Andrew D. Kaufman & Serafima Gettys 
Russian For Dummies 

The fast and easy way to learn to speak Russian

With Russia in line to host the World Cup in 2018, the Winter
Olympics in 2014, as well as a Formula 1 Grand Prix, interest in
Russia is on the rise. Russian For Dummies is an excellent
resource for students, tourists, and businesspeople looking for an
introduction to this popular and complex language.

This updated edition offers new and improved content, more
useful exercises and practice opportunities, all new content
devoted to the Cyrillic alphabet, and much more.

* A revamped, user-friendly organization

* A fully updated and expanded audio CD with real-life
conversations by native speakers

* Expanded coverage of grammar, verb conjugations, and
pronunciations

* A refreshed and expanded mini-dictionary complete with even
more essential vocabulary

Russian For Dummies provides basic instruction to those
seeking to grasp the basics of conversational Russian. Students,
travelers, and businesspeople with little or no language experience
will gain a clearer understanding on how to communicate in
Russian.

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: Russian in a Nutshell 9

Chapter 2: Checking Out the Russian Alphabet 17

Chapter 3: Warming Up with Russian Grammar Basics 33

Chapter 4: Getting Started with Basic Expressions 69

Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers, Times, and Measurements
Straight 81

Chapter 6: Speaking Russian at Home 99

Part II: Russian in Action 117

Chapter 7: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 119

Chapter 8: Asking for Directions 133

Chapter 9: Dining Out and Going to the Market 145

Chapter 10: Shopping Made Easy 157

Chapter 11: Going Out on the Town 173

Chapter 12: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunications
185

Chapter 13: Recreation and the Great Outdoors 203

Part III: Russian on the Go 219

Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 221

Chapter 15: Dealing with Money in a Foreign Land 231

Chapter 16: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and More
241

Chapter 17: Finding a Place to Stay 255

Chapter 18: Handling Emergencies 271

Part IV: The Part of Tens 289

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Pick Up Russian Quickly 291

Chapter 20: Ten Things Never to Say in Russian 295

Chapter 21: Ten Favorite Russian Expressions 301

Chapter 22: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Russian
305

Part V: Appendixes 311

Appendix A: Mini-Dictionary 313

Appendix B: Verb Tables 333

Appendix C: On the CD 339

Appendix D: Answer Keys 341

Index 345

About the author

Andrew Kaufman, Ph D, is a published scholar and an
award-winning teacher of Russian language, literature, and culture
at some of the country’s top universities.

Serafima Gettys, Ph D, is a Coordinator of the Foreign
Language Program at Lewis University, where she also teaches
Russian.