Russian has a relatively complicated alphabet and vocabulary, but there are many native speakers who have learned it very well. It is a hard language to learn, though the Russian government offers courses in schools. There are also a lot of English translations of Russian books, so you can always find information on the Internet.
Is Russian Easy to Learn for English Speakers?
There are a lot of rules and irregular grammar, and it’s also extremely similar to many other languages. However, with some patience and practice, you can master the Russian language in no time. Here are our top tips on how to learn Russian.
8 Reasons Why Russian is Hard for English Speakers
The Russian Alphabet is Very Difficult Simply Learning the alphabet can be a challenge for English speakers, as there are many foreign sounds to pronounce properly out loud each day. Also, learning how words are spelled in different ways and situations takes a while! Luckily this just means that you will spend more time reading Russian books so your vocabulary grows quickly since you learn from all around Russia with them (not only Moscow or St Petersburg)
1. Russian Alphabet
A post shared by the Russian Academy of Linguistics If you’ve never heard of the Cyrillic alphabet, then it’s probably quite a difficult thing for you to understand. The language is completely different from English – some people say that the letters look big when compared with ours! Also one and two are hard to sound out because they have an accent over them.
2. Hard To Get Used To Speaking Properly (but very fun!)
Russia has a lot of weird accents and pronunciations which can be very intimidating when you’re learning the language. However, there are lots of really fun expressions for common English words in Russian!
If you learn about root words that are similar to our own languages, then it’s easier to get used to meaning (and sound) them differently from how
we do it in our own language. Also, the suffixes that add a foreign-sounding accent on top of an English word are absolutely beautiful!
3. Most Russian Words Be Come Multi-Lingual
As you learn the language, one of the most interesting things will be noticing how foreign-sounding words they are. Most Russian words have a meaning that’s different from their written form because many nouns can take on past or present tense and other suffixes to make them sound more sophisticated! One example is inanimate object names like house/domki (mansion), toy/подарки (present) or much (very).
If you learn the meaning of these suffixes, you know a lot more about Russian culture! Another important way to improve your knowledge is by reading and listening out for word stems.
4. Grammar Is Unique And Difficult
Russia has different types of infections that arise from various colloquial forms. The grammar is made up of 7 levels, each level ending in “ёго”, similar to Japanese where conjugation works through 11 sentence particles! There are also no fronted subjects for verbs like we do in English; instead, all Russian sentences must begin with a subject and end with an object.
5. Russian Nouns Have Genders
Let’s face it, Russian is not very good in its attempts to make nouns gender sensible, with English being the only language that does. In most languages where there are three genders, Russian has six: masculine (быть), feminine (обитье; находится), and neuter (нельзя).
Shall we add a baby option? How about a gerund like English, but with more genders and ownership.
6. Possessive Adjectives Don’t Follow Convention:
Russian will make an obvious adjective out of any word in the place where we would use “some”, but it is not always used this way!
You must know when to attach adjectives to nouns – I decided that one could own apartments/дома –”m. person who has one” or have an apartment/дом – “f. person who resides in this building.”
7. Russian Phonology
Russians have 17 letters in their alphabet, which use 8 different phonemes. Of those, 9 are unique to Russian and 10 can be found across all Slavonic languages (such as Cyrillic), but only one is ever used by a single sound: the glottal stop /ʔ/.
Hardly anything about language exists without an exception for it! To add more coloration of meaning to this word list you need to know
that the final vowel in a particular consonant cluster – especially where it is an initial element like -а-, is never pronounced. However, this means that if you have to change something then simply do so without regard- Атькёрсы would become “Хотины” (English: Hotins).
8. Abundance of cognate words in Russian:
Since Russians have a tendency to borrow words from other languages they often still share many of the same or similar meanings (no homonyms!). If you notice any in this list that is not here then chances are they’re on another page like it.
Is Russian easy to learn for English speakers?
YES! The Russian language is very easy to learn for English speakers, but it’s not for everyone. Some people genuinely find learning a new language harder than others, so some of the common misconceptions and secrets will hopefully help you out as well.
English Speakers: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW First thing’s first – if you’ve ever heard negative comments about the difficulty of learning Russian or other languages then let us ease your mind… There are lots of reasons why someone says something is difficult to learn. For example, negative comments (falsely) point out that: Hard words are used. There are too many conjugations and grammar rules – you’re not sure what they are talking about!
Is Russian Hard to Learn?
Is Russian Hard to Learn? Yes, there are a lot of words in the Russian language that differ from English. However, you won’t be using them all every single day and they don’t appear like spelling mistakes – just put off by how much we have to learn! Also difficult is learning grammar rules and conjugations (how something’s said), but overall it’s pretty easy because Russian Grammar Is very Simple.
How Hard Is It to Learn Russian?
Don’t be intimidated by the fact that Russian has 6 times more phoneme combinations than English. It is empty of aspirated and unaspirated stops (like English “b”), and so everything other than a diphthong/monophthong is mostly straightforward to stop learning, as new arrivals can pick up easiest (+1).
Not having to worry about sounds like /t/, /d/ in front of others put one on a more even footing. Vocabulary is also easy: Most words are learned in meaning, but it’s hard to learn them all. Russia’s suave masculine writing style, the aura of mystery and the fact that Vladimir Putin does not curse could be encouraging factors for a new overseas dialect–though whether this will carry on into long-term linguistic habituation is what’s yet to come.
What is the Russian language and why should I learn it?
Like English, Russian is an Indo- European language. It is a difficult language. It’s a member of the Slavic family that includes Ukrainian and Belarusian amongst others (among many other languages) -which means it shares some common similarities with most western European Languages (that also include French).
Russian constitutes every fifth foreign language taught in schools around the world today so as long as you stay on top of your News Updates you’ll be able to learn something new.
In brief, “Vladimir Putin is Russian, and the language he speaks is Russian. But he doesn’t speak Russian as a native speaker does when they speak a native language. He speaks it in a way that will seem foreign to you.”
Russian is also one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. If you can learn enough words as a beginner, to be able to make yourself understood, then you’ll have no problem with understanding what others are saying when they talk about ‘Russian’ things.
Russian is allegedly one of the most complex languages to learn; its Cyrillic alphabet is enough to scare you away. In fact, the Foreign Service Institute classifies it as a category-four language. But don’t let that intimidate you. Learning the Russian language is far from impossible.[efn_note]Verbling. (2019, September 17). The importance of fluency when speaking English. [/efn_note]
FAQ
Is Russian or Arabic harder?
The difficulty of learning a language, whether it’s Russian or Arabic, can vary from person to person based on their native language, previous language learning experience, and personal preferences. Both Russian and Arabic have their unique challenges, and what may be difficult for one learner might not be the same for another. Here are some factors to consider for each language:
Russian:
- Alphabet: Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which is different from the Latin alphabet used in English. Learning a new script can be challenging.
- Grammar: Russian has a complex system of cases, verb conjugations, and grammatical gender, which can be intricate and require attention to detail.
- Pronunciation: Russian pronunciation can be difficult due to its distinctive sounds and stress patterns.
Arabic:
- Script: Arabic uses a script written from right to left, and its alphabet is different from English. Learning a new script can be challenging.
- Grammar: Arabic has a complex grammatical structure with verb conjugations, noun cases, and a unique system of roots and patterns.
- Dialects: Arabic has numerous dialects spoken across different regions, and some can vary significantly from Standard Arabic. This can add complexity to the learning process.
In summary, both Russian and Arabic have their complexities, and the perceived difficulty can vary from person to person. Your choice may depend on your specific goals, interests, and the resources available for learning. Regardless of the language you choose, a dedicated and consistent approach to language learning will be key to your success.
How long does it take to become fluent in Russian as an English speaker?
The time it takes to become fluent in Russian as an English speaker can vary widely depending on several factors, including your language learning experience, the amount of time you dedicate to studying, your language goals, and your immersion in the language. Here’s a rough guideline:
- Basic Conversational Fluency: Achieving basic conversational fluency in Russian, where you can have simple everyday conversations and understand common topics, may take approximately 6 months to a year of consistent study and practice.
- Intermediate Fluency: To reach an intermediate level where you can engage in more complex discussions, read basic texts, and understand a wider range of topics, it might take 1 to 2 years of regular study and practice.
- Advanced Fluency: Achieving advanced fluency, where you can confidently handle complex discussions, read literature, and express yourself effectively, may take 2 to 3 years or more of dedicated effort and immersion.
- Full Fluency: Becoming fully fluent, which includes near-native proficiency in speaking, writing, and understanding Russian, can take 5 years or more of intensive study and immersion.
Is Russian more difficult than English?
Comparing the difficulty of Russian and English, we can note the following:
Russian:
- Uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which is different from the Latin alphabet used in English.
- Features a complex system of cases, verb conjugations, and grammatical gender.
- Pronunciation can be challenging due to distinctive sounds and stress patterns.
English:
- Uses the familiar Latin alphabet.
- Generally considered to have simpler grammar compared to Russian.
- Pronunciation can be challenging due to inconsistencies between spelling and pronunciation, leading to diverse accents and dialects.
In summary, the perception of which language is more difficult depends on individual factors, such as your native language and prior language learning experiences. Both languages are learnable with dedication and practice.
In conclusion, in the quest to learn Russian as an English speaker, the journey is undoubtedly filled with challenges. From a different alphabet to intricate grammar, Russian presents its complexities. However, the pursuit of language mastery is not solely defined by ease or difficulty. It’s a personal odyssey, a bridge to new cultures, and a gateway to understanding a rich tapestry of history and literature. So, while Russian may pose challenges, it is the journey itself that holds the true reward, offering profound cultural insights and the joy of linguistic discovery.
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