So, you’ve decided to learn Russian! Congratulations! Get ready for a linguistic adventure full of challenges, surprises, and… Cyrillic letters. But before you dive in, let’s look at some basics to help you know what to expect.
Don’t let the alphabet scare you!
Yes, Russian letters might look like a strange code from a spy movie, but they aren’t actually that difficult.
The Russian alphabet has 33 letters and uses the Cyrillic script. Some shapes resemble those in the Latin alphabet, but they may represent different sounds. Practice each letter using examples and audio—don’t try to guess the pronunciation based solely on how the letter looks.
Grammar with character…
Russian has declensions. But don’t worry! Instead of thinking of it as difficult, think of it as a linguistic puzzle that just requires a bit of practice to solve. Plus, there are no articles, so that’s one less thing to remember!
Russian grammar is based on cases (nominative (e.g., книга – the book), genitive (e.g., нет книги – there is no book), dative (e.g., Я дал книгу другу – I gave the book to my friend), accusative (e.g., Я читаю книгу – I am reading the book), prepositional (e.g., Я думаю о книге – I am thinking about the book), instrumental (e.g., Я пишу ручкой – I am writing with a pen)), which means that words change their form depending on their syntactic position.
Verbs have two aspects: perfective (completed) and imperfective (ongoing/incomplete), which determine whether an action is complete or not. Furthermore, adjectives and pronouns must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which adds an extra challenge to the learning process.
It may seem complicated at first, but if you approach it step by step, you will begin to understand the logic of the system and apply it more easily in everyday use.
Learn to love verbs of motion
In Russian, there isn’t just one verb for “to go.” There are specific verbs for “going on foot,” “going by vehicle,” “going somewhere and returning”… and each one uses a different word!
Verbs of motion in Russian are divided into two main categories:
- Unidirectional (when the movement is in a single direction; for example, “Я иду в школу” — I am going to school).
- Multidirectional (when the movement is repetitive or lacks a specific direction; for example, “Я хожу в школу” — I go to school often).
Furthermore, each form has variations depending on whether the movement is on foot (идти/ходить), by vehicle (ехать/ездить), or by other means (лететь/летать for flying, плыть/плавать for traveling by water, etc.).
Yes, it might be a bit confusing at first, but believe us—the moment you are able to use all of this with ease will be truly special!
The Russian mindset is part of the language
Language is tied to culture, and Russian is no exception. Russians love diminutives—even for things you might not expect! Russian culture is reflected in the language through expressions, idioms, and the distinction between formal and informal speech. For example:
- Instead of saying “Катя” (Katerina), they might use “Катюша,” “Катенька,” or even “Котик” (“little cat/kitty”) to express affection. The same applies to everyday words: “чай” (tea) becomes “чаёк,” and “сахар” (sugar) becomes “сахарок.”
- The courtesy and formality The pronoun *vy* (вы) plays an important role. In Russian, *vy* (вы) is used in formal or professional settings, while *ty* (ты) is used for friends and family. For example:
- “Как дела?” (How are you?) — Casual and friendly.
- “Как у вас дела?” (How are you?) — More polite and formal.
- Some expressions have deep-rooted origins. historical or literary. For example, the phrase «Любовь зла, полюбишь и козла» (“Love is cruel; you might even fall in love with a goat”) evokes the Russian concept of a “fatal” or ill-fated love.
- In everyday life, you might hear the classic Russian expression “Авось да небось” (*avos’ da nebos’*), which conveys an almost philosophical attitude of “let’s hope for the best, without worrying too much about it.”
These linguistic elements make Russian more than just a language; it is a window into the soul and culture of the Russian people!
If you’ve read everything up to this point, it’s a sign that you’re very close to starting your Russian lessons! Begin your journey into the Russian language—who knows? Perhaps before long, you’ll be reading Dostoevsky in the original! *Udachi!* (Good luck!)
Your first step in Spain
Compare the options available in your area—such as those at official language schools (*Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas*) or through online courses. Ask about the entry level, the language used for instruction, the schedule, and the amount of practice expected outside of class. Language exchanges can complement your studies, but they cannot replace formal training if you need to obtain an official certification.
Original article: 2025-02-07. Edition adapted for Spain: 27 October 2026. Read the Greek original. Original author: Eleni Agiou.
