{"id":972,"date":"2017-07-27T21:28:49","date_gmt":"2017-07-27T21:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/?page_id=972"},"modified":"2025-10-22T19:39:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:39:00","slug":"lesson-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/chapter-1\/lesson-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alphabet – Part 1<\/h3>\n

Letters And Sounds That Coincide In Latin And Cyrillic Alphabets<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u0410\u0430<\/td>\n\u041a\u043a<\/td>\n\u041c\u043c<\/td>\n\u041e\u043e<\/td>\n\u0421\u0441<\/td>\n\u0422\u0442<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a<\/strong><\/td>\nk<\/strong><\/td>\nm<\/strong><\/td>\no<\/strong><\/td>\ns<\/strong><\/td>\nt<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Listen I<\/h3>\n

Listen to and read the following Russian words several times until you find it easy to pronounce them.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u043c\u00e1\u043c\u0430<\/strong>
\nmama<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442
\nbridge<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043a\u0430\u043a<\/strong>
\nhow<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043a\u043e\u0442<\/strong>
\ncat<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043a\u0442\u043e<\/strong>
\nwho<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0442\u0430\u043c<\/strong>
\nthere<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0441\u043e\u043a<\/strong>
\njuice<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0441\u0442\u043e
\nhundred<\/span><\/td>\n		\u0442\u0430\u043a<\/strong>
\nso<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043a\u0430\u0442\u00f3\u043a
\nskating-rink<\/span><\/td>\n		\u043a\u043e\u043c\u00f3\u043a
\nlump<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pronunciation Tips<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. Please notice that an accent (stress)* makes vowels slightly longer. The unstressed vowels are naturally less distinct, or so-to-say ‘reduced’. This reduction makes two different vowels – ‘A’ and ‘O’ – sound very similarly in an unstressed position. Compare them in two words “\u043a\u0430\u0442\u043e\u0301\u043a” and “\u043a\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0301\u043a”. Always pay attention to the stress. Reduction is typical of all unstressed vowels.<\/li>\n
  2. Most of the Russian consonants that are similar to their English counterparts are somewhat more relaxed, less intense. There is no \u201cpuff of air\u201d typical of English consonants. For Russian “T” the tip of the tongue touches the upper teeth, not the ridge behind them (the same is true for its voiced counterpart “\u0414” corresponding to the English “D”, but you will deal with this sound later).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Additional tip: Relax. Following note 2 is not crucial for making yourself understood. It is important only for those who want to fully get rid of their foreign accent.<\/p>\n

    * You\u2019ll find stress-marks only in textbooks published for students of Russian.<\/p>\n

    Alphabet Part 2<\/h3>\n

    Letters That Are The Same or Similar, But Sound Differently<\/h3>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \u0412\u0432<\/td>\n\u0415\u0435<\/td>\n\u041d\u043d<\/td>\n\u0420\u0440<\/td>\n\u0423\u0443<\/td>\n\u0425\u0445<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    |<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n|<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    v<\/strong><\/td>\nyeh<\/strong><\/td>\nn<\/strong><\/td>\nr<\/strong><\/td>\noo<\/strong><\/td>\nh<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Grammar I<\/h3>\n

    Free Word Order<\/h4>\n

    Notes on the Use of Intonation<\/h4>\n
    \n

    Read and Listen to following short sentences. Notice how the intonation changes the sentence from that of a statement to a question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Ta\u043c \u043c\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0430.
    \nMother is there.<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0422\u0430\u043c \u0441\u043e\u043a.
    \nJuice is there.<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0422\u0430\u043c \u043a\u043e\u0442.
    \nThe cat is there.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u041c\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0430 \u0442a\u043c?
    \nIs mother there?<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0421\u043e\u043a \u0442a\u043c?
    \nIs the juice there?<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u041a\u043e\u0442 \u0442a\u043c?
    \nIs the cat there?<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Russian has free word order<\/strong>. So you can correctly say any of the short sentences from the table above. However, since the last word in a Russian sentence tends to be the most meaningful<\/strong><\/span>, the sentence \u201c\u043c\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0430 \u0442\u0430\u043c\u201d will sound like an answer to the question \u201cWhere is mother?\u201d whereas the sentence with the reverse word order \u201c\u0442\u0430\u043c \u043c\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0430\u201d may be an answer to the question \u201cWho is there?\u201d
    \nQuestions are usually formed in Russian by intonation<\/strong><\/span>. The word order does not have to be changed and there are no auxiliary (helping) verbs.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Listen II<\/h3>\n

    After reading Pronunciation Tips below, listen to and read aloud the following table of new words.<\/p>\n

    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \u0412\u0432 – v
    \n\/v<\/strong>ery\/<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0432\u043e\u0442<\/strong>
    \nhere(is\/are)<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u00f3\u043a
    \neast<\/span><\/td>\n    		<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0415\u0435 – yeh
    \n\/ye<\/strong>t\/<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043e\u0442\u043c\u00e9\u0442\u043a\u0430
    \nmark\/grade<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043c\u00e9\u0441\u0442\u043e
    \nplace\/seat<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u0432\u0435\u0442
    \nlight<\/span><\/td>\n    		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u041d\u043d – n
    \n\/n<\/strong>oise\/<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043d\u043e\u0441
    \nnose<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043d\u0435\u0442<\/strong>
    \nno<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043e\u043d<\/strong>
    \nhe<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043e\u043d\u00e1<\/strong>
    \nshe<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u043e\u043d\u00f3<\/strong>
    \nit<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043e\u043a\u043d\u00f3<\/strong>
    \nwindow<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u0442\u0430\u043a\u00e1\u043d
    \na glass<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u00e1
    \nwall<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0432\u00e1\u043d\u043d\u0430<\/strong>
    \nbathtub<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0432\u0435\u0441\u043d\u00e1
    \nSpring<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043a\u00f3\u043c\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0430<\/strong>
    \nroom<\/span><\/td>\n    		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0420\u0440 – r
    \n\/r<\/strong>oom\/<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0440\u043e\u0442
    \nmouth<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0440\u0435\u043a\u00e1
    \nriver<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043c\u043e\u0440\u00e9
    \nsea<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043d\u00f3\u043c\u0435\u0440<\/strong>
    \nnumber<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0442\u043e\u0440\u0442
    \ncake<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0442\u0435\u00e1\u0442\u0440<\/strong>
    \ntheater<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0440\u00e1<\/strong>
    \nsister<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u00e9\u0432\u0435\u0440
    \nnorth<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u043a\u00e1\u0440\u0442\u0430
    \nmap<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043c\u0430\u0440\u0442
    \nMarch<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u00e1\u043d<\/strong>
    \nrestaurant<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043d\u00e1<\/strong>
    \ncountry<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0441\u0442\u0440\u00e1\u043d\u043d\u043e
    \nstrange (adv.)<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043c\u0435\u0442\u0440\u00f3<\/strong>
    \nmetro<\/span><\/td>\n    		<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0423\u0443 – oo
    \n\/boo<\/strong>m\/<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u00fd\u0442\u0440\u043e<\/strong>
    \nmorning<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0442\u0443\u0442<\/strong>
    \nhere<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0432\u043a\u00fd\u0441\u043d\u043e<\/strong>
    \ntasty (adv.)<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0443\u0440\u00f3\u043a<\/strong>
    \nlesson<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0441\u00fd\u043c\u043a\u0430<\/strong>
    \nbag\/purse<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u00f3\u0443\u0441
    \nsauce<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0440\u0443\u043a\u00e1<\/strong>
    \narm\/hand<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u043a\u00fd\u0440\u0442\u043a\u0430<\/strong>
    \njacket<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0425\u0445 – h
    \n\/h<\/strong>at\/<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u00fd\u0445\u043e
    \near<\/span><\/td>\n    		\u0441\u00e1\u0445\u0430\u0440<\/strong>
    \nsugar<\/span><\/td>\n    		<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Pronunciation Tips<\/h4>\n
      \n
    1. Russian \u201cPp\u201d(Rr) is a most difficult letter for some students. Not even all native Russian speakers can master it. For example, Lenin couldn’t. So, you may happen to be in famous (or infamous?) company. Relax: an imperfectly sounding \u201cp\u201d won’t interfere with being correctly understood. Still, give it a try. The tip of the tongue should vibrate against the teeth-ridge. It’s a trilling sound, like the Spanish or Scottish “r”.<\/li>\n
    2. Add a little more friction to the Russian \u201cX\u201d as compared with the English \u201ch,\u201d but don’t make it too harsh or scraping, otherwise \u201cK\u201d may result instead of \u201ch\u201d.<\/li>\n
    3. Like many Russian consonants, \u201cB\u201d becomes voiceless before other voiceless consonants and at the end of a word: in \u201c\u0432\u043a\u0443\u0301\u0441\u043d\u043e\u201d (tasty, delicious) and in \u201c\u0440\u043e\u0432\u201d (ditch) it is pronounced as \u2018f\u2019.<\/li>\n
    4. In an unstressed position, the vowel \u201ce\u201d sounds almost like \u201c\u0438\u201d which corresponds to English \u201cee\u201d. Compare \u201c\u043c\u0435\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e\u201d (place, seat) and \u201c\u043c\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0301\u201d (subway) in the lines above.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Reading Practice – p.16<\/h3>\n
      \n\n\n\n\n
      \n
        \n
      1. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043a\u0430\u0301\u0440\u0442\u0430. \u0422\u0443\u0442 \u0432\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0301\u043a. \u0422\u0443\u0442 \u0441\u0435\u0301\u0432\u0435\u0440. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0301. \u0422\u0443\u0442 \u043c\u043e\u0301\u0440\u0435. \u0422\u0443\u0442 \u0440\u0435\u043a\u0430\u0301.
        \nHere is a map. East is here. North is here. Here is a country. The sea is here. Here is a river.<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. \u041e\u043d \u0442\u0443\u0442, \u043e\u043d\u0430\u0301 \u0442\u0430\u043c. \u041a\u0430\u043a \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0301\u043d\u043d\u043e!
        \nHe is here, she is there. How strange!<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0442\u043e\u0440\u0442. – \u041a\u0430\u043a \u0432\u043a\u0443\u0301\u0441\u043d\u043e!
        \nHere is the cake – how tasty!<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0441\u0430\u0301\u0445\u0430\u0440. \u0412\u043e\u043d \u0442\u0430\u043c \u0441\u043e\u0301\u0443\u0441.
        \nHere is the sugar. Over there is the sauce.<\/span><\/li>\n
      5. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043a\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u0430\u0442\u0430. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0430\u0301. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043e\u043a\u043d\u043e\u0301.
        \nHere is the room. Here is a wall. Here is a window.<\/span><\/li>\n
      6. “\u041a\u0443\u0301\u0440\u0442\u043a\u0430 \u0442\u0443\u0442?\u201d \u201c\u041d\u0435\u0442, \u043e\u043d\u0430\u0301 \u0442\u0430\u043c.”
        \nIs the jacket here? No, it is there.<\/span><\/li>\n
      7. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0440\u0443\u043a\u0430\u0301. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u043d\u043e\u0441. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0440\u043e\u0442. \u0412\u043e\u0442 \u0443\u0301\u0445\u043e.
        \nHere is a hand. Here is a nose. Here is a mouth. Here is an ear.<\/span><\/li>\n
      8. “\u0422\u0435\u0430\u0301\u0442\u0440 \u0442\u0443\u0442?” “\u041d\u0435\u0442, \u043e\u043d \u0432\u043e\u043d \u0442\u0430\u043c.”
        \nIs the theater here? No, it is over there.<\/span><\/li>\n
      9. \u0422\u0443\u0442 \u0442\u0435\u0430\u0301\u0442\u0440. \u0422\u0430\u043c \u0440\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430\u0301\u043d.
        \nHere is the theater. Over there is the restaurant.<\/span><\/li>\n
      10. \u0421\u0443\u0301\u043c\u043a\u0430 \u0442\u0443\u0442, \u0430 \u043a\u0443\u0301\u0440\u0442\u043a\u0430 \u0442\u0430\u043c.
        \nThe handbag is here, and the jacket is there.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Survival Kit<\/h3>\n

        Saying “Hello” and “Goodbye”<\/h3>\n
        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Words of Greeting<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWords of Farewell<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u0417\u0434\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u0439\u0442\u0435! (formal) Hello!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u0414\u043e \u0441\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f – Good bye<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u0417\u0434\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u0439! (informal) Hello!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u041f\u043e\u043a\u0430 – So long<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u041f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0435\u0442! (very informal) Hi!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n