно!
Nice to meet you!
Useful classroom phrases
Now the lesson begins! Here are some phrases that will be incredibly useful during your first few lessons.
Understanding (or not understanding)
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Я не понимаю. | I don't understand. |
| Я вас не понимаю. | I don't understand you. (formal) |
| Я тебя не понимаю. | I don't understand you. (informal) |
| Вы понимаете? | Do you understand? (formal) |
| Ты понимаешь? | Do you understand? (informal) |
| Вы меня понимаете? | Do you understand me? (formal) |
| Ты меня понимаешь? | Do you understand me? (informal) |
| Да. | Yes. |
| Нет. | No. |
Asking for help
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Извините. | Excuse me / Sorry. |
| Говорите помедленнее, пожалуйста. | Please speak more slowly. |
| Помедленнее, пожалуйста. | More slowly, please. |
| Повторите, пожалуйста. | Please repeat. |
| Ещё раз, пожалуйста. | One more time, please. |
Asking about words
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Как будет … по-русски? | How do you say … in Russian? |
| Как сказать … по-русски? | How do I say … in Russian? |
| Что означает …? | What does … mean? |
| Что значит …? | What does … mean? |
Showing off a little
Sometimes your teacher introduces a word you already know. This is your moment:
Я это уже знаю!
I already know this!
If you're taking lessons online
Online classes come with their own set of challenges. You may occasionally need to say:
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Я вас не слышу. | I can't hear you. |
| Я вас не вижу. | I can't see you. |
Finishing the lesson
At the end of the lesson, don't forget to thank your teacher.
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Спасибо! | Thank you! |
| Спасибо за урок! | Thank you for the lesson! |
And finally, say goodbye:
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| До скорой встречи! | See you soon! |
| До свидания! | Goodbye! |
And that's it — you've already got enough Russian to survive your first lesson and impress your teacher. Good luck, and enjoy your Russian-learning journey! 🇷🇺
Want to keep building between lessons? Pick up real, modern Russian from the music lessons — every track comes with translations and interactive exercises.