Learn Basic Russian

If your understanding of the Russian language is limited to what you heard in Cold War spy movies and saw in history textbooks, maybe it’s time to learn basic Russian. Though it doesn’t come to English speakers as readily as Spanish or German, Russian is far from impossible to learn. Due to the number of speakers and the language’s diplomatic importance in the UN, there are plenty of resources for those studying basic Russian. You’ll soon move beyond one-word indicators like “??” (yes) and “???” (no) to more useful sentences like “Vot eta da, vodka ochen deshovaya tut!” (Oh my, vodka is cheap here!).

First, why learn basic Russian?

As the eighth most common native language in the world, Russian is not only the primary tongue of Russia itself but of numerous former Soviet republics. Although Ukrainian is official in Ukraine, for example, the majority of people in that country use Russian as their vernacular. In the United States, large Russian-speaking communities exist in places like New York City, Chicago, and Alaska.

When traveling in the former Soviet Union (and in some parts of Eastern Europe), the ability to read signs, engage in conversations, or generally “get by” with basic Russian skills will serve you well. Compared to us edgy Americans, Russian are slightly more patient with foreign visitors who are learning the language. They will generally reward your attempt to speak in their native tongue.

A final reason to learn basic Russian is that it’s challenging. You’ll tie up your tongue and wrack your brain in ways you’ve never imagined. Ultimately, it’s fun and novel, and if you’re really good at it, you can pursue advanced study. Becoming bilingual in Russian is quite lucrative because it’s rare for Americans to learn a second language other than German or a Romance language. And imagine the beauty of reading Tolstoy or Dostoevsky novels without English translation!