Learn Russian with an App for Speaking Practice

What you may hear

Your first Russian questions and usable replies

Read each question once, then cover the English meaning and answer aloud. Replace the sample details with facts that are true for you.

Как вас зовут?

What is your name?

Try: Меня зовут Майя. А вас?

Откуда вы?

Where are you from?

Try: Я из Канады, но сейчас живу в Берлине.

Почему вы учите русский?

Why are you learning Russian?

Try: Потому что я работаю с русскоязычными коллегами.

Давно вы учите русский?

Have you been learning Russian for long?

Try: Только три месяца.

Что для вас самое трудное?

What is most difficult for you?

Try: Мне трудно быстро отвечать.

Keep the conversation moving

Useful Russian recovery phrases

These phrases buy time without ending the conversation or switching immediately to English.

Ask for repetitionПовторите, пожалуйста.Please repeat.

Slow the conversationПожалуйста, говорите немного медленнее.Please speak a little more slowly.

Check meaningЧто это значит?What does that mean?

RephraseЯ хочу сказать…What I want to say is…

Keep goingЯ не всё понял / поняла, но хочу продолжить по-русски.I did not understand everything, but I want to continue in Russian.

Complete example

A realistic first conversation

Read both roles once. Then hide the “You” lines and produce your own answer before checking the example.

Local speakerЗдравствуйте! Как вас зовут?Hello! What is your name?

YouМеня зовут Майя. А вас?My name is Maya. And yours?

Local speakerМеня зовут Анна. Откуда вы?My name is Anna. Where are you from?

YouЯ из Канады, но сейчас живу в Берлине.I am from Canada, but I live in Berlin now.

Local speakerПочему вы учите русский?Why are you learning Russian?

YouПотому что я работаю с русскоязычными коллегами.Because I work with Russian-speaking colleagues.

Local speakerДавно вы учите русский?Have you been learning Russian for long?

YouТолько три месяца. Пожалуйста, говорите немного медленнее.Only three months. Please speak a little more slowly.

Unexpected turn

What if the next question was not in your lesson?

Что вам больше всего нравится в русском языке?
What do you like most about the Russian language?

Pause, answer one idea, then add one detail:

Мне нравятся русские фильмы, но мне пока трудно быстро отвечать.
I like Russian films, but it is still difficult for me to answer quickly.

Speaking guidance

Make your reply easier to understand

Russian word stress can change how a vowel sounds. Learn the stressed syllable together with each useful phrase.
Unstressed о often sounds closer to а. Listen for the whole word instead of giving every written vowel equal weight.
Consonant clusters can feel dense. Slow down without inserting a full extra vowel between consonants.

Practise now

A ten-minute Russian rehearsal

1. Read the Russian questions once, then cover the English meanings.2. Introduce yourself and ask the other person’s name.3. Say where you are from and where you live now.4. Explain why you are learning Russian.5. Answer the unexpected question without returning to the start.

0 of 5 steps completed

SpeakAvatarContinue with Sophia, your AI tutor

Continue the same conversation

Now rehearse it with a SpeakAvatar AI tutor

You have prepared the questions, your replies, and one unexpected turn. Copy this goal into SpeakAvatar so the app continues the same speaking task instead of starting from a generic lesson.

Goal for SpeakAvatar

Practise a first conversation in Russian: introduce myself, say where I am from, explain why I am learning Russian, and respond to one unexpected follow-up.

Continue in the iPhone app

The App Store opens only after you choose the link. This page remains available on every device.

Continue practising

Learn Russian by rehearsing your first conversation