Best Russian Phrases for Travel and Daily Life

Whether you're planning a trip to Russia or simply want to communicate with some of the 260 million Russian speakers worldwide, knowing essential phrases will make your experience much smoother. This guide covers 50+ essential Russian phrases for travel and daily life situations — enough to handle most CEFR A1–A2 scenarios you'll encounter.

Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions

Greetings

• Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) - Hello (formal)
• Привет (Privet) - Hi (informal)
• Доброе утро (Dobroye utro) - Good morning
• Добрый день (Dobryy den') - Good afternoon
• Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher) - Good evening

Polite Expressions

• Спасибо (Spasibo) - Thank you
• Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta) - Please / You're welcome
• Извините (Izvinite) - Excuse me / Sorry
• Простите (Prostite) - I'm sorry
• Не за что (Ne za chto) - You're welcome (response to thanks)

Essential Questions

• Как дела? (Kak dela?) - How are you?
• Как вас зовут? (Kak vas zovut?) - What's your name? (formal)
• Как тебя зовут? (Kak tebya zovut?) - What's your name? (informal)
• Откуда вы? (Otkuda vy?) - Where are you from?
• Вы говорите по-английски? (Vy govorite po-angliyski?) - Do you speak English?
• Сколько это стоит? (Skol'ko eto stoit?) - How much does this cost?

Directions and Transportation

Asking for Directions

• Где...? (Gde...?) - Where is...?
• Как пройти к...? (Kak proyti k...?) - How do I get to...?
• Далеко ли это? (Daleko li eto?) - Is it far?
• Направо (Napravo) - To the right
• Налево (Nalevo) - To the left
• Прямо (Pryamo) - Straight ahead

Transportation

• Билет (Bilet) - Ticket
• Вокзал (Vokzal) - Train station
• Аэропорт (Aeroport) - Airport
• Автобус (Avtobus) - Bus
• Метро (Metro) - Metro/subway
• Такси (Taksi) - Taxi

Shopping

• Магазин (Magazin) - Shop/store
• Сколько стоит? (Skol'ko stoit?) - How much does it cost?
• Я хочу купить... (Ya khochu kupit'...) - I want to buy...
• У вас есть...? (U vas yest'...?) - Do you have...?
• Можно примерить? (Mozhno primerit'?) - Can I try it on?
• Слишком дорого (Slishkom dorogo) - Too expensive
• Принимаете карты? (Priminayete karty?) - Do you accept cards?

Dining

Ordering Food

• Меню, пожалуйста (Menyu, pozhaluysta) - Menu, please
• Я хочу заказать... (Ya khochu zakazat'...) - I would like to order...
• Счёт, пожалуйста (Schyot, pozhaluysta) - Check/bill, please
• Вода (Voda) - Water
• Кофе (Kofe) - Coffee
• Чай (Chay) - Tea

Dietary Preferences

• Я вегетарианец/вегетарианка (Ya vegetarianets/vegetarianka) - I'm vegetarian (male/female)
• У меня аллергия на... (U menya allergiya na...) - I'm allergic to...
• Без мяса (Bez myasa) - Without meat

Numbers (Essential)

• Один (Odin) - One
• Два (Dva) - Two
• Три (Tri) - Three
• Четыре (Chetyre) - Four
• Пять (Pyat') - Five
• Десять (Desyat') - Ten
• Сто (Sto) - One hundred
• Тысяча (Tysyacha) - One thousand

Emergency Situations

• Помогите! (Pomogite!) - Help!
• Вызовите скорую (Vyzovite skoruyu) - Call an ambulance
• Полиция (Politsiya) - Police
• Больница (Bol'nitsa) - Hospital
• Я потерялся/потерялась (Ya poteryalsya/poteryalas') - I'm lost (male/female)
• Где туалет? (Gde tualet?) - Where is the bathroom?

Accommodation

• Отель (Otel') - Hotel
• Номер (Nomer) - Room
• Регистрация (Registratsiya) - Check-in
• Выход (Vykhod) - Check-out
• Ключ (Klyuch) - Key
• Завтрак (Zavtrak) - Breakfast

Time and Dates

• Который час? (Kotoryy chas?) - What time is it?
• Сегодня (Segodnya) - Today
• Завтра (Zavtra) - Tomorrow
• Вчера (Vchera) - Yesterday
• Понедельник (Ponedel'nik) - Monday
• Вторник (Vtornik) - Tuesday

Useful Phrases for Daily Life

• Я не понимаю (Ya ne ponimayu) - I don't understand
• Говорите медленнее (Govorite medlennee) - Speak slower
• Повторите, пожалуйста (Povtorite, pozhaluysta) - Please repeat
• Как это сказать? (Kak eto skazat'?) - How do you say this?
• Можно? (Mozhno?) - May I? / Is it allowed?
• Нельзя (Nel'zya) - Not allowed / You can't

Tips for Using These Phrases

Pronunciation Matters

Russian pronunciation can be challenging. Focus on:

• Stressing the correct syllable
• Pronouncing consonants clearly
• Rolling your "r" sounds

Context is Key

• Use formal вы (vy) with strangers and older people
• Use informal ты (ty) with friends and peers
• When in doubt, use formal language

Practice Before You Go

• Practice these phrases daily
• Use language learning apps
• Listen to native speakers
• Practice with a language partner

Cultural Notes

• Russians appreciate when foreigners attempt to speak Russian
• Even basic phrases can open doors and create connections
• Don't be afraid to make mistakes - people will help you
• Learning Cyrillic will help you read signs and menus

For more on greetings, see our detailed guide on how to say hello in Russian. Want to express gratitude like a local? Check out how to say thank you in Russian. And if you want to learn the script before you go, our Russian alphabet for beginners guide will help you read signs and menus.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do Russians speak English?

In major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, younger people and those in the tourism industry often speak some English. Outside major cities, English is much less common. Having even 50 basic Russian phrases at CEFR A1–A2 level will make navigating daily situations significantly easier.

Should I learn Cyrillic before traveling to Russia?

Yes — even basic Cyrillic reading skills will help you enormously. You'll be able to read street signs, metro stations, menus, and shop names. Most learners can learn the 33-letter Russian alphabet in 2–4 weeks with focused daily practice.

How many phrases do I really need for travel?

Around 30–50 phrases cover most travel situations: greetings, asking for directions, ordering food, shopping, and emergencies. The 50+ phrases in this guide are designed to handle the most common CEFR A1–A2 scenarios a traveller will face, reaching roughly 260 million Russian speakers across 17 countries.

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Conclusion

Mastering these essential Russian phrases will significantly enhance your travel experience or daily interactions with Russian speakers. Start with greetings and basic expressions, then gradually add more specialized vocabulary based on your needs.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you use these phrases, the more natural they'll become. For deeper learning and proper pronunciation, consider exploring our Russian lessons where you'll practice these phrases with native speakers, or check our pricing for flexible study plans.

Удачи! (Udachi!) - Good luck!