Fifteen phrases
Russians actually say

These are the words that get you through the first three seconds — when someone’s waiting for you to answer.

The voice you’ll hear is Katya’s.

How to use this page
  1. Tap the circle and listen. Don’t read first.
  2. Copy the intonation, not just the sounds.
  3. Three phrases you can actually say are worth more than fifteen you’ve only read.

When you didn’t catch it

Я не понима́ю

ya ni panimáyu

I don’t understand

Повтори́те, пожа́луйста

paftaríti, pazháluysta

Could you repeat that?

Поме́дленнее, пожа́луйста

pamédlinni, pazháluysta

Could you say that more slowly?

Say it out loud. Now, not later.
Reading it changes nothing. Saying it does — that’s the whole difference.

These three come first on purpose. You’ll need them long before you need anything clever.

When someone speaks to you

Коне́чно

kanéshna

Of course

То́чно!

tóchna

Exactly!

Ла́дно

ládna

Okay

Ничего́ стра́шного

nichivó stráshnava

No big deal

Договори́лись

dagavarílis

It’s a deal

Ого́!

agó

Wow!

When you need a second

Да́йте поду́мать

dáyti padúmat

Let me think

Сейча́с, мину́тку

shchas, minútku

Just a second

Слу́шайте…

slúshayti

Listen…

The polite form. Say «слушай» (slúshay) only to a friend — to anyone else it sounds too familiar.

When you say what you think

Мне ка́жется…

mnye kázhitsa

Seems to me…

По-мо́ему…

pa-móyimu

The way I see it…

Я ду́маю…

ya dúmayu

I think…

Now start using them. In real life.

Pick any phrase above. Say it out loud — then listen to yourself.

Phrases are the easy part.

The hard part starts when someone answers you — and it’s your turn to speak.

That’s what the 30 days train you for: answering when it’s your turn.

Print these as cards

Download the file, print it, cut along the dashed lines, and fold each card in half.

Keep them in your pocket and test yourself:
look at the Russian side first, then flip the card to check.

Phrases stick when you use them, not when you read them.

Download the cards (PDF)
Want ten more?

Leave your email, and Katya will send you ten more phrases.

You’ll get the ten phrases either way — the checkbox is only for other emails.

What Speak & Learn is

A 30-day speaking trainer.
Ten minutes a day.

Every day you have one real conversation.

Katya or Dima says something, you pick one of three answers and say it out loud, and they reply.

What they say next depends on the answer you chose.
Pick a different one and the conversation goes a different way.

No grammar tables, no drills.
You speak from the first minute.

There’s also a group chat with small daily tasks that get you talking,
and a tutor who helps when you’re stuck.

And the most important thing

In 30 days, you’ll hear the difference yourself

On Day 1, we record your voice.
On Day 30, we record it again.

A teacher listens to both and tells you what changed.

You play the two recordings side by side —
and hear the difference with your own ears.

Not a promise. A recording.

Day 1 is free.

Start Day 1