Types of shop
Many shop names come from what they sell plus a suffix: хлеб (bread) → бу́лочная, from бу́лка (bread roll). Each card gives the “where” phrase too.
Money words
The words you need to pay, get change and talk about cost. Note that де́ньги (money) and нали́чные (cash) are always plural.
| Word | English | In use |
|---|---|---|
| де́ньгиDYEN’-gi | money (plural only) | У меня́ нет де́нег. ▸u mi-NYA nyet DYE-nikУatменя́meнетnoде́негmoneyI have no money. |
| рубльrubl’ | rouble | сто рубле́й ▸sto ru-BLYEYстоhundredрубле́йroublesa hundred roubles |
| копе́йкаka-PYEY-ka | kopeck (1/100 rouble) | пятьдеся́т копе́ек ▸pi-di-SYAT ka-PYE-ikпятьдеся́тfiftyкопе́екkopecksfifty kopecks |
| нали́чныеna-LEECH-ny-ye | cash (plural only) | Мо́жно нали́чными? ▸MOZH-na na-LEECH-ny-miМо́жноmay Iнали́чнымиwith cashCan I pay cash? |
| ка́ртаKAR-ta | card | Я заплачу́ ка́ртой. ▸ya za-pla-CHU KAR-taiЯIзаплачу́will payка́ртойby cardI’ll pay by card. |
| сда́чаZDA-cha | change | Вот ва́ша сда́ча. ▸vot VA-sha ZDA-chaВотhere isва́шаyourсда́чаchangeHere’s your change. |
| ски́дкаSKEET-ka | discount | Ски́дка два́дцать проце́нтов. ▸SKEET-ka DVA-tsat’ pra-TSEN-tafСки́дкаdiscountдва́дцатьtwentyпроце́нтовpercentTwenty per cent off. |
| до́рого · дёшевоDO-ra-ga · DYO-shi-va | expensive · cheap | Э́то сли́шком до́рого. ▸E-ta SLEESH-kam DO-ra-gaЭ́тоthisсли́шкомtooдо́рогоexpensiveThat’s too expensive. |
Asking the price
The verb сто́ить (to cost) agrees with the thing being priced: сто́ит for one item, сто́ят for several. The answer puts рубль in the right form for the number.
Quantities: a kilo of, a packet of
A container or measure is followed by the genitive (the case for “of”). Uncountable things stay singular (па́чка ча́я); countable things go plural (килогра́мм я́блок).
At the checkout
A typical exchange with a cashier (касси́р) in a supermarket.
Cashier pa-KYET NU-zhin Паке́тbagну́женneeded Do you need a bag? Bags are usually charged for.
You da, a-DEEN, pa-ZHA-lus-ta Даyesоди́нoneпожа́луйстаplease Yes, one please.
Cashier s vas shes’-SOT VO-sim’ ru-BLYEY Сfromвасyouшестьсо́тsix hundredво́семьeightрубле́йroubles That’s 608 roubles. С вас…, literally “from you…”: the standard way to give the total.
You MOZH-na KAR-tai Мо́жноmay Iка́ртойby card Can I pay by card? Instrumental: “with a card”.
Cashier da, pri-KLA-dy-vay-tye Даyesприкла́дывайтеtap Yes, tap your card. Contactless payment is everywhere in Russian cities.
Cashier chek NU-zhin Чекreceiptну́женneeded Do you want the receipt?