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сетьзаря́дкасообще́ниекно́пкаэкра́н signal, networkbattery chargemessagebuttonscreen
Many tech words are borrowed from English, but the everyday ones (screen, button, message) are native Russian.
Russian vocabulary·техноло́гии

Russian technology and internet vocabulary

Short answer: the internet is интерне́т, often called simply сеть (the net), and a phone is телефо́н. Many words come straight from English, but they behave like Russian words: they take Russian endings and form verbs with Russian suffixes, so “to like” becomes ла́йкнуть and “to google” becomes гугли́ть.

On this page DevicesActionsBorrowed wordsMessagingWhen it breaksRelated guides

Devices and parts

Each word with its gender: m masculine, f feminine, n neuter. Gender decides the ending of words that go with it (мой телефо́н, моя́ клавиату́ра).

Actions: what you do with a device

Each action comes as an aspect pair: the imperfective (blue) for the process or habit, the perfective (red) for one completed action. Tap a row to hear both.

EnglishImperfectivePerfective
to switch on включа́тьfklyu-CHAT’ включи́тьfklyu-CHEET’
to switch off выключа́тьvy-klyu-CHAT’ вы́ключитьVY-klyu-chit’
to charge заряжа́тьza-ri-ZHAT’ заряди́тьza-ri-DEET’
to download ска́чиватьSKA-chi-vat’ скача́тьska-CHAT’
to send отправля́тьat-prav-LYAT’ отпра́витьat-PRA-vit’
to delete удаля́тьu-da-LYAT’ удали́тьu-da-LEET’
to save сохраня́тьsa-khra-NYAT’ сохрани́тьsa-khra-NEET’
to install устана́вливатьus-ta-NAV-li-vat’ установи́тьus-ta-na-VEET’
to log in входи́тьfkha-DEET’ войти́vai-TEE
to search иска́тьis-KAT’ найти́ (to find)nai-TEE

Borrowed words that became Russian

An English root plus a Russian verb ending (-ить, -нуть) gives a fully Russian verb that conjugates normally. These are informal but universal.

like+= -нуть ла́йкнуть English root“do once” suffixto like (a post) · я ла́йкну, ты ла́йкнешь…
-нуть marks a single quick action, so ла́йкнуть is perfective: to give one like.

Messaging

A typical chat between friends. Russian messaging is informal, short, and full of abbreviations.

Ма́ша ty gdye? ya u-ZHE na MYES-tye ТыyouгдеwhereЯIуже́alreadyнаatме́стеplace Where are you? I’m already here. на ме́сте: “at the place”, i.e. I’ve arrived.
Ди́ма SO-ri, a-PAZ-dy-va-yu. BU-du CHE-ris DYE-syat’ meen Со́рриsorryопа́здываюam lateБу́дуwill beче́резin10tenминmin Sorry, running late. Be there in 10 min. со́рри is slang from English; мин is short for мину́т.
Ма́ша ok. skeen’, pa-ZHA-lus-ta, FOT-ki sa fchi-RA ОкOKСки́ньsendпожа́луйстаpleaseфо́ткиphotosсоfromвчера́yesterday OK. Send me the photos from yesterday, please. ски́нуть (to throw) is the casual “send”; фо́тки is short for фотогра́фии.
Ди́ма shchas SKEE-nu Щасright nowски́нуwill send Sending now. щас is how сейча́с sounds in fast speech; people type it that way.
Ма́ша spa-SEE-ba Спсthanks Thx! Texting shorthand for спаси́бо. Others: пжл (please), норм (fine).
Ди́ма NYE-za-shta Неnotзаforчтоwhat You’re welcome. Said as one word: NYE-za-shta.

When it breaks

Phrases for when technology fails, at home or in a phone shop.

  1. u mi-NYA syel ti-li-FONУatменя́meселsat downтелефо́нphone My phone has died.сесть (to sit down) is used for a battery running out.
  2. nyet SVYA-ziНетnoсвя́зиconnection There’s no signal.нет + genitive.
  3. in-ter-NET ni ra-BO-ta-yitИнтерне́тinternetнеnotрабо́таетworks The internet isn’t working.The т in интерне́т is said hard, as in English.
  4. ya za-BYL pa-ROL’ЯIзабы́лforgotпаро́льpassword I’ve forgotten my password.A woman says забы́ла.
  5. kam-PYU-tir za-VEESКомпью́терcomputerзави́сfroze The computer has frozen.зави́снуть: literally “to get stuck hanging”.
  6. MOZH-na u vas za-ri-DEET’ ti-li-FONМо́жноmay Iуatвасyouзаряди́тьto chargeтелефо́нphone Can I charge my phone here?Useful in cafés: у вас, “at your place”.