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Day 4

Basic Nouns (Существительные)

Learn essential nouns: people, places, food, animals, and everyday objects. Plus noun gender and simple plurals.

Noun Gender in Russian

Every Russian noun has a gender: masculine (м), feminine (ж), or neuter (ср). Gender is usually determined by the ending:

  • Masculine: ends with a consonant, -й, or -ь (often). Example: дом (house), музей (museum), день (day)
  • Feminine: ends with -а, -я, or -ь (often). Example: мама (mom), земля (earth), ночь (night)
  • Neuter: ends with -о or -е. Example: окно (window), море (sea)

Note: Gender affects adjectives and past tense verbs – so memorise gender with each noun!

People & Family (Люди и семья)

EnglishRussian (singular)PronunciationGender
man/male childчеловек / мальчикchelovek / mal'chikm / m
woman/girlженщина / девочкаzhenshchina / devochkaf / f
fatherотецatYETSm
motherматьmat'f
brotherбратbratm
sisterсестраsistRAf
friend (m/f)друг / подругаdroog / padRUgam / f

Places & Buildings (Места)

EnglishRussianPronunciationGender
house/homeдомdomm schoolшколаSHKOlaf universityуниверситетuniversiTYETm hospitalбольницаbal'NItzaf restaurantресторанrestaRANm shop/storeмагазинmagaZINm seeming_parkпаркparkm

Food & Drink (Еда и напитки)

EnglishRussianPronunciationGender
breadхлебkhlebm
waterводаvaDAf
milkмолокоmalaKOn
meatмясоMYAsan
teaчайchaym
coffeeкофеKOfem
appleяблокоYAb lakan

Animals (Животные)

EnglishRussianPronunciationGender
catкот / кошкаkot / KOshkam / f
dogсобакаsaBAkaf
birdптицаPTItzaf
fishрыбаRYbaf

Example Sentences

  • Это мой дом. (Eta moy dom.) – This is my house. (masculine)
  • У меня есть кошка. (U menya yest' KOSHka.) – I have a cat. (feminine)
  • Молоко вкусное. (MalAKO vKUSnaye.) – Milk is tasty. (neuter adjective ending)
  • Где ресторан? (Gde restaRAN?) – Where is the restaurant?

Practice Mini-Dialogue

Ольга: Это твоя сестра? (Eta tvaYA sistRA?) – Is this your sister?

Михаил: Да, это моя сестра. А это мой брат. (Da, eta maYA sistRA. A eta moy brat.) – Yes, this is my sister. And this is my brother.

Ольга: Очень приятно! Где вы живёте? (Ochen' priYATna! Gde vy zhiVYÓte?) – Nice to meet you! Where do you live?

Михаил: Мы живём в большом доме. (My zhiVYOM v bal'SHOM DÓme.) – We live in a big house.

Exercise

Choose the correct gender (M/F/N) for each noun:

  1. вода (water) → a) masculine   b) feminine   c) neuter
  2. окно (window) → a) masculine   b) feminine   c) neuter
  3. брат (brother) → a) masculine   b) feminine   c) neuter
  4. молоко (milk) → a) masculine   b) feminine   c) neuter
  5. школа (school) → a) masculine   b) feminine   c) neuter
Show answers

1. b) feminine (ends with -а)
2. c) neuter (ends with -о)
3. a) masculine (ends with consonant)
4. c) neuter (ends with -о)
5. b) feminine (ends with -а)

Cultural note: Russian family terms distinguish between maternal and paternal grandparents: дедушка (grandpa) and бабушка (grandma) can be used with names or just alone. The patronymic (middle name derived from father's name, e.g., Иванович) is used in formal address. Knowing basic nouns helps when visiting Russian homes: they'll likely offer you чай (tea) and сладости (sweets).
Learning tip: When you learn a new noun, always memorise its gender along with the word. A useful trick: colour‑code flash cards – blue for masculine, red for feminine, green for neuter. Practice forming simple sentences with "Это" (this is) and the noun. Use sticky notes around your home with Russian labels to reinforce.
Continue to Day 5

آج کا سبق – خلاصہ

آج آپ نے روسی زبان میں بنیادی اسماء سیکھے: خاندان، مقامات، کھانے، جانور اور گھریلو اشیاء۔ اسماء کی جنس (مذکر، مؤنث، بےجان) اور سادہ جمع بنانے کا طریقہ سمجھا۔

کل ہم روسی میں اعداد (گنتی) اور ان کا استعمال سیکھیں گے۔ مشق جاری رکھیں!

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