Duration of the online course: 6 hours and 8 minutes
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Start speaking Russian from day one with this free beginner course: master the alphabet, pronunciation, and everyday phrases, and build confidence fast.
In this free course, learn about
Recognize and pronounce the Russian Cyrillic alphabet, incl. tricky letters like Ж, Ш, Щ, Ы
Understand the roles of the hard sign (ъ) and soft sign (ь) and how they affect pronunciation
Master Russian vowels and how vowel pairs indicate consonant softness (palatalization)
Apply key reading rules, incl. unstressed vowel reduction (e.g., о not stressed changes sound)
Write Russian block letters clearly; know when cursive is optional vs clarity-focused writing
Use core pronunciation tips: stress is mobile/unpredictable compared to English patterns
Use formal vs informal address (Вы/ты) and polite phrases for approaching strangers
Build simple present-tense sentences using personal pronouns and verb conjugation patterns
Form questions in Russian without an auxiliary verb; use question words and intonation
Use essential conversation phrases: greetings, “and you?”, “me too”, help/thanks, call back
Understand Russian names/transliteration basics, incl. adapting English [w] sounds
Use the verb “to be”: know the present-tense omission and infinitive form быть
Count in Russian (0 to billion), talk about age and motives; grasp 1–19 formation meaning
About the free online course
Learning Russian can feel intimidating at first, especially when you’re faced with a new alphabet and unfamiliar sounds. This course is designed for complete beginners who want a clear, friendly path from zero knowledge to real, usable basics. You’ll begin by getting comfortable with the Russian alphabet and how it’s actually pronounced, so you can read with confidence instead of guessing. Along the way, you’ll learn practical techniques for tricky vowels and discover how small details like stress and palatalization change the way words sound in everyday speech.
As your reading and pronunciation improve, you’ll transition into building simple conversations. You’ll practice greeting people, asking how someone is doing, introducing yourself, and handling common social situations with more natural phrasing. The course also helps you understand when Russian uses formal vs informal address, so you can speak politely when needed and sound relaxed with friends. Instead of memorizing isolated words, you’ll develop patterns that make it easier to form questions, respond quickly, and keep a conversation moving.
Grammar is introduced in a way that supports speaking. You’ll get a practical feel for present-tense verb conjugation, learn how pronouns guide verb endings, and spot the things that usually cause beginners to make mistakes. You’ll also get clarity on features that make Russian unique, such as the hard sign and soft sign, consonants that behave in special ways, and how certain sounds change at the ends of words. By connecting these rules to real examples, you’ll start hearing improvements in your own pronunciation and comprehension.
By the end, you’ll be able to read basic Russian, say essential phrases, ask and answer common questions, talk about where you’re from, what you do, numbers, age, and everyday intentions. Whether your goal is travel, work, study, or personal enrichment, this free online course gives you a solid foundation and the confidence to keep learning and speaking.
Course content
Video class: Lesson 1: Learn Russian Alphabet | How You Pronounce Russian Letters | Russian Comprehensive04m
Exercise: What is the function of the Hard Sign (Твёрдый знак) and the Soft Sign (МЯгкий знак) in the Russian alphabet?
Video class: Lesson 23: WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Where Do You Live? Countries in Russian | Russian Comprehensive16m
Exercise: In Russian, when expressing your country of origin, which preposition is commonly used and does not change based on gender?
Video class: Lesson 24: What Do You Do? Jobs10m
Video class: Lesson 25: The Verb 'to BE' in the Present Tense in Russian (Grammar Tips) | Russian Comprehensive04m
Exercise: In Russian, how is the infinitive form of the verb 'to be' expressed?
Video class: Lesson 26: What’s the Difference Between: | Russian Comprehensive17m
Video class: Lesson 27: RUSSIAN NUMBERS: Learn to Count From 0 to a Billion in Russian! | Russian Comprehensive14m
Exercise: In Russian, the numbers 1 through 19 have a specific pattern when counting. This pattern includes a number followed by '-на-' and '-дцать'. What meaning does '-на-' add to the number in this pattern?
Video class: Lesson 28: How to Talk About AGE in Russian | Russian Comprehensive05m
Video class: Lesson 29: Why Are You Learning Russian? 7 Common Reasons in Russian | Russian Comprehensive16m
Exercise: Which phrase would you use in Russian to express your purpose for learning the language?
Video class: Lesson 30: Hard Sign (?) vs Soft Sign (?) | Russian Alphabet Pronunciation | Russian Comprehensive12m
Video class: Lesson 31: VOICED20m
Exercise: In the Russian language, what happens to voiced consonants at the end of a word?
Video class: Lesson 32: Learn to Say “AND YOU?” or “ME TOO!” in Russian | Russian Comprehensive13m
Video class: Lesson 33: AND vs BUT in Russian | Russian Comprehensive09m
Exercise: Which Russian conjunction would you use to express the difference between two contrasting statements?
Video class: How to Say MERRY CHRISTMAS13m
Video class: 10 Common Russian Verbs | Present Tense Conjugation in Context | Russian Comprehensive21m
Exercise: What two steps should you follow to help remember and automate the conjugation of a new Russian verb?
Course comments: Russian for complete beginners
I am Amanda
this was very understanding and broken down to get what to say