Travel is the situation where a thin layer of Russian pays the largest dividends. A visitor who can read касса, вход, and выход, pronounce the name of their destination metro station, and ask Сколько стоит билет? will navigate Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, or Vladivostok with confidence that pure gesturing cannot provide. Outside the major tourist centers, English fluency among staff drops sharply, so the stakes for a basic Russian survival kit are higher than in Western Europe.
This reference is organized around the actual stations of a trip: airport, taxi, metro, hotel, museum, pharmacy, emergency. Each section gives Cyrillic phrases, transliteration, English, and notes on the distinctive Russian signage you will encounter. Numbers for prices and times appear throughout - for a full treatment of Russian numerals, see the Russian numbers 1 to 100 reference. For the case system behind phrases like на поезд vs в поезде, see the Russian six cases reference. For the Cyrillic alphabet you will be decoding constantly, see the Russian Cyrillic alphabet letters and sounds reference.
At the Airport
Table 1. Airport vocabulary and phrases.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| аэропорт | aeroport | airport |
| рейс | reys | flight |
| терминал | terminal | terminal |
| регистрация | registratsiya | check-in |
| посадка | posadka | boarding |
| выход на посадку | vykhod na posadku | boarding gate |
| паспортный контроль | pasportnyy kontrol | passport control |
| таможня | tamozhnya | customs |
| багаж | bagazh | baggage |
| ручная кладь | ruchnaya klad | carry-on |
| камера хранения | kamera khraneniya | baggage storage |
| прилёт | prilyot | arrival |
| вылет | vylet | departure |
| задержка | zaderzhka | delay |
| отмена | otmena | cancellation |
| трансфер | transfer | transfer |
| Где регистрация на рейс...? | Gde registratsiya na reys...? | Where is check-in for flight...? |
| У меня только ручная кладь | U menya tolko ruchnaya klad | I have only carry-on |
| Мой багаж потерялся | Moy bagazh poteryalsya | My baggage is lost |
Cultural note. Russian airport signage is generally bilingual (Russian and English), but audio announcements may be Russian only in smaller airports. Listen for your flight number - рейс followed by digits and letters.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Table 2. Taxi phrases.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| такси | taksi | taxi |
| вызвать такси | vyzvat taksi | to call a taxi |
| поездка | poyezdka | trip |
| водитель | voditel | driver |
| Сколько стоит до...? | Skolko stoit do...? | How much to...? |
| Отвезите меня в/на... | Otvezite menya v / na... | Take me to... |
| По счётчику, пожалуйста | Po schyotchiku, pozhaluysta | By the meter, please |
| Остановите здесь | Ostanovite zdes | Stop here |
| Мне нужен чек | Mne nuzhen chek | I need a receipt |
| Сдачи не надо | Sdachi ne nado | Keep the change |
| Можно побыстрее? | Mozhno pobystreye? | Can you go faster? |
| Я опаздываю | Ya opazdyvayu | I am running late |
Yandex Go and similar apps dominate Russian taxi service, making hailed taxis largely obsolete in major cities. Apps handle destinations in text, eliminating much phrasebook need - but the phrases above still matter if a driver calls to clarify.
Metro and Public Transport
Table 3. Public transport vocabulary.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| метро | metro | metro / subway |
| станция | stantsiya | station |
| линия | liniya | line |
| ветка | vetka | line (colloquial) |
| пересадка | peresadka | transfer / change |
| вагон | vagon | train car |
| платформа | platforma | platform |
| эскалатор | eskalator | escalator |
| турникет | turniket | turnstile |
| жетон | zheton | token |
| проездной | proyezdnoy | travel card |
| билет | bilet | ticket |
| остановка | ostanovka | stop |
| автобус | avtobus | bus |
| троллейбус | trolleybus | trolleybus |
| трамвай | tramvay | tram |
| маршрутка | marshrutka | shared minibus |
| Как доехать до...? | Kak doyekhat do...? | How do I get to...? |
| Где ближайшая станция метро? | Gde blizhayshaya stantsiya metro? | Where is the nearest metro station? |
| На какой станции выходить? | Na kakoy stantsii vykhodit? | Which station do I get off at? |
Memory tip. On the Moscow and St. Petersburg metros, in-car announcements follow a rule: male voice when traveling toward the city center, female voice when traveling away (Moscow historically; the pattern has variations). Knowing this gives you an extra directional clue even if you cannot catch every word.
Reading Signs
Russian signage repeats a small set of words constantly. Memorizing them makes a city legible.
Table 4. Common signs.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| вход | vkhod | entrance |
| выход | vykhod | exit |
| вход воспрещён | vkhod vospreshchyon | no entry |
| открыто | otkryto | open |
| закрыто | zakryto | closed |
| от себя | ot sebya | push |
| на себя | na sebya | pull |
| касса | kassa | ticket office / cashier |
| туалет | tualet | bathroom |
| Ж / М | Zh / M | women / men (туалет) |
| для женщин / для мужчин | dlya zhenshchin / dlya muzhchin | women's / men's |
| запасной выход | zapasnoy vykhod | emergency exit |
| не курить | ne kurit | no smoking |
| осторожно | ostorozhno | caution |
| ремонт | remont | under repair |
| внимание | vnimaniye | attention |
| стоп | stop | stop |
| опасно | opasno | danger |
| не работает | ne rabotayet | out of order |
Hotel
Table 5. Hotel phrases.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| гостиница / отель | gostinitsa / otel | hotel |
| номер | nomer | room |
| одноместный номер | odnomestnyy nomer | single room |
| двухместный номер | dvukhmestnyy nomer | double room |
| бронирование | bronirovaniye | reservation |
| У меня забронирован номер | U menya zabronirovan nomer | I have a reservation |
| На какое имя? | Na kakoye imya? | In whose name? |
| На одну ночь | Na odnu noch | For one night |
| На две ночи | Na dve nochi | For two nights |
| Во сколько выезд? | Vo skolko vyezd? | When is check-out? |
| Есть ли Wi-Fi? | Yest li Wi-Fi? | Is there Wi-Fi? |
| Какой пароль? | Kakoy parol? | What is the password? |
| Кондиционер не работает | Konditsioner ne rabotayet | The air conditioner does not work |
| Можно ещё одно полотенце? | Mozhno yeshchyo odno polotentse? | May I have another towel? |
| Завтрак включён? | Zavtrak vklyuchyon? | Is breakfast included? |
| Где лифт? | Gde lift? | Where is the elevator? |
| Ключ от номера | Klyuch ot nomera | Room key |
| Можно оставить чемодан? | Mozhno ostavit chemodan? | May I leave my suitcase? |
Directions
Table 6. Directional phrases.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| улица | ulitsa | street |
| проспект | prospekt | avenue |
| площадь | ploshchad | square |
| переулок | pereulok | alley / side street |
| шоссе | shosse | highway |
| мост | most | bridge |
| парк | park | park |
| центр | tsentr | center |
| север / юг / восток / запад | sever / yug / vostok / zapad | north / south / east / west |
| Как пройти к Красной площади? | Kak proyti k Krasnoy ploshchadi? | How do I get to Red Square? |
| Это далеко отсюда? | Eto daleko otsyuda? | Is it far from here? |
| Это в пяти минутах | Eto v pyati minutakh | It is five minutes away |
| Поверните налево | Povernite nalevo | Turn left |
| Поверните направо | Povernite napravo | Turn right |
| Идите прямо | Idite pryamo | Go straight |
| На первом этаже | Na pervom etazhe | On the first floor |
Note: in Russian, первый этаж = ground floor (like British "ground floor"), so второй этаж is the American second floor.
Money and Prices
Table 7. Money vocabulary.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| рубль | rubl | ruble |
| копейка | kopeyka | kopek |
| деньги | dengi | money |
| наличные | nalichnyye | cash |
| карта | karta | card |
| банкомат | bankomat | ATM |
| обмен валюты | obmen valyuty | currency exchange |
| доллар | dollar | dollar |
| евро | yevro | euro |
| скидка | skidka | discount |
| Сколько стоит? | Skolko stoit? | How much does it cost? |
| Можно оплатить картой? | Mozhno oplatit kartoy? | May I pay by card? |
| Это слишком дорого | Eto slishkom dorogo | That is too expensive |
| У вас есть сдача? | U vas est sdacha? | Do you have change? |
Russian prices follow the число + рубль pattern with case depending on the number: 1 рубль, 2/3/4 рубля, 5 рублей, 21 рубль, 22 рубля, 25 рублей.
Museum and Sightseeing
Table 8. Tourism phrases.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| музей | muzey | museum |
| экскурсия | ekskursiya | tour / excursion |
| экскурсовод | ekskursovod | tour guide |
| галерея | galereya | gallery |
| выставка | vystavka | exhibition |
| собор | sobor | cathedral |
| церковь | tserkov | church |
| дворец | dvorets | palace |
| крепость | krepost | fortress |
| Два билета, пожалуйста | Dva bileta, pozhaluysta | Two tickets, please |
| Когда следующая экскурсия? | Kogda sleduyushchaya ekskursiya? | When is the next tour? |
| Есть льготы для студентов? | Yest lgoty dlya studentov? | Are there student discounts? |
| Можно фотографировать? | Mozhno fotografirovat? | May I take photos? |
| Во сколько закрывается музей? | Vo skolko zakryvayetsya muzey? | When does the museum close? |
Emergencies
Table 9. Emergency vocabulary.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| Помогите! | Pomogite! | Help! |
| Скорая помощь | Skoraya pomoshch | Ambulance |
| Полиция | Politsiya | Police |
| Пожарные | Pozharnyye | Fire brigade |
| Позвоните в... | Pozvonite v... | Call the... |
| 112 | sto dvenadtsat | General emergency |
| Я потерял паспорт | Ya poteryal pasport | I lost my passport |
| Моя сумка пропала | Moya sumka propala | My bag is missing |
| Где ближайшее консульство? | Gde blizhaysheye konsulstvo? | Where is the nearest consulate? |
| Мне нужен врач | Mne nuzhen vrach | I need a doctor |
See the Russian body parts and medical vocabulary reference for extended medical phrases.
Common Mistakes English Speakers Make
- Reading Cyrillic letters as Latin lookalikes. Ресторан is restoran, not pectopah. Learn the alphabet before trying to decode signs; see the Russian Cyrillic alphabet letters and sounds reference.
- Mixing up вход and выход. They differ by a single letter. Вход = in, Выход = out.
- Expecting American "first floor" to match Russian первый этаж. Russian floors work like British - первый = ground, второй = first (American).
- Using только English in taxis. Even when drivers use GPS, the address should be said in a Russianized form. Улица Тверская is clearer than "Tverskaya Street."
- Mispronouncing metro stations with unmarked stress. Learn stress ahead: Парк Культу́ры, Охо́тный ряд, Пу́шкинская. For stress rules, see the Russian pronunciation and stress guide for beginners.
Common mistake. Tourists often say Я иду в аэропорт (I am going to the airport) when they mean they are traveling by car. Идти in Russian specifically means to go on foot. To travel by vehicle, use ехать (to go by transport): Я еду в аэропорт.
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
Essential travel phrases:
- Вход / Выход - entrance / exit
- Касса - ticket office
- Билет - ticket
- Где...? - Where is...?
- Сколько стоит? - How much?
- Помогите! - Help!
- Полиция / Скорая - Police / Ambulance
- Я не понимаю - I do not understand
- Паспорт - passport
- Гостиница - hotel
- Такси - taxi
- Метро - metro
Frequently Asked Questions
Is English widely spoken in Russia? In central Moscow and St. Petersburg, young staff in international hotels and main tourist spots manage English. Outside these bubbles, English is rare. A basic Russian phrasebook is essential in smaller cities.
How do I use the Moscow metro? Buy a Тройка reusable card at any кассa, tap it on the turnstile, and follow signs for your line's color. Interchange stations are announced; transfers use Переход на....
Should I tip? Tipping in restaurants is 10 percent for good service, often added automatically as сервисный сбор. Taxis do not expect tips because apps fix the price. Hotel porters appreciate 100-200 rubles.
Is it safe to use ATMs? Yes, ATMs of major banks (Сбербанк, ВТБ, Альфа-банк) are reliable. Western cards work at most machines, subject to current banking conditions that shift frequently.
Do I need to carry my passport? Yes. Russian law requires foreigners to carry ID; a copy is not sufficient technically, though enforcement varies. Keep the original secure.
How do I greet a taxi driver? Здравствуйте is universal and safe. Confirm the destination: Мне нужно на... (I need to go to...).
Are restroom signs Ж and М? Yes. Ж = женский (women), М = мужской (men). Some places write out Дамы / Господа (Ladies / Gentlemen).
See Also
- Russian common phrases for daily conversation reference
- Russian Cyrillic alphabet letters and sounds reference
- Russian numbers 1 to 100 cardinal, ordinal, with declension
- Russian six cases reference
- Russian pronunciation and stress guide for beginners
- Russian body parts and medical vocabulary reference
- Russian days, months, and time expressions reference
Author: Kalenux Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Is English widely spoken in Russia?
In central Moscow and St. Petersburg, young staff at international hotels and tourist spots manage English. Outside these areas, English is rare, making a basic Russian phrasebook essential.
How do I use the Moscow metro?
Buy a Тройка reusable card at any касса, tap on the turnstile, and follow color-coded line signs. Interchange stations use Переход на... signs.
Should I tip in Russia?
Restaurants: 10 percent for good service, sometimes added automatically as сервисный сбор. Taxis do not expect tips. Hotel porters appreciate 100-200 rubles.
Is it safe to use ATMs?
ATMs of major banks (Сбербанк, ВТБ, Альфа-банк) are reliable. Western card acceptance varies with current banking conditions and can change.
Do I need to carry my passport?
Yes. Russian law requires foreigners to carry ID. Keep the original passport secure, as a copy is technically insufficient though enforcement varies.
How do I greet a taxi driver?
Здравствуйте is universal. Confirm the destination with Мне нужно на... (I need to go to...).
What do Ж and М mean on restroom signs?
Ж = женский (women), М = мужской (men). Some places write Дамы (Ladies) or Господа (Gentlemen) instead.
