language

There are a few words in Russian that do not exist in any other language. Those words point to something that is unique to the Russian self and beyond. Learning them will not only be a good addition to your vocabulary, but will also open up a whole new universe, which is not available to the bearers of other languages. We've also included some Russian words that have a foreign analogue, but that are so special in their etymology that they deserve to be next to the untranslatable ones, as they open up a different perspective on what we've considered as given before.

In Russian, you can change the sequence of words around within a sentence. Depending on the sequence you choose the meaning changes. That’s why Russian sentences are often long and complex: you can express an emotion not only through the intonation, but also through the relations of words to one another.

Here are some basic Russian words and phrases, such as "hello", "yes" and "no", which can make your life much easier. Even if you don't have any plans to speak Russian, learning these can be a real ice-breaker when you meet a Russian – they'll love it if you can say "hi" or tell them your age in Russian.