Russian Alphabet Phonetics

Question 1

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

А а

Answer 1

sounds like “a” in after, ask. In pronouncing this sound, the mouth is open a bit wider as compared to English

Question 2

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Е е

Answer 2

sounds either like “ye” in yes or like “e” as in ebony . It is pronounced with preceding y in the beginning of a word or after a vowel.

Question 3

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

К к

Answer 3

sounds like “k” in kite, making, like. Try to avoid the puff of air after the sound typical for the English language.

Question 4

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

М м

Answer 4

sounds like “m” in mobile, dome.

Question 5

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

О о

Answer 5

sounds like “au” in audible, Auckland. Try protruding and rounding your lips a bit more than you do in English. In unstressed positions, this letter sounds like “u” in under, but more lax.

Question 6

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Т т

Answer 6

sounds like “t” in task, tardy. The tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth, as opposed the upper gum ridge in English.

Question 7

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Б б

Answer 7

sounds like “b” in buy, blue. Try to avoid a puff of air after the sound typical in the English language.

Question 8

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Г г

Answer 8

sounds like “g” in get, guard.

Question 9

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Д д

Answer 9

sounds like d in double, did. In pronouncing this letter, the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth.

Question 10

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Ё ё

Answer 10

sounds like “yo” in York or like “o” in copy, obvious depending on the position in a word.

Question 11

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Ж ж

Answer 11

sounds like “s” in usual, pleasure.

Question 12

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

П п

Answer 12

sounds like “p” in compassion. Try to avoid a puff of unvoiced air after the sound as typical for the English language.

Question 13

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Ф ф

Answer 13

sounds like “f” in fasten, fact.

Question 14

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

И и

Answer 14

sounds like “ee” in free, meet.

Question 15

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Й й

Answer 15

sounds like “y” in oyster, soy.

Question 16

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Л л

Answer 16

sounds like “l” in lock, chill.

Question 17

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Ц ц

Answer 17

sounds like “ts” in that’s.

Question 18

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Ш ш

Answer 18

sounds like “sh” in ship, crush but with the tongue farther back in the mouth

Question 19

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Щ щ

Answer 19

sounds like “shsh” in rush-ship. When pronouncing it, try to place your tongue higher and more forward in the mouth than in English.

Question 20

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Э э

Answer 20

sounds like “e” in echo, edit. When pronouncing this sound, try opening the mouth a bit wider than you do in English.

Question 21

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Ю ю

Answer 21

sounds like the word “you” but faster. In some cases it sounds like “oo” in oodles

Question 22

What is the sound of the Cyrillic letter:

Я я

Answer 22

sounds like “yu” in yummy. In some cases it sounds like “a” in after, ask.

Question 23

В в

Answer 23

sounds like “v” in voice, visit

Question 24

З з

Answer 24

sounds like “z” in zodiac. This letter might look like the number three (3) but it only conveys a sound and has nothing to do with digits.

Question 25

Н н

Answer 25

sounds like “n” in noon, nose. Like with the Russian letter T, the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth when pronouncing this letter.

Question 26

Р р

Answer 26

sounds like “r” in “rest” but rolled.

Question 27

С с

Answer 27

sounds like “s” in sun, sale. Unlike in English, the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth.

Question 28

У у

Answer 28

sounds like “oo” in oodles. This sound is pronounced shorter than in English, with lips more rounded and protruded.

Question 29

Ч ч

Answer 29

sounds like “ch” in church, cheek. Do not confuse this letter with the number four (4).

Question 30

Х х

Answer 30

sounds like “ch” in loch when pronounced in Scottish manner. It remotely reminds “h” in hoopla.

Question 31

Ы ы

Answer 31

No English equivalent. To produce “Ы” sound, notice the positions of the tongue when pronouncing English sounds i as in kit and u as in sugar. Then place your tongue in between and emit a voiced sound.

Question 32

Ь

Answer 32

This letter is called the “soft sign” and has no sound value. It is used to modify the pronunciation of the preceding consonant by making it soft (palatalized). A consonant becomes soft when it is pronounced with the middle of the tongue raised towards the roof of the mouth.

Question 33

Ъ

Answer 33

The “hard sign” has no sound value. It occurs only between a consonant and a vowel as in the word “въезд” (entry). It is used to show that the consonant should not be palatalized and that the consequent vowel is preceded by the the “y” sound as in yes.