Russian Alphabet

Question 1

А а

Answer 1

Pronounced like the “a” in the word “father” or “car”. It is not the ‘flat’ “a” sound you sometimes hear in words like “cat” or “flat”.

Question 2

Б б

Answer 2

Equivalent to the english letter “b”.

Question 3

В в

Answer 3

Equivalent to the english letter “v”

Question 4

Г г

Answer 4

Equivalent to the english letter “g”

Question 5

Д д

Answer 5

Equivalent to the english letter “d”

Question 6

Е е

Answer 6

Pronounced like the “ye” in “yes”.

Question 7

Ё ё

Answer 7

Pronounced like “yo” in “yonder”. (Note: In modern Russian you may find this letter simply written as Е е.)

Question 8

Ж ж

Answer 8

Like “s” in “measure”, “pleasure” or “fusion” or like “g” in colour “beige”. (As there is no english symbol for this sound, it is usually represented as “zh”)

Question 9

З з

Answer 9

Equivalent to the english letter “z”

Question 10

И и

Answer 10

Pronounced like the “i” in “taxi”. (Sometimes equivalent to the english letter “i”, the short ‘ee’ sound.). (Note: The hand-written form for “и” looks a little like the english “u”)

Question 11

Й й

Answer 11

This letter is used to form diphthongs. So “oй” is like the “oy” sound in “boy” or “aй” is like the “igh” in “sigh”

Question 12

К к

Answer 12

Pronounced like the “k” in “kitten” or “kangaroo”. This letter replaces the english “c” sound in words like “cat”.

Question 13

Л л

Answer 13

Equivalent to the english letter “l”

Question 14

М м

Answer 14

Pronounced like the “m” in man. (Note: Unlike english, the hand-written “м” should always start from the bottom)

Question 15

Н н

Answer 15

Equivalent to the english letter “n”

Question 16

O o

Answer 16

When stressed, it is pronounced like the “o” in “bore”. When un-stressed it is pronounced more like the letter “a”

Question 17

П п

Answer 17

Equivalent to the english letter “p”

Question 18

Р р

Answer 18

Equivalent to the english letter “r”

Question 19

С с

Answer 19

Equivalent to the english letter “s” (It might help to remember that it’s used like the “s” sound in the english words “centre” and “cent”.)

Question 20

Т т

Answer 20

Pronounced like the “t” in “tap”. (Note: The hand-written (and italic) form is “т”. It should always start from the top, as it looks quite similar to the letter “м”)

Question 21

У у

Answer 21

Pronounced like the “oo” in “boot” or “root”.

Question 22

Ф ф

Answer 22

Equivalent to the english letter “f”

Question 23

Х х

Answer 23

Pronounced like the “h” in “hello”. However, this is often pronounced more like the “ch” in the Scottish “Loch”

Question 24

Ц ц

Answer 24

Similar to the “ts” sound in “sits” or “its”.

Question 25

Ч ч

Answer 25

Pronounced like the “ch” in “chips” or “church” .

Question 26

Ш ш

Answer 26

Pronounced like the “sh” in shut.

Question 27

Щ щ

Answer 27

Pronounced like “sh” but with your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Try putting your tongue in the same position as you would to say “ch” but say “sh” instead. English speakers may find it hard to define the difference between “ш” and “щ”.

Question 28

Ъ ъ

Answer 28

The ‘Hard Sign’ is rarely used. It indicates a slight pause between sylables.

Question 29

Ы ы

Answer 29

Pronounced like the “i” in “bit” or “ill”. (Said with your tongue slightly back in your mouth.)

Question 30

Ь ь

Answer 30

The ‘Soft Sign’ makes the previous letter ‘soft’. Think of the “p” sound in the word “pew”. (Try inflecting a very slight “y” sound onto letter before it.)

Question 31

Э э

Answer 31

Pronounced like the “e” in “fed”.

Question 32

Ю ю

Answer 32

Pronounced like the “u” in “universe”. (Pronounced much like the english word “you”).

Question 33

Я я

Answer 33

Pronounced like the “ya” in “yard”.