From giant shopping malls to bustling open-air markets, shopping in Russia has its own vocabulary and culture. This lesson covers money, prices, clothing, the genitive case with numbers, and essential shopping phrases.
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
| Russian | Transliteration | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| рубль | rubl' | ruble | Main unit of Russian currency (₽) |
| копейка | kapyeyka | kopeck | 1/100 of a ruble (rarely used now) |
| деньги | dyen'gi | money | Always plural in Russian |
| наличные | nalichniye | cash | |
| карта | karta | card | Банковская карта = bank card |
| цена | tsina | price | |
| скидка | skidka | discount | |
| чек | chyek | receipt |
Remember the number-noun rule from Lesson 5? Here it is with rubles:
1 рубль (rubl') · 2 рубля (rublya) · 5 рублей (rublyey)
1 копейка · 2 копейки · 5 копеек
"Сколько стоит?" (How much does it cost?) → "Триста рублей" (300 rubles)
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| Сколько стоит? | Skol'ka stoit? | How much does it cost? |
| Сколько это стоит? | Skol'ka eta stoit? | How much is this? |
| Покажите, пожалуйста | Pakazhitye, pazhalusta | Show me, please |
| Можно посмотреть? | Mozhna pasmatret'? | May I look? |
| Я хочу купить... | Ya khachu kupit'... | I want to buy... |
| Есть побольше / поменьше? | Yest' pabol'she / pamin'she? | Do you have bigger / smaller? |
| Можно примерить? | Mozhna primyerit'? | Can I try it on? |
| Мне подходит | Mnye padkhodit | It fits me / It suits me |
| Мне не подходит | Mnye nye padkhodit | It doesn't fit/suit me |
| Я возьму это | Ya vaz'mu eta | I'll take this |
| Дорого! | Doraga! | Expensive! |
| Дёшево | Dyoshiva | Cheap |
| Вы принимаете карты? | Vy prinimayetye karty? | Do you accept cards? |
| Russian | Transliteration | English | Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| рубашка | rubashka | shirt | юбка | yupka | skirt |
| брюки | bryuki | pants | платье | plat'ye | dress |
| куртка | kurtka | jacket | пальто | pal'to | coat |
| обувь | obuv' | footwear | туфли | tufli | shoes (dress) |
| шапка | shapka | hat/cap | шарф | sharf | scarf |
| перчатки | pirchatki | gloves | носки | naski | socks |
💡 Cultural Insight: At Russian markets (рынок), especially for food and souvenirs, bargaining is acceptable and even expected. However, in regular shops and malls (торговый центр), prices are fixed. Russia has embraced contactless payment — most places accept cards, and apps like Мир Pay are widely used. The Russian payment card system "Мир" (meaning "world" and "peace") has become dominant for domestic transactions.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| магазин | magazin | shop / store |
| супермаркет | supermarket | supermarket |
| торговый центр | targoviy tsentr | shopping mall |
| рынок | rynok | market |
| аптека | aptyeka | pharmacy |
| книжный магазин | knizhniy magazin | bookshop |
| булочная | bulachnaya | bakery |
— Здравствуйте! Сколько стоит эта куртка?
(Zdrastvuytye! Skol'ka stoit eta kurtka?) — Hello! How much is this jacket?
— Пять тысяч рублей.
(Pyat' tysyach rublyey.) — Five thousand rubles.
— Можно примерить?
(Mozhna primyerit'?) — Can I try it on?
— Конечно! Примерочная там.
(Kanyeshna! Primyerachnaya tam.) — Of course! The fitting room is over there.
— Мне подходит. Я возьму. Вы принимаете карты?
(Mnye padkhodit. Ya vaz'mu. Vy prinimayetye karty?) — It fits. I'll take it. Do you accept cards?
— Да, конечно.
(Da, kanyeshna.) — Yes, of course.
1. How do you ask "How much does it cost?"
2. What is the Russian currency?
3. Where is bargaining appropriate in Russia?