🏢 Russian Words for Work & School
Your Passport to Talking About Jobs and Learning!
🌟 The Story Begins…
Imagine you just arrived in Moscow. You’re walking down a busy street, and you see:
- A doctor rushing to the hospital
- A teacher heading to school
- An engineer going to their office
You want to tell your new Russian friends about YOUR job and YOUR school. But how?
Let’s unlock these magical Russian words together! Think of each word like a key 🔑 that opens a door to a new conversation.
👔 PROFESSIONS (Профессии)
The People Who Make the World Work
Think of professions like character costumes in a game. Each person wears a different “costume” based on what they do!
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🔊 How to Say It | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|---|
| врач | vrach | doctor |
| учитель | oo-CHEE-tel | teacher (m) |
| учительница | oo-chee-TEL-nee-tsa | teacher (f) |
| инженер | een-zheh-NYER | engineer |
| программист | pro-gra-MEEST | programmer |
| бухгалтер | boo-GAL-ter | accountant |
| менеджер | MEH-ned-zher | manager |
| директор | dee-REK-tor | director/boss |
| секретарь | sek-reh-TAR | secretary |
| юрист | yoo-REEST | lawyer |
| продавец | pro-da-VYETS | salesperson (m) |
| продавщица | pro-dav-SHCHEE-tsa | salesperson (f) |
| повар | PO-var | cook/chef |
| водитель | vo-DEE-tel | driver |
| медсестра | med-sest-RA | nurse |
🎯 Quick Pattern to Remember
Notice something cool? Many Russian professions sound like English ones!
- Программист sounds like “programmer” → pro-gra-MEEST
- Менеджер sounds like “manager” → MEH-ned-zher
- Директор sounds like “director” → dee-REK-tor
These are your free words - you already know them!
💬 Simple Sentences
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|
| Я врач. | I am a doctor. |
| Она учительница. | She is a teacher. |
| Он программист. | He is a programmer. |
| Кто вы по профессии? | What is your profession? |
📚 EDUCATION (Образование)
Where We Learn and Grow
Think of education words like levels in a video game. You start at Level 1 (kindergarten) and move up!
graph TD A["🏠 детский сад<br>Kindergarten"] --> B["🏫 школа<br>School"] B --> C["🎓 университет<br>University"] C --> D["💼 работа<br>Work"]
Places of Learning
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🔊 How to Say It | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|---|
| школа | SHKO-la | school |
| университет | oo-nee-ver-see-TYET | university |
| колледж | KOL-ledzh | college |
| детский сад | DYET-skee sad | kindergarten |
| библиотека | beeb-lee-o-TYE-ka | library |
| класс | klass | classroom |
People at School
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🔊 How to Say It | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|---|
| ученик | oo-cheh-NEEK | student (m, school) |
| ученица | oo-cheh-NEE-tsa | student (f, school) |
| студент | stoo-DYENT | student (m, uni) |
| студентка | stoo-DYENT-ka | student (f, uni) |
| профессор | pro-FES-sor | professor |
| декан | deh-KAN | dean |
School Subjects & Tools
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🔊 How to Say It | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|---|
| урок | oo-ROK | lesson |
| экзамен | ek-ZA-men | exam |
| домашнее задание | do-MASH-nye-ye za-DA-nee-ye | homework |
| учебник | oo-CHEB-neek | textbook |
| тетрадь | tet-RAD | notebook |
| ручка | ROOCH-ka | pen |
| карандаш | ka-ran-DASH | pencil |
| диплом | dee-PLOM | diploma |
💬 Simple Sentences
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|
| Я студент. | I am a student. |
| Где библиотека? | Where is the library? |
| У меня экзамен. | I have an exam. |
| Это мой учебник. | This is my textbook. |
🏢 WORK & OFFICE (Работа и офис)
Your Daily Work Adventure
Think of an office like a little city inside a building. It has different “neighborhoods” (departments) and “tools” (equipment) to help people work.
The Office Space
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🔊 How to Say It | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|---|
| офис | O-fees | office |
| кабинет | ka-bee-NYET | private office/study |
| компания | kom-PA-nee-ya | company |
| фирма | FEER-ma | firm |
| завод | za-VOD | factory |
| отдел | ot-DYEL | department |
Office Equipment
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🔊 How to Say It | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|---|
| компьютер | kom-PYOO-ter | computer |
| принтер | PREEN-ter | printer |
| телефон | teh-leh-FON | telephone |
| стол | stol | desk/table |
| стул | stool | chair |
| документ | do-koo-MYENT | document |
| письмо | pees-MO | letter/email |
Work Actions
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🔊 How to Say It | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|---|
| работать | ra-BO-tat | to work |
| зарплата | zar-PLA-ta | salary |
| совещание | so-veh-SHCHA-nee-ye | meeting |
| проект | pro-YEKT | project |
| задача | za-DA-cha | task |
| перерыв | peh-reh-RYV | break |
| отпуск | OT-poosk | vacation |
| резюме | reh-zoo-MYE | resume/CV |
💬 Simple Sentences
| 🇷🇺 Russian | 🇬🇧 English |
|---|---|
| Я работаю в офисе. | I work in an office. |
| У нас совещание. | We have a meeting. |
| Мне нужен перерыв. | I need a break. |
| Где мой компьютер? | Where is my computer? |
🔗 Connecting It All Together
A Day in the Life
Here’s how all these words connect in real life:
Анна — учительница 👩🏫. Она работает в школе. Каждый день она проводит уроки для учеников. В кабинете у неё есть компьютер и много учебников.
Translation:
Anna is a teacher. She works at a school. Every day she gives lessons to students. In her office she has a computer and many textbooks.
🚀 Pro Tips to Remember
1. The Gender Rule
Many professions have male AND female versions:
- учитель (male) → учительница (female)
- студент (male) → студентка (female)
- продавец (male) → продавщица (female)
2. International Words
These sound almost the same in English:
- компьютер = computer
- офис = office
- менеджер = manager
- проект = project
3. The Magic “Я + profession” Formula
To say what you do: Я + profession
- Я врач. = I’m a doctor.
- Я студент. = I’m a student.
- Я программист. = I’m a programmer.
(No “am” needed in Russian - it’s automatic!)
🎉 You Did It!
You now know 50+ Russian words for talking about:
- ✅ What people do for work
- ✅ Schools and universities
- ✅ Offices and equipment
These words will help you:
- Tell people about YOUR job
- Ask about OTHER people’s jobs
- Navigate schools and offices in Russia
Next step: Practice saying these words out loud! The more you say them, the more natural they become. 🌟