RussianPod101.com Blog

Moscow is a magnificent city, serving as both the Russian capital and the nation’s historical and cultural center. So, if you want to learn more about the biggest country in the world—and experience its grandeur yourself—then visiting Moscow is the logical next step forward.  But is Moscow a nice place to visit?  Believe us: This lively city has dozens of entertainment options for all tastes. If you’re ready, let’s start planning your trip right now in our Moscow travel guide! Table of Contents Before You Go: The Most Important Things to Know Must-See Places for a 1-3 Day Trip Highly Recommended Places for a 4-7 Day Trip (or Longer) Survival Russian Phrases for Foreigners Conclusion Before You Go: The Most... Show more

The Russian language is rich not only with its own words, but also with words borrowed from other languages. For English speakers looking to learn the language, studying English loanwords in Russian is a great way to quickly expand your vocabulary and make Russian seem less daunting.  We’ve prepared a list of English words in Russian that you can start using right away. We’ve also included a section about Russian words in the English language to further broaden your horizons.  Let’s get to it! Table of Contents Introduction to Runglish Runglish Examples Loanwords vs. Runglish How to Say These Names in Russian English Words Derived From the Russian Language English-Russian Paronyms Conclusion ... Show more

What images come to mind when you hear the word "Russia"?  Russia is known for its large territory and cold winters. But, digging deeper, what is Russian culture like?  Art and literature enthusiasts may be familiar with our world-famous ballet and our prominent writers: Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky…  Sports lovers may acknowledge our hockey team and outstanding performances at the Olympics. Those who are into science must already be familiar with our space activities as well as our massive oil and gas industry.  And gamers: you know Tetris, right? Perhaps you’ve already learned something new just from reading this Russian culture introduction. But if you want to find out how Russians live, interact with... Show more

Although Russia is not considered one of the world’s top food destinations, this country has lots of fantastic traditional dishes to offer. Tourists who come to Russia are often astonished by the diversity and flavors of the local cuisine. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the most famous Russian foods and give you some simple recipes that you can try wherever you are.  Let’s start our journey into the world of Russian cuisine! → By the way, to learn more about the topic, you can visit our lesson titled How is the Russian Food? Table of Contents Must-Try Dishes in Russian Restaurants Unique Russian Foods Food-Related Vocabulary How to Cook Russian Food at Home Conclusion 1. Must-Try Dishes in Russian... Show more

Are you just getting started in Russian? Whether you’re wondering what to learn first or getting lost in Russian grammar, this guide is for you. Here, you’ll discover the fundamental Russian grammar topics, from the word types to verb conjugation, noun cases, basic sentence structure, and other Russian grammar rules.  We recommend that you compare Russian grammar with the grammar of your native language. Take notes concerning what’s common and what’s different. You may be surprised at some of the things you learn, and you might even gain some insight about how your own language works.  Put things into perspective. Explore and discover. Table of Contents Exploring Vocabulary Uncovering the Grammar Behind Some Parts of... Show more

Although quotes don’t play a very important part in our everyday lives, there are some situations where knowing them can be really helpful. With quotes, we can express our thoughts in a more vivid and concise way.  If you’ve been studying Russian for a long period of time, you’re definitely ready to step up your game and learn some Russian quotes. We’ve prepared a list of twenty famous Russian quotes that you can use to enrich your speech, impress native Russian speakers during a conversation, and make yourself look more intelligent in their eyes. Some of these quotes are of Russian origin, while others are quotes from other languages that have gained popularity in Russia.  Pick your favorites and learn them by heart. We’re sure that... Show more

In many cultures, the sphere of business is associated not only with money, but also with a specific language style. If you plan to do business with Russian speaking partners or move to Russia for work, knowing some Russian business phrases would be useful, as there are situations when everyday language is just not enough. Well, turning to business, I won’t teach you how to earn millions, but I can help you spare a lot of embarrassment by teaching you some fundamental Russian courtesy rules. In this guide, you’ll learn some basic Russian business phrases for various occasions, from job interviews and your first days of work to giving presentations, writing business letters, and making phone calls. Also—the icing on the cake—you’ll find out... Show more

Sometimes learning a foreign language may seem tiring or boring, but that’s not a reason to give up doing it. One of the best ways to make the process of studying more interesting is to add some entertaining materials (like videos) to your normal routine. This is why, when you set out to learn Russian, YouTube can be a great educational tool. If you’re studying Russian, you may have heard about the RussianPod101 YouTube Channel, which is the number-one destination for improving your language skills online. If you’re going to learn Russian via YouTube, this channel is the best one to start with.  That said, there are many other good Russian YouTube channels to help you learn the language. We’re excited to share them with you in this... Show more

When you’ve just started studying a foreign language, you may not be able to keep up conversations in it, but you should at least know the basic rules of politeness. Greeting and saying goodbye are the most essential aspects of day-to-day communication, and they can make or break your future encounters with native speakers. Today, RussianPod101.com will teach you how to say goodbye in Russian for a variety of life situations. After learning the following ten phrases, you’ll be much more confident when meeting and speaking with Russians. Let’s get started! Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE!(Logged-In Member Only) Table of Contents До свидания (Do svidaniya) Пока (Poka) Прощай... Show more

If you’re thinking about learning Russian but are hesitant to get started, you may be asking yourself: "Is Russian hard to learn?"  You’ve read in the language forums that it is, and maybe you’ve even heard this firsthand from someone you know who’s learned the language. But here’s a spoiler: it’s not that bad. And even though I’m a native Russian myself, and learned how to speak Russian at the same time as I learned how to walk (oh, a double struggle!), I can sympathize with the experience of my students and apply my own language-learning observations to help them combat common issues. So if you still haven’t decided whether you want to include Russian in your daily schedule or not, I might be able to help you decide. In this... Show more