say it right in russian

Say
It
Right
in
RUSSIAN
Easily Pronounced
Language Systems, Inc.
Clyde Peters
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DOI: 10.1036/0071492313
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iii
Contents
Introduction v
Pronunciation Guide vi
EPLS Vowel Symbol System vii
Vowel Symbol System Enhancement viii
EPLS Consonants ix
The Cyrillic Alphabet x
Pronunciation Tips xi
Icons xii
Essential Words and Phrases 2
Arrival 30
Hotel Survival 36
Restaurant Survival 48
Getting Around 72
Shopping 84

Russia
Moscow
For more information about this title, click here
Essential Services 92
Sightseeing and Entertainment 102
Health 108
Business Travel 114
General Information 120
Dictionary 126
Thanks in 16 Languages 160

Index 162
Quick Reference Page 164
iv
All SAY IT RIGHT phrase books feature the EPLS
Vowel Symbol System, a revolutionary phonetic
system that stresses consistency, clarity, and
above all, simplicity!
Since this unique phonetic system is used in all
SAY IT RIGHT phrase books, you only have to
learn the VOWEL SYMBOL SYSTEM ONCE!
The SAY IT RIGHT series uses the easiest phrases
possible for English speakers to pronounce and
is designed to reflect how foreign languages are
used by native speakers.
You will be amazed at how confidence in your
pronunciation leads to an eagerness to talk to
other people in their own language.
Whether you want to learn a new language for
travel, education, business, study, or personal
enrichment, SAY IT RIGHT phrase books offer a
simple and effective method of pronunciation and
communication.
v
E
A
ø
O
I
IntRoDUCtIon
The SAY IT RIGHT FOREIGN

LANGUAGE PHRASE BOOK
SERIES has been developed
with the conviction that learning to
speak a foreign language should be fun and easy!
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
vi
PRonUnCIatIon
GUIDe
Most English speakers are
familiar with the Russian word
vodka. This is how the correct
pronunciation is.represented.in
the EPLS Vowel Symbol System.
All Russian vowel sounds are
assigned a specific non-changing
symbol. When these symbols
are used in conjunction with consonants and
read normally, pronunciation of even the most
difficult foreign word becomes incredibly EASY!
On the following page are all the EPLS vowel
Symbols used in this book. They are EASY to
LEARN since their sounds are familiar. Beneath
each symbol are three English words which
contain the sound of the symbol.
Practice pronouncing the words under each
symbol until you mentally associate the correct
vowel sound with the correct symbol. Most
symbols are pronounced the way they look!
THE SAME BASIC SYMBOLS ARE USED IN ALL
SAY IT RIGHT PHRASE BOOKS!

vO´t-   kÅ
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
vii
ePLs VoWeL sYMBoL
sYsteM
Z 
Ace
Bake
Safe
N 
See
Feet
Meet
ƒ
Ice
Kite
Pie
Ò 
Oak
Cold
Sold
1 
Want
Saw
Saw
7 
Men
Red
Bed

“ 
Cool
Pool
Too
˙ 
Win
Sit
Give
Σ 
Cow
How
Now
¥ 
Boy
Toy
Joy
N
 
This EPLS vowel
symbol has been
narrowed to indi-
cate visually that
this sound is barely
pronounced. On
the next page we
will explain its
importance.
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
viii
When a narrow symbol appears before any other

symbol (example below) it reminds you to barely
pronounce this vowel sound like the ie in fiesta.
N
7
EXAMPLE: The Russian word for "no" is:
ePLs VoWeL sYMBoL
enhanCeMents
On the previous page are all the EPLS Vowel
Symbols used in this book. They are EASY to
LEARN since their sounds are familiar.
On page x you will find the Cyrillic alphabet listed
along with the EPLS Vowel Symbol or Consonant
that represents the Cyrillic letter or letters.
EPLS has enhanced the following symbol below
to visually help you recognize that this sound is
shortened.
n
E
ét
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
ePLs Consonants
Consonants are letters like T, D, and K. They are
easy to recognize and their pronunciation seldom
changes. The following pronunciation guide letters
represent some Cyrillic consonants and their EPLS
equivalents.
R    Pronounce this EPLS letter like the
rolled Spanish r.
ZH   Pronounce these EPLS letters like s
in measure.

LD Pronounce this EPLS letter like the ld
in cold.
ZD Pronounce these EPLS letters like the
letters sed in pleased.
H    Pronounce this EPLS letter like the h
in ha preceded by a puff of air
making an aspirated H sound.
Y    Pronounce this EPLS letter like the ye
in yes or the ya in yacht.
MN   Pronounce these EPLS letters like the
mn in omni.
SHCH  You have to run these four conso-
nants together. No way around it!
Try to isolate the letters in the
words fishchips.
ix
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
x
Ff Å as in saw
<, b  as in bed
Dd v  as in van
Uu g  as in good
Ll d  as in dog
Tt yé as in yet
?/ yO      as in Yo
:;
zh      as in pleasure
Pp z       as in zoo
Bb E      as in eat
Qq ¥        as in boy

Rr k  as in keep
Kk l   as in lake
Vv m  as in mom
Yy n  as in noon
Jj O      as in oak
 
Å as in off

Gg p as in peg

Hh R as in run
Cc s as in see
Nn t as in tie


the CYRILLIC aLPhaBet
Ee ø as in oops
Aa f as in fun
{[
h as in hot, but guttural

Ww ts as in hits
Xx ch as in chair
Ii sh as in shoe
Oo
shch as in fishchips

}] hard sign:has no
sound of its
own but affects

other sounds.
Ss ˙/E as in if or
eat
Mm soft sign: has no
sound of its
own but affects
other sounds.
”' é as in end
>. yø as in you

Zz yÅ as in yawn


The Cyrillic alphabet has 33 letters. Below is
the entire alphabet, which is easily represented
by an EPLS letter or symbol. As you read
through the book you will start to assimilate this
alphabet. Although the Cyrillic letters are fairly
consistent, pronunciation will change depending
on position and various grammatical rules.
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
PRonUnCIatIon tIPs
• Each pronunciation guide word is broken into
syllables. Read each word slowly, one syllable
at a time, increasing speed as you become
more familiar with the system.
• In Russian it is extremely important to
emphasize certain syllables. This mark (´)
over the syllable reminds you to STRESS
that syllable.

• If you do not pay attention to the stressed
symbol you can easily change the meaning
of the word.
• In Russian the syllables following the stressed
symbol tend to be spoken lightly in a faded-
out manner.
• In the spoken language, the pronunciation of
a particular letter will be affected by the letters
in front of it or directly following.
• Take a little time to familiarize yourself with
the Cyrillic letters on the previous page. Note
that there are no articles such as a, an, and
the in Russian.
• To perfect your Russian accent you must listen
closely to Russian speakers and adjust your
speech accordingly.
• The pronunciation choices in this book were
chosen for their simplicity and effectiveness.
xi
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
xii
ICons UseD In
thIs Book
keY WoRDs
You will find this icon at the begin-
ning of chapters indicating key words
relating to chapter content. These are
important words to become familiar
with.
PhRaseMakeR

The Phrasemaker icon provides the
traveler with a choice of phrases that
allows the user to make his or her
own sentences.
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
This page intentionally left blank
2 Say It Right in Russian
2
ESSENTIAL WORDS
AND phRASES
Here are some basic words
and.phrases that will help
you express your needs and
feelings in Russian.
Hi
Ghbdtn
pRE-v
E
é´t
Hello
Plhfdcndeqnt (polite)
zdRÅ´-stvø-y
é
-t
E
é
How are you?
Rfr ds gj;bdftnt*
kÅk vE pÅ-zhE-vÅ´-yé -t
E

é
Fine, thank you.
{jhjij- cgfcb,j=
hÅ- RÅ -shO´ spÅ-sE´- bÅ
And you? Good-bye
F ds* Lj cdblfybz
Å vE dÅ-svE- dÅ´- nyÅ
Copyright © 2008 by EPLS Publishing. Click here for terms of use.
Essential Words and Phrases 3
Good morning
Lj,hjt enhj
dO´- bRÅ-yé ø´-tRÅ
Good afternoon Good evening
Lj,hsq ltym Lj,hsq dtxth
dO´-bRE
d
E
é´n dO´-bRE v
E
é´- chéR
Good night
Cgjrjqyjq yjxb
spÅ-k¥´-nI nO´- chE
Mr. (literally: young man)
Vjkjljq xtkjdtr
mÅ-lÅ-d¥´ ché- lÅ-v
E
é´k
Mrs. / Miss (literally: young woman)
Ltdeirf

dé´-vøsh- kÅ
Ma'am (older woman)
<f,eirf
bÅ´´-bøsh-kÅ
4 Say It Right in Russian
Yes
Lf
dÅ
No
Ytn
n
E
ét
Please
Gj;fkeqcnf
pÅ-zhÅ´- lø-stÅ
Thank you
Cgfcb,j
spÅ-sE´- bÅ
Excuse me
Bpdbybnt
Ez-vE-nE ´-t
E
é
I’m sorry
Ghjcnbnt
pRÅ-stE´ -t
E
é
Essential Words and Phrases 5

I don't understand!
Z yt gjybvf.ˆ
yÅ nE-pÅ- nE- mÅ´ -yø
Do you understand?
Ds vtyz gjybvftnt*
vE mE-nyÅ´
pÅ-nE-mÅ´-yé -t
E
é
I’m a tourist.
Z nehbcn=
yÅ tø-RE´st
I don’t understand Russian.
Z yt gjybvf. gj_heccrb=
yÅ nE-pÅ-nE- mÅ´-yø
pÅ- Rø´s- kE
Do you speak English?
Ds gj_fyukbqcrb ujdjhbnt*
vE pÅ-Ån- glE´-skE
gÅ-vÅ- RE´-t
E
é
Please repeat.
Gjdnjhbnt› gj;fkebcnf=
pÅf-tÅ- RE´-t
E
é
pÅ -zhÅ´- lø -stÅ
6 Say It Right in Russian
FEELINGS

I would like (male speaking)
Z ,s [jntk===
yÅ bwE hÅ -t
E
é´l
I would like (female speaking)
Z ,s [jntkf===
yÅ bwE hÅ -t
E
é´-lÅ
I want
Z [jxe===
yÅ hÅ-chø´´
I have
E vtyz tcnm===
ø-mE-nyÅ´ yést
I know. I don't know.
Z pyf.= Z yt pyf.=
yÅ znÅ´-yø yÅ nE-znÅ´-yø
I like it.
Vyt 'nj yhfdbncz=
mn
E
é é´-tÅ nRÅ´-vE -tsÅ
I don’t like it.
Vyt 'nj yt yhfdbncz=
mn
E
é é´-tÅ nE-nRÅ´-vE-tsÅ
Essential Words and Phrases 7

I’m lost. (male speaking)
Z gjnthzkcz=
yÅ pÅ-té- R
E
Å´l-s
E
Å
I’m lost. (female speaking)
Z gjnthzkfcm=
yÅ pÅ-té-R
E
Å´-lÅs
We are lost.
Vs gjnthzkbcm=
mwE pÅ-té- R
E
Å´- lEs
I’m ill. (male speaking)
Z ,jkty=
yÅ bO´- lén
I’m ill. (female speaking)
Z ,jkmyf=
yÅ bÅl-nÅ´
I’m hungry. (male speaking)
Z ujkjlty=
yÅ gO´- lÅ- dén
I’m hungry. (female speaking)
Z ujkjlyf=
yÅ gÅ- lÅd- nÅ´
8 Say It Right in Russian

Very nice to meet you.
<skj ghbznyj gjpyfrjvbnmcz=
bwE´- lÅ pRE -yÅ´t-nÅ
pÅz
-n
Å- kO´-mE -tsÅ
My name is
Vtyz pjden===
mE
-
nyÅ´ zÅ-vø´t
What’s your name?
Rfr dfc pjden*
kÅk vÅs zÅ -vø´t
INTRODucTIONS
Use the following phrases
when meeting someone
for the first time both
privately and in business.
Essential Words and Phrases 9
GENERAL GuIDELINES
Russia is the largest country on the planet and
tourism has taken off since the dissolution
of the Soviet Union. It is a nation spanning
eleven time zones and two continents.
In Russia, don't expect a lot of smiles
when you meet, however, Russians
like to stand closer than Americans are
accustomed to.
Giving a Russian the "OK" sign is

considered rude.
Hand shaking is common practice, both
on arrival and taking leave.
Public bear hugs are normal.
Friendship with a Russian is not to be
treated lightly.
Hospitality is a great Russian virtue. An
invitation to a Russian's home is a real
treat and education into the true meaning
of hospitality.
Toasts are usually given at the beginning
of the meal and very long meals are quite
common.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
10 Say It Right in Russian
ThE BIG QuESTIONS
Who?
Rnj*
ktO
Who is it?
Rnj 'nj*
ktO é´ -tÅ
What?
Xnj*

shtO
What’s that?
Xnj 'nj*
shtO é ´-tÅ
When?
Rjulf*
kÅg- dÅ´
Where?
Ult*
gdyé
Essential Words and Phrases 11
Where is ?
Ult===*
gdyé…
Which?
Rfrjq* Rjnjhsq*
kÅ- k¥´ kÅ -tO´ - RE
Why?
Gjxtve*
pÅ- chE- mø´
How?
Rfr*
kÅk
How much? (money)
Crjkmrj*
skO´l-kÅ
How long? (time)
Rfr ljkuj*
kÅk dO´l-gÅ