Difference between revisions of "Language/Russian/Pronunciation/Alphabet-and-Pronunciation"
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Russian is a Slavic language, such as Polish or Czech, written with the Cyrillic alphabet, inspired by the Greek alphabet. | Russian is a Slavic language, such as Polish or Czech, written with the Cyrillic alphabet, inspired by the Greek alphabet. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|Caps | |||
|Minisculs | |||
|Name | |||
|Prononciation | |||
|Transcription | |||
|English Equivalent | |||
|Sound | |||
|Letter Name in Russian | |||
|- | |- | ||
|А | |А | ||
| Line 26: | Line 30: | ||
|/a/ | |/a/ | ||
|a | |a | ||
|А а | |||
|Like "a" in car | |||
|"ah" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Б | |Б | ||
| Line 32: | Line 39: | ||
|/b/, /bʲ/ | |/b/, /bʲ/ | ||
|b | |b | ||
|B b | |||
|Like "b" in bat | |||
|"beh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|В | |В | ||
| Line 38: | Line 48: | ||
|/v/, /vʲ/ | |/v/, /vʲ/ | ||
|v | |v | ||
|V v | |||
|Like "v" in van | |||
|"veh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Г | |Г | ||
| Line 44: | Line 57: | ||
|/ɡ/, /gʲ/ | |/ɡ/, /gʲ/ | ||
|g | |g | ||
|G g | |||
|Like "g" in go | |||
|"geh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Д | |Д | ||
| Line 50: | Line 66: | ||
|/d/, /dʲ/ | |/d/, /dʲ/ | ||
|d | |d | ||
|D d | |||
|Like "d" in dog | |||
|"deh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Е | |Е | ||
| Line 56: | Line 75: | ||
|/je/, / ʲe/, /e/ | |/je/, / ʲe/, /e/ | ||
|e | |e | ||
|YE ye | |||
|Like "ye" in yet | |||
|"yeh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ё | |Ё | ||
| Line 62: | Line 84: | ||
|/jo/, / ʲɵ/ | |/jo/, / ʲɵ/ | ||
|ë | |ë | ||
|YO yo | |||
|Like "yo" in yonder | |||
|"yo" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ж | |Ж | ||
| Line 68: | Line 93: | ||
|/ʐ/ | |/ʐ/ | ||
|ž | |ž | ||
|Zh zh | |||
|Like "s" in measure or pleasure or like "g" in beige (the colour) | |||
|"zheh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|З | |З | ||
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|/z/, /zʲ/ | |/z/, /zʲ/ | ||
|z | |z | ||
|Z z | |||
|Like "z" in zoo | |||
|"zeh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|И | |И | ||
| Line 80: | Line 111: | ||
|/i/, / ʲi/,, /ɨ/ | |/i/, / ʲi/,, /ɨ/ | ||
|i | |i | ||
|EE ee | |||
|Like "ee" in see | |||
|"ee" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Й | |Й | ||
| Line 86: | Line 120: | ||
|/j/ | |/j/ | ||
|j | |j | ||
|I i or Y y | |||
|like "y" in boy or toy | |||
|"ee kratkoyeh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|К | |К | ||
| Line 92: | Line 129: | ||
|/k/, /kʲ/ | |/k/, /kʲ/ | ||
|k | |k | ||
|K k | |||
|Like "k" in kitten, "c" in cat. | |||
|"kah" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Л | |Л | ||
| Line 98: | Line 138: | ||
|/l/, /lʲ/ | |/l/, /lʲ/ | ||
|l | |l | ||
|L l | |||
|Like "l" in light | |||
|"ehl" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|М | |М | ||
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|/m/, /mʲ/ | |/m/, /mʲ/ | ||
|m | |m | ||
|M m | |||
|Like "m" in mat | |||
|"ehm" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Н | |Н | ||
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|/n/, /ɲ/ | |/n/, /ɲ/ | ||
|n | |n | ||
|N n | |||
|Like "n" in no | |||
|"ehn" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|О | |О | ||
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|/o/, /ɐ/ | |/o/, /ɐ/ | ||
|o | |o | ||
| | |||
* Stressed: O o | |||
* Unstressed: A a | |||
| | |||
* Like "o" in bore | |||
* Like "a" in car | |||
|"oh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|П | |П | ||
| Line 122: | Line 178: | ||
|/p/, /pʲ/ | |/p/, /pʲ/ | ||
|p | |p | ||
|P p | |||
|Like "p" in pot | |||
|"peh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Р | |Р | ||
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|/r/, /rʲ/ | |/r/, /rʲ/ | ||
|r | |r | ||
|R r | |||
|Like "r" in run (rolled) | |||
|"ehr" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|С | |С | ||
| Line 134: | Line 196: | ||
|/s/, /sʲ/ | |/s/, /sʲ/ | ||
|s | |s | ||
|S s | |||
|Like "s" in sam | |||
|"ehs" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Т | |Т | ||
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|/t/, /tʲ/ | |/t/, /tʲ/ | ||
|t | |t | ||
|T t | |||
|Like "t" in tap | |||
|"teh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|У | |У | ||
| Line 146: | Line 214: | ||
|/u/ | |/u/ | ||
|u | |u | ||
|U u | |||
|Like "oo" in boot | |||
|"oo" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ф | |Ф | ||
| Line 152: | Line 223: | ||
|/f/, /fʲ/ | |/f/, /fʲ/ | ||
|f | |f | ||
|F f | |||
|Like "f" in fat | |||
|"ehf" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Х | |Х | ||
| Line 158: | Line 232: | ||
|/x/, /xʲ/ | |/x/, /xʲ/ | ||
|x | |x | ||
|H h, KH kh | |||
|Like "h" in hello or like the "ch" in Scottish 'loch' or German 'Bach' | |||
|"khah" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ц | |Ц | ||
| Line 164: | Line 241: | ||
|/t͡s/ | |/t͡s/ | ||
|c | |c | ||
|TS ts | |||
|Like "ts" in bits | |||
|"tseh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ч | |Ч | ||
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|/t͡ɕ/ | |/t͡ɕ/ | ||
|č | |č | ||
|CH ch | |||
|Like "ch" in chip | |||
|"cheh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ш | |Ш | ||
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|/ʂ/ | |/ʂ/ | ||
|š | |š | ||
|SH sh (hard) | |||
|Like "sh" in shut | |||
|"shah" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Щ | |Щ | ||
| Line 182: | Line 268: | ||
|/ɕɕ/ | |/ɕɕ/ | ||
|šč | |šč | ||
|SH sh (soft) | |||
|Like "sh" in sheep | |||
|"schyah" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ъ | |Ъ | ||
| Line 188: | Line 277: | ||
| | | | ||
|<nowiki>''</nowiki> | |<nowiki>''</nowiki> | ||
|Hard Sign | |||
|Letter before is hard | |||
|"tvyordiy znahk" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ы | |Ы | ||
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|/ɨ/ | |/ɨ/ | ||
|y | |y | ||
|I i | |||
|Like "i" in ill | |||
|"i" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ь | |Ь | ||
| Line 200: | Line 295: | ||
|/ ʲ/ | |/ ʲ/ | ||
|' | |' | ||
|Soft Sign | |||
|Letter before is soft | |||
|"myagkeey znahk" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Э | |Э | ||
| Line 206: | Line 304: | ||
|/e/ | |/e/ | ||
|è | |è | ||
|E e | |||
|Like "e" in pet | |||
|"eh" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Ю | |Ю | ||
| Line 212: | Line 313: | ||
|/ju/, / ʲu/ | |/ju/, / ʲu/ | ||
|ju | |ju | ||
|YU yu | |||
|Like "u" in use or university | |||
|"yoo" | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Я | |Я | ||
| Line 218: | Line 322: | ||
|/ja/, / ʲa/ | |/ja/, / ʲa/ | ||
|ja | |ja | ||
|YA ya | |||
|Like "ya" in yard. | |||
|"yah" | |||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 16:24, 30 December 2022
Hello Polyglots 😎
In today's lesson, you will learn how to write the different letters of the Russian alphabet, how to pronounce these letters whether it is through the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), or through a video with the pronunciation of the letters by a native speaker.
You will also find at the end of this lesson a virtual keyboard to be able to type each special character of this language.
Russian Alphabet and IPA Pronunciation
Russian is a Slavic language, such as Polish or Czech, written with the Cyrillic alphabet, inspired by the Greek alphabet.
| Caps | Minisculs | Name | Prononciation | Transcription | English Equivalent | Sound | Letter Name in Russian |
| А | а | а | /a/ | a | А а | Like "a" in car | "ah" |
| Б | б | бэ | /b/, /bʲ/ | b | B b | Like "b" in bat | "beh" |
| В | в | вэ | /v/, /vʲ/ | v | V v | Like "v" in van | "veh" |
| Г | г | гэ | /ɡ/, /gʲ/ | g | G g | Like "g" in go | "geh" |
| Д | д | дэ | /d/, /dʲ/ | d | D d | Like "d" in dog | "deh" |
| Е | е | е | /je/, / ʲe/, /e/ | e | YE ye | Like "ye" in yet | "yeh" |
| Ё | ё | ё | /jo/, / ʲɵ/ | ë | YO yo | Like "yo" in yonder | "yo" |
| Ж | ж | жэ | /ʐ/ | ž | Zh zh | Like "s" in measure or pleasure or like "g" in beige (the colour) | "zheh" |
| З | з | зэ | /z/, /zʲ/ | z | Z z | Like "z" in zoo | "zeh" |
| И | и | и | /i/, / ʲi/,, /ɨ/ | i | EE ee | Like "ee" in see | "ee" |
| Й | й | и краткое | /j/ | j | I i or Y y | like "y" in boy or toy | "ee kratkoyeh" |
| К | к | ка | /k/, /kʲ/ | k | K k | Like "k" in kitten, "c" in cat. | "kah" |
| Л | л | эл, эль | /l/, /lʲ/ | l | L l | Like "l" in light | "ehl" |
| М | м | эм | /m/, /mʲ/ | m | M m | Like "m" in mat | "ehm" |
| Н | н | эн | /n/, /ɲ/ | n | N n | Like "n" in no | "ehn" |
| О | о | о | /o/, /ɐ/ | o |
|
|
"oh" |
| П | п | пэ | /p/, /pʲ/ | p | P p | Like "p" in pot | "peh" |
| Р | р | эр | /r/, /rʲ/ | r | R r | Like "r" in run (rolled) | "ehr" |
| С | с | эс | /s/, /sʲ/ | s | S s | Like "s" in sam | "ehs" |
| Т | т | тэ | /t/, /tʲ/ | t | T t | Like "t" in tap | "teh" |
| У | у | у | /u/ | u | U u | Like "oo" in boot | "oo" |
| Ф | ф | эф | /f/, /fʲ/ | f | F f | Like "f" in fat | "ehf" |
| Х | х | ха | /x/, /xʲ/ | x | H h, KH kh | Like "h" in hello or like the "ch" in Scottish 'loch' or German 'Bach' | "khah" |
| Ц | ц | цэ | /t͡s/ | c | TS ts | Like "ts" in bits | "tseh" |
| Ч | ч | че | /t͡ɕ/ | č | CH ch | Like "ch" in chip | "cheh" |
| Ш | ш | ша | /ʂ/ | š | SH sh (hard) | Like "sh" in shut | "shah" |
| Щ | щ | ща | /ɕɕ/ | šč | SH sh (soft) | Like "sh" in sheep | "schyah" |
| Ъ | ъ | твёрдый знак | '' | Hard Sign | Letter before is hard | "tvyordiy znahk" | |
| Ы | ы | ы | /ɨ/ | y | I i | Like "i" in ill | "i" |
| Ь | ь | мягкий знак | / ʲ/ | ' | Soft Sign | Letter before is soft | "myagkeey znahk" |
| Э | э | э | /e/ | è | E e | Like "e" in pet | "eh" |
| Ю | ю | ю | /ju/, / ʲu/ | ju | YU yu | Like "u" in use or university | "yoo" |
| Я | я | я | /ja/, / ʲa/ | ja | YA ya | Like "ya" in yard. | "yah" |
Notes
The Russian l is velar, it is pronounced as English well or as the old French chevals: one pronounced then s of the plural (that is why the pronunciation was then modified in "cheva-or "Then" chevo "writes Chevaux)
At the end of the word, the sound consonants become deaf, as in German, they pronounce then:
- b > p
- v > f
- g > k
- d > t
- z > s
The Russian has 5 vocalic phonemes noted by 10 graphemes:
| a | e | i | o | u | |
| а | э | ы | о | у | After a hard consonant |
| я | е | и | ё | ю | After a soft consonant or yod |
NOTE: If Russian word contains 'ё', the accent is always on this vowel. Therefore, the accent mark is not placed above 'ё'.
The use of the letter 'ё' is mandatory in texts with consistently placed accent marks, in books for young children (including textbooks for elementary school students), in textbooks for foreigners. In ordinary printed texts, it`s written in cases where a misreading of the word is possible, when it`s necessary to indicate the correct pronunciation of a rare word or to prevent a speech error. The letter 'ё' should also be written in proper names. In other cases, the use of 'ё' is optional.
Examples
(In brackets the transcription & bracketed phonetics)
| ад (ad) [at] Hell | яд (jad) [jat] poison |
| мыло (mylo) [mɨlo] soap | мило (milo) [mjilo] nice |
| лук (luk) [luk] onion | люк (ljuk) [ljuk] hatch |
These wet sounds are not necessarily transcribed in French. Thus the name of the first president of Russia was Борис Ельцин in Russian, Boris Yeltsin in English and French: Boris Yeltsin (but pronouncing "Yeltsin").
Video - Russian Alphabet Pronunciation by a Native Speaker