Russian Words: School and Studying

Russia,Moscow, Lomonosov University statue of Lomonosov in foreground — Lomonosov Moscow State University building rises above public park. Moscow, Russia. John Lamb / Getty Images

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Updated on February 28, 2020

Just like in the United States, education in Russia is compulsory. In fact, education is a right of all citizens established in the country's Constitution. Classrooms are also very similar to those in the West and have some of the same materials, such as books, notebooks, desks, etc. The following vocabulary lists of Russian words related to school and studying can help you navigate academic situations.

In the Classroom

Classes in Russian schools usually have up to 25 pupils. In larger schools, there are sometimes as many as 10 to 20 classes per grade.

Russian Word	English Word	Pronunciation	Example
Урок	Lesson	ooROK	Начинается урок (nachiNAyetsa ooROK) - The lesson is starting
Звонок	Bell	zvaNOK	До звонка пять минут (da zvanKA pyat' miNOOT) - There are five minutes left until the bell
Парта	Desk	PARta	Школьная парта (SHKOL'naya PARta) - A school desk
Класс	Classroom, grade	klass	Он в третьем классе (OHN f TRYETyem KLASsye) - He's in third grade
Планшет	Tablet	planSHET	Включите планшеты (fklyuCHEEtye planSHEty) - Switch on the tablets
Ноутбук	Laptop	notebook	У нее новый ноутбук (oo nyYO NOviy noteBOOK) - She has a new laptop
Учебник	Schoolbook	ooCHEBnik	Откройте учебники (atKROYte ooCHEBniki) - Open your books
Учитель/учительница	Teacher	ooCHEEtel'/ooCHEEtel'nitsa	Новая учительница (NOvaya ooCHEEtel'nitsa) - A new teacher
Тетрадь	Notebook/exercise book	tytRAT'	Он пишет в тетради (OHN PEEshet f tytRAdy) - He's writing in a notebook
Ручка	Pen	ROOCHka	У вас не будет лишней ручки? (oo VAS ne BOOdet LEESHney ROOCHki?) - Would you have a spare pen?
Карандаш	Pencil	karanDASH	Кому нужен карандаш? (kaMOO NOOZhen karanDASH) - Who needs a pencil?
Линейка	Ruler	liNEYka	Длинная линейка (DLEENnaya liNEYka) - A long ruler
Стирательная резинка	Eraser	stiRAtel'naya reZEENka	Надо купить стирательную резинку (NAda kooPEET stiRAtel'nuyu reZEENkoo) - I need to buy an eraser

Academic Subjects

Most Russian schools teach at least one foreign language, usually English, German, or French. Core academic subjects include math, Russian language and literature, science, geography, and history.

Russian Word	English Word	Pronunciation	Examples
Предмет	Subject	predMET	Французский - мой любимый предмет (franTSUSkiy - moi lyuBEEmiy predMET) - French is my favourite subject
Алгебра	Algebra	AHLghebra	Завтра контрольная по алгебре (ZAFtra kanTROL'naya pa AHLghebre) - Tomorrow we have a test in algebra
Русский язык	Russian language	RUSSkiy yaZYK	Русский язык и литература (RUSSkiy yaZYK ee literaTOOra) - Russian language and literature
Литература	Literature	literaTOOra	Что задали по литературе? (SHTOH ZAdali pa literaROOre) - What's the homework for literature?
География	Geography	gheaGRAfiya	Мне не нравится учитель по географии (mne ne NRAvitsa ooCHEEtel' pa gheaGRAfiyi) - I don't like my geography teacher
История	History	eeSTOriya	Обожаю историю (abaZHAyu isTOriyu) - I love history
Геометрия	Geometry	gheaMYETriya	По геометрии трояк (pa gheaMYETriyi traYAK) - I got a three in geometry
Английский	English	anGLEEYskiy	Кто ведет английский? (KTOH vyDYOT anGLEEskiy) - Who is teaching English?
Биология	Biology	beeaLOHgiya	Она терпеть не может биологию (aNAH tyrPYET ne MOZhet beeaLOHgiyu) - She can't stand biology
Химия	Chemistry	HEEmiya	Контрольная по химии (kanTROL'naya pa HEEmiyi) - A chemistry test
Физика	Physics	FEEzika	Преподаватель физики (prepadaVAtel' FEEziki) - A physics teacher
Французский	French	franTSOOSkiy	Пятерка по французскому (pyTYORka pa franTSOOskamoo) - A five (top grade) in French
Немецкий	German	nyMETskiy	Кабинет немецкого (kabiNET neMETSkava) - German language classroom
Физкультура	Physical education (PE)	feezkool'TOOra	Физкультуру отменили (feezkool'TOOroo atmyNEEli) - PE has been cancelled

Around Campus

Most universities have their own campuses that include facilities similar to schools in the U.S., such as separate buildings with accommodations for out-of-town students, libraries, cafeterias, sports halls, outdoor sports areas, and more. These are some of the most commonly used words around campus.

Russian Word	English Word	Pronunciation	Examples
Общежитие	Student accommodation/halls	abshyZHEEtiye	Я живу в общежитии (ya zhiVOO v abshyZHEEtiyi) - I live in the student halls
Столовая	Canteen (cafeteria)	staLOvaya	Большая столовая (bal'SHAya staLOvaya) - A large canteen
Библиотека	Library	bibliaTYEka	Не разговаривайте в библиотеке (ne razgaVArivaite v bibliaTYEke) - Don't talk in the library
Актовый зал	Assembly hall	AHktaviy zal	Собираемся в актовом зале (sabeeRAyemsya v AHKtavam ZAle) - We are meeting up in the assembly hall
Лекция	Lecture	LYEKtsiya	Очень интересная лекция (OHchen inteRESnaya LYEKtsiya) - A fascinating lecture
Аудитория	Lecture theatre	ahoodiTOriya	Аудитория была почти пуста (ahoodiTOriya byLA pachTEE poosTA) - The lecture theatre was almost empty
Конспекты	Notes	kansPEKty	У него всегда подробные конспекты (oo neVOH vsygDA padROBnyye kansPEKty) - He always makes detailed notes
Сдача экзаменов	Taking the exams	SDAcha ehkZAmenaf	Надо готовиться к сдаче экзаменов (NAda gaTOvitsa k SDAche ehkZAmenaf) - Need to get ready for the exams

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Nikitina, Maia. "Russian Words: School and Studying." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/russian-words-school-and-studying-4797075. Nikitina, Maia. (2020, August 29). Russian Words: School and Studying. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-words-school-and-studying-4797075 Nikitina, Maia. "Russian Words: School and Studying." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-words-school-and-studying-4797075 (accessed June 4, 2023).