🇷🇺 Russian
Русский • Cyrillic
Word order: what’s normal (and how to sound natural)
Understand the default word order and a simple strategy to avoid ‘translation‑English’.
The key idea
Russian word order is flexible because cases show roles. Neutral order is often SVO, but emphasis can change order.
- Memorize patterns (whole sentences), not just single words.
- When you change the meaning, keep the grammar skeleton the same.
- If word order is flexible, use ‘neutral’ order first — emphasis comes later.
Я здесь.
ya zdes'
I am here.
Я хочу воду.
ya khochu vodu
I want water.
Я не понимаю.
ya ne ponimayu
I don't understand.
Вы говорите по-английски?
vy govorite po-angliyski
Do you speak English? (formal/plural)
Где туалет?
gde tualet
Where is the toilet?
Это мой друг.
eto moy drug
This is my friend.
Tiny practice routine
Pick one sentence and create 5 variations. Example: ‘I want water’ → water/coffee/tea/ticket/help.
- Speak each variation out loud.
- Record yourself and compare rhythm.
Mini‑quiz
Mini-quiz
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Typical word order for this language is closest to…