People
The people in your life, and yourself. FamilyA1–B1 ма́маmumбратbrotherтёщаmother-in-law Close and wider family, in-laws, and affectionate names. The bodyA1–A2 голова́headрука́arm, handболи́тhurts Head to toe, irregular plurals, and telling a doctor what hurts. Emotions and characterA2–B2 радgladмне гру́стноI feel sadтоска́longing Three ways to say how you feel, emotion verbs, character pairs and тоска́. HealthA1–B1 здоро́вьеhealthна́сморкrunny noseапте́каpharmacy Symptoms, боли́т vs боле́ет, the doctor, the pharmacy and emergencies. ClothesA1–A2 оде́ждаclothesша́пкаhatбрю́киtrousers Thirty words, put on vs wear, plural-only words and shopping. Sport and hobbiesA1–B1 футбо́лfootballзанима́тьсяto do (a sport)хо́ббиhobby игра́ть в or на, занима́ться, увлека́ться, and talking about free time.
Everyday life
Home, food, and the world outside the window. Food and drinkA1–A2 хлебbreadборщborschtчайtea Meals, dishes, “a glass of”, and ordering in a restaurant. The homeA1–A2 ку́хняkitchenдива́нsofaкварти́раflat Rooms, furniture, в or на, and visiting a Russian home. ColoursA1 кра́сныйredси́нийdark blueголубо́йlight blue Twelve basic colours, the two blues, and changing endings. Weather and seasonsA1–A2 зима́winterидёт снегit’s snowingхо́лодноcold Seasons, why rain “goes”, temperature, and forecasts. Nature and animalsA1–B1 лесforestмедве́дьbearберёзаbirch Landscapes, в лесу́, thirty animals, animal sounds and idioms. Hobbies and free timeA1–B1 увлече́ниеhobbyзанима́тьсяto doпо выходны́мat weekends Twelve pastimes, the verbs and cases that go with them, how often and how long.
Out and about
Getting around, shopping, and counting what you see. TravelA1–A2 по́ездtrainбиле́тticketнапра́воright Transport, stations, tickets, directions, hotels and signs. The cityA1–A2 го́родcityпло́щадьsquareпо́чтаpost office Thirty places with в or на, addresses, signs and getting around. Shopping and moneyA1–A2 де́ньгиmoneyско́лько сто́ит?how much?сда́чаchange Shops, money words, prices, quantities and the checkout. NumbersA1 оди́нoneдваtwoстоhundred Counting to a million, prices, and nouns after numbers. Dates and timeA2 сего́дняtodayчасhourянва́рьJanuary Days, months, years and telling the time. Time wordsA1–A2 вчера́yesterdayу́тромin the morningвсегда́always Parts of the day, days of the week, how often, ago and in.
Work and study
Earning a living, learning, and the tools of both. WorkA1–B1 рабо́таworkврачdoctorо́фисoffice Twenty-four jobs, “I work as”, the workplace and formal emails. School and studyA2–B1 шко́лаschoolучи́тьсяto studyпятёркаtop mark Four verbs for study, subjects, the 5-point scale and classroom phrases. Technology and internetA2–B1 телефо́нphoneскача́тьto downloadла́йкнутьto like Devices, actions in aspect pairs, borrowed words, texting and tech trouble.
Words in use
Choosing the right word, name and level of formality. Word choiceA2–C1 учи́тьto learnкластьto put (lying)уме́тьcan (skill) Eight groups English merges: study, put, can, say, ask, go, like, other. Registers and stylesB2–C2 жильёhousingба́бкиcash (slang)весьма́very (bookish) One idea from official to slang, word ladders, the five styles. Names and patronymicsA1–C2 о́тчествоpatronymicфами́лияsurnameСа́шаSasha First name, patronymic, surname, short forms and which to use.
Society and ideas
For news, debate, study and work at C1 and C2. Politics and societyB1–C1 госуда́рствоthe stateвы́борыelectionsо́бществоsociety Institutions, voting verbs, social issues and debate phrases. Media and newsB1–C1 СМИmediaсоцсе́тиsocial mediaсообщи́тьto report Sources, reporting verbs, online words and how headlines work. Law and justiceB1–C1 судcourtзако́нa lawправа́driving licence Courts, crimes, legal verbs, documents and the police. Money and the economyB1–C1 де́ньгиmoneyры́нокmarketвы́расти наto rise by Banking, borrowing and lending, the economy, rises and falls. Science and researchB1–C1 нау́каscienceучёныйscientistда́нныеdata The sciences, research verbs and the phrases of academic papers. Ideas and argumentB2–C2 поня́тиеconceptодна́коhoweverвлия́ть наto affect Abstract nouns, essay linking words, cause and effect, hedging.
Expressions
Ready-made phrases, from polite to street. Everyday phrasesA1 Приве́т!Hi!Спаси́боthank youМо́жно…?May I…? Greetings, requests and small talk. ты and выA1–B2 тыyou (friend)выyou (polite)Ива́н Петро́вичname + patronymic Who to call ты, names and patronymics, and switching register. Idioms and proverbsB2–C2 лапшу́ на́ ушиtall storiesко́т напла́калvery little Forty idioms and proverbs, word for word. More idioms and proverbsB2–C2 про́ще па́реной ре́пыa piece of cakeРабо́та не волк…work can wait Thirty more expressions, half-quoted proverbs and English twins. Slang and youth speechC1–C2 кринжcringeнормfine Colloquial words, clipped forms and 2020s slang. Business RussianB2–C1 догово́рcontractС уваже́ниемYours sincerely Office words, etiquette, meetings, emails and negotiation.
Culture
The culture behind the words. HolidaysA2–B1 С Но́вым го́дом!Happy New Year!Ма́сленицаpancake week The holiday year and the greeting for every day. Food cultureA2–B2 борщbeetroot soupблины́pancakesзасто́льеa feast What Russians eat, toasts and table customs. LiteratureB1–C2 Пу́шкинPushkinрома́нnovel The writers every Russian quotes, and what to read. Regions of RussiaB1–C1 Сиби́рьSiberiaКавка́зCaucasusУра́лthe Urals From Kaliningrad to Kamchatka: places, people and accents. The Soviet legacyB2–C1 СССРUSSRкоммуна́лкаshared flatдефици́тshortage Words and habits the Soviet era left in everyday Russian. Russian humourB2–C2 анекдо́тjokeшу́ткаjoke, jestиро́нияirony Anekdoty, wordplay and how Russians joke.
Three habits that make Russian words stick
Learn the stress with the word Stress is not predictable in Russian, and it changes the sound of every vowel. Always learn the word with its stress mark.
Learn nouns with their gender The ending of a noun usually tells you its gender. Learn the exceptions, like па́па, as you meet them.
Learn words in phrases Russian words come with fixed partners. Learn the phrase, and the grammar comes with it.