Russian Accents

If you are learning a new language, then you will know that the most difficult part is getting the accent just right. Russian accents are no exception and depending on the dialect, Russian words can sound different to the untrained ear.

In the Russian language there are said to be many differing opinions pertaining to vowel phonemes in stressed syllables, allophones and also front and back vowels.

For the most part, Russian words can be pronounced the way that they are spelled, but it is these variations in speech that can actually change the meanings of entire phrases.

The letters of the Russian alphabet (there are thirty three of them!) are all very firm, as are the Russian accents. When Russian words are spoken, the words are hard and drawn out, almost like a southern drawl, but with more force and stress on each syllable.

When you’re learning how to speak Russian, it is always best to have audio clips of the language, so that when you hear the different
Russian words and the way in which they are spoken, you will be more likely to remember it.

Russian words
are far more phonetic than English words, so the letter “r” is always rolled, kind of like what you would hear in an Irish accent. The letter x doesn’t sound at all like the “x” that we use in English, but like a very hard “h” and the g in the Russian language will always be hard, like in the word gum.

There are even some consonants that we have in the English language that do not exist at all in Russian. The sounds for “j” (or a soft g), “w” and “th” are nowhere to be found. You may have noticed that native Russian speakers who attempt to pronounce a word with a “w” in it will end up converting it to have a v in its place. So, instead of “water”, a native Russian speaker will instead say “vater”.

Despite the challenges presented by the complexity of the language itself, learning Russian can be an extraordinary experience. Take your time and practice with a friend (and the RussianPod101 podcast) for the best results. For a wealth of helpful and fun resources on how to learn Russian, subscribe to our podcast at RussianPod101