This lesson covers job titles, workplace vocabulary, the Russian education system, the instrumental case (used to say what you work as), and formal workplace communication.
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
| Russian (m./f.) | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| учитель / учительница | uchityel' / uchityel'nitsa | teacher |
| врач | vrach | doctor (used for both genders) |
| инженер | inzhinyer | engineer |
| программист / -ка | pragramist / -ka | programmer |
| менеджер | menedzher | manager |
| бухгалтер | bukhgalter | accountant |
| юрист | yurist | lawyer |
| журналист / -ка | zhurnalist / -ka | journalist |
| продавец / продавщица | pradavyets / pradavshchitsa | salesperson |
| водитель | vadityel' | driver |
| повар | povar | cook / chef |
| директор | direktar | director / principal |
To say what you work as, use работать + instrumental case:
Я работаю врачом. (Ya rabotayu vrachom.) — I work as a doctor.
Она работает учительницей. (Ana rabotayet uchityel'nitsay.) — She works as a teacher.
Instrumental endings: masculine -ом/-ем; feminine -ой/-ей
Compare with nominative: Я врач. (I am a doctor.) — simpler but less detailed.
| Russian | Transliteration | English | Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| офис | ofis | office | зарплата | zarplata | salary |
| работа | rabota | work / job | отпуск | otpusk | vacation / leave |
| начальник | nachal'nik | boss | коллега | kallyega | colleague |
| собрание | sabraniye | meeting | проект | prayekt | project |
| резюме | rizyume | résumé / CV | собеседование | sabyesedavaniye | interview |
| Russian | Transliteration | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| школа | shkola | school | Grades 1–11 (ages 7–17) |
| университет | univirsityet | university | Typically 4–6 years |
| институт | institut | institute | Specialized higher education |
| студент / студентка | studyent / studyentka | student (m/f) | University student |
| ученик / ученица | uchenik / uchenitsa | pupil (m/f) | School student |
| экзамен | ekzamen | exam | |
| диплом | diplom | diploma / degree | |
| ЕГЭ | ye-ge-e | unified state exam | Like the SAT — determines university admission |
💡 Cultural Insight: Russian education places heavy emphasis on math, sciences, and literature. The ЕГЭ (Unified State Exam), taken at the end of 11th grade, is extremely high-stakes — scores directly determine which universities students can attend. Russian schools also traditionally celebrate "Последний звонок" (The Last Bell) on the last day of school, with graduating students wearing ribbons and school uniforms from first grade in a nostalgic ceremony.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| Уважаемый / Уважаемая... | Uvazhayemiy / Uvazhayemaya... | Dear... (formal letter opening) |
| С уважением, | S uvazheniyem, | Respectfully, / Sincerely, |
| Я хотел(а) бы... | Ya khatyel(a) by... | I would like to... |
| По вопросу о... | Pa vaprosu o... | Regarding the matter of... |
— Кем вы работаете?
(Kyem vy rabotayetye?) — What do you do for work? (lit: "As whom do you work?")
— Я работаю программистом в IT-компании. А вы?
(Ya rabotayu pragramistam v IT-kampanii. A vy?) — I work as a programmer at an IT company. And you?
— Я учительница. Преподаю математику в школе.
(Ya uchityel'nitsa. Pripadayu matimadiku v shkolye.) — I'm a teacher. I teach math at a school.
— Интересно! Вам нравится работа?
(Intiryesna! Vam nravitsa rabota?) — Interesting! Do you like your job?
— Да, очень! Дети замечательные.
(Da, ochin'! Dyeti zamichatil'niye.) — Yes, very much! The kids are wonderful.
1. How do you say "I work as a doctor"?
2. What is the ЕГЭ?
3. How do you formally begin a letter in Russian?