Learn Russian from Scratch!

Have you decided to learn Russian but don’t know where to begin? Are you looking for a way to study independently and at your own pace? Don’t worry anymore! You’re in the right place.

Lingust is a language portal specialized in step-by-step online lessons. This section will help you start learning Russian from zero—no previous knowledge is required. The lessons are completely free to use. All you need is the desire to learn.

We offer 15 online lessons (based on "Just Listen ’n Learn Russian"), designed to give you practical communication skills to express yourself and be understood in everyday situations. The course is packed with audio recorded by native Russian speakers. They will guide you through real conversations. Simply listen, repeat, and complete the reading and writing exercises. To check your answers, just hover your mouse over the key icon: Key (or tap it on mobile devices). Have a question? You can ask it in the comment section below each lesson.

Go to → Russian lessons ← (Click)

Is Russian difficult to learn?

The short answer is: it’s challenging, but absolutely manageable and incredibly rewarding. Here are the details:

  • The Cyrillic Alphabet: It looks intimidating, but it actually takes only a few days to master. Many letters look and sound exactly like their English equivalents (A, O, M, T).
  • Pronunciation: Once you know the alphabet, reading is highly phonetic. You mostly read words exactly as they are written.
  • No Articles: Forget about ‘a,’ ‘an,’ or ‘the.’ They simply don’t exist in Russian!

Main difficulties:

  • Six Cases: Nouns, adjectives, and pronouns change their endings depending on their grammatical role in a sentence.
  • Verb Aspects & Motion: You will need to learn the difference between completed and ongoing actions, as well as specific verbs for walking vs. riding.
  • Grammar-heavy: Because Russian grammar can be overwhelming, this beginner course minimizes deep grammatical explanations, focusing first on speaking and understanding practical phrases.

Reasons to learn Russian

  • It’s a global language. Russian is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It is spoken not only in Russia but is widely understood across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
  • The language of space. Russian is the language of everyday speech on the International Space Station (alongside English). NASA astronauts are required to learn it!
  • A rich cultural heritage. A person who knows Russian can read a massive collection of classical works in their original form – from Dostoevsky and Tolstoy to Chekhov and Pushkin.
  • Career opportunities. Russia has a massive market and plays a major role in global energy, science, and diplomacy. Knowing the language can be a huge asset to your resume.
  • It sounds beautiful. The Russian language is incredibly melodic and expressive. The frequent use of diminutives (adding suffixes to make words sound cuter or smaller) is one of the favorite features among students.

Interesting facts about the Russian language

  • ‘Yes no probably.’ Russians frequently use the phrase «Да нет, наверное» (literally: ‘Yes no probably’), which simply translates to "I don't think so."
  • Shades of blue. In Russian, there is no single word for ‘blue.’ You must specify if it is light blue (голубой - goluboy) or dark blue (синий - siniy). They are considered two entirely different colors.
  • Flexible word order. ‘I love you’ can be said as Я люблю тебя, Я тебя люблю, Тебя я люблю, or Люблю я тебя. The grammar rules stay the same; only the emotional emphasis changes.
  • Russian cursive. Russian handwriting is globally famous for looking like a medical heart monitor. Don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to read it in Lesson 13!

Start learning Russian today

Learning Russian opens doors to a fascinating culture, deep friendships, and a massive part of the globe. Take it one step at a time, listen to the native speakers, and you will see progress faster than you think.

Go to → Russian lessons ← (Click)