Russian pronunciation
There're 11 vowels in the Russian alphabet:
А Б В Г Д Е Ё Ж З И Й К Л М Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ Ы Ь Э Ю Я
Vowels
А Е Ё И О У Ы Э Ю Я
Simple Vowels
А И О У Ы Э
А
Скакалка
Барабан
И
Пилили
Приснились
О
Колесо
Сторож
Unstressed O becomes [A]
Молоко – [МАЛАКО]
Порошок - [ПАРАШОК]
У
Буду
Улыбнулся
Ы
The most difficult Russian sound for English-speakers. Sounds like "ui" sound in English "quick". Sounds "shorter" than Russian И, more like English ‘I’ in “sit."
Дыры
Стыдно
Э
Мэр
Экран
Й (short И)
Always used with another vowel before or after
Йод
Майка
Сухой
Complex Vowels
Е Ё Ю Я
Е=Й+Э
Еле-еле
Перепел
Unstressed Е becomes [И]
МЕТРО – [МИТРО]
СТЕРЕТЬ – [СТИРЕТЬ]
Unstressed E becomes [Ы]
after Ж, Ц, Ш.
ЦЕНА (price) – [ЦЫНА]
ЖЕНА (wife) – [ЖЫНА]
Ё = Й+О
Мёд
Перекрёсток
Ё is always stressed!
Ю = Й+У
Воюют
Индюк
Я = Й+А
Ляля
Слякоть
Брянск
Russian Consonants
Б В Г Д Ж З К Л М Н П Р С Т Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ Ь
Б = B
Банк
В = V
Водка
Г = G
Глаза
Д = D
Дорога
Ж = ZH
Железо
З=Z
Золото
К = K
Корова
Л=L
Лошадь
М=M
Метро
Н=N
Нос
П=P
Парад
Р is trilled (rolled)
Ракета
Феррари
Риторика
С=S
Собака
Т = T
Томат
Ф=F
Фигура
Х=H
Хорошо
Ц=TS
Царь
Цапля
Цистерна
Ч=CH
Чистый
Чеснок
Ш=SH
always hard
Шорты
Широко
Щ = SH
like "shch" in "fresh cheese"
(always soft)
(always soft)
Щука
Борщ
Щи
Ъ
makes the previous consonant "hard"
Подъезд
Съел - Сел
Ь
makes the previous consonant "soft"
Тень
Сыновья
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Comments
(22)
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written by arpefa , September 05, 2009
I had some problems with the pronunciation but now it seems clear to me. Thanks.
Votes: +3
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written by yafi , October 02, 2009
This is great, particular the reading at the end that ties all the sounds together. Admittedly, this clip challenges me, but in a good way. I think after a few viewings, I should be able to pronounce the complex vowels with relative ease. Thank you!
Votes: +0
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written by martin , December 18, 2009
Great !!!this is very cool websites how to learnd russian
спасибо
Votes: +2
спасибо
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written by JUGGERNAUT789 , March 07, 2010
i love this website its free its simple its fun. whoever runs this site THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Votes: +5
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written by Russian-Online-Tutor , April 01, 2010
This is me thank you!
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written by Catherine , April 17, 2010
thank you sooo much! it helped. but i dont understand when the o becaomes the a sound.
Votes: +2
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written by Dean65 , June 18, 2010
" I dont understand when the o becaomes the a sound. "
From what I can make out there seems to be a vowel shift occurring due to modifications in pronunciation over time and the spelling not keeping pace.
Votes: +1
From what I can make out there seems to be a vowel shift occurring due to modifications in pronunciation over time and the spelling not keeping pace.
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written by andrew , September 26, 2010
i don't understand when the o becomes the a sound.
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written by Russian-Plus.com , September 26, 2010
When it is stressed - Корова /карОва/
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written by Russian-Plus.com , September 26, 2010
sorry i meant to say when it is NOT stressed
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written by Gary Shain , November 30, 2010
Thanks for your help in clarifying the pronunciation.
It's now clear and makes more sense
Votes: +0
It's now clear and makes more sense report abuse
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written by eekaro , December 29, 2010
this lesson is wonderful. so easy to understand. Thanks a lot!!
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written by Giuls , January 06, 2011
I'll never finish thanking you for this video.
Everything's clear now.
Votes: +1
Everything's clear now.
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written by tolis , January 13, 2011
Question, on phrase Он объясняет the first Я becomes И. Is that right? Is that a rule? or a special exception occurs.
Votes: -1
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written by Russian-Plus.com , January 13, 2011
If you pronounce if as [обЯсняит] it would be ok but it would not sound natural
so for an unstressed vowel Я you'd want to change it to И
Votes: +0
so for an unstressed vowel Я you'd want to change it to И
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written by tolis , January 13, 2011
I m asking that beacause in the video before it sounds clearly like an И
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written by PAULO JAN , March 06, 2011
Little by little it is becoming familiar , sounding familiar.
A curiosity: I learnt the armenian alphabet and this knowledge is showing very helpful for me. For example ,letter TS and E.
Votes: +0
A curiosity: I learnt the armenian alphabet and this knowledge is showing very helpful for me. For example ,letter TS and E.
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written by PAULO JAN , March 12, 2011
A point to practises hard is related to stress syllabi , just practicing and listening to more examples.
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written by rubp , April 27, 2011
this video rocks! thanks Mr. Vyacheslav! people need to just learn russian from the russians
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written by krissymir_06 , May 16, 2011
love the lessons!! thanks so much!!
Votes: +1
thanks so much!! report abuse
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