First Conversations

Welcome to Unit 4 — First Conversations. From here, the lessons start giving you the tools to actually have real conversations in Russian — asking for things, asking questions, getting around. And to help, I'm bringing back someone you met briefly at the end of Unit 2. Ка́тя, you've been carrying us through Unit 3 beautifully. But it's time you had some company. — Приве́т всем! Сего́дня Макси́м то́же здесь. Welcome back, Макси́м. — Здра́вствуйте. Макси́м will be joining Ка́тя throughout Unit 4 — sometimes one of them plays the customer, sometimes the server, sometimes they're just two people having a conversation. It gives us more flexibility to show how Russian actually flows between people. Now — today's phrase is one of the most useful things you can say in any language: *may I have* or *can I have.* Ка́тя? — Мо́жно. The stress is on the first syllable. — Мо́жно. Once more? — Мо́жно. Мо́жно on its own literally means *may I* or *is it allowed.* It's how Russians politely ask for something — pair it with what you want and a please at the end, and you have a complete polite request. Remember Пожа́луйста from a few lessons back? Ка́тя taught us it means *you're welcome* — when someone thanks you. But Пожа́луйста has another job. Ка́тя, demonstrate? — Мо́жно ко́фе, пожа́луйста? There it is. Пожа́луйста also means *please* when it softens a request. "Мо́жно ко́фе, пожа́луйста?" — *May I have coffee, please?* The question mark matters — Russian writes it as a question because you're asking permission, not stating a desire. So that's the deferred lesson finally arriving — Пожа́луйста as *please.* Now you've seen both ways the word works. Let's hear it in a real exchange. Imagine Ка́тя stops by a café and orders. Макси́м is behind the counter. — Здра́вствуйте! Мо́жно ко́фе, пожа́луйста? — Коне́чно. "Коне́чно" — *Of course.* A friendly acknowledgment. Now let's try a different drink. Ка́тя? — Мо́жно чай, пожа́луйста? Чай — tea. Recognizable, isn't it? Or something simpler? — Мо́жно во́ду, пожа́луйста? Во́ду — water. Same structure, different object. The pattern "Мо́жно X, пожа́луйста?" works for almost anything you might want to ask for. One quick thing you might notice — вода́ becomes во́ду after Мо́жно. Russian changes the ending when a thing is being asked for. Don't worry about the rule yet; just copy the pattern for now. Listen and say it along with Ка́тя. — Мо́жно ко́фе, пожа́луйста? A culture note worth knowing. Russian politeness in transactional situations doesn't add elaborate phrases the way English sometimes does — Russians prefer brevity. Мо́жно X, пожа́луйста? is courteous, complete, and the natural choice everywhere from cafés and shops to checkout counters. Макси́м, give us the full polite request one more time? — Мо́жно чай, пожа́луйста? Beautifully said. You can now make polite requests in Russian — a real conversational tool. And Макси́м's officially with us now. Молоде́ц!

May I have coffee, please?

MOZH-na KO-fye, pa-ZHA-lus-ta — stress on the first syllable of Можно

Say it back.

Good — Можно кофе, пожалуйста? Try swapping in чай or воду if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

May I have coffee, please?

Ordering at a café

"Да, конечно" ("*yes, of course*") is the server's friendly acknowledgment — just notice it in context.

Hello! May I have tea, please?

Ка́тя

Yes, of course.

Макси́м

Welcome back. Last lesson, Ка́тя and Макси́м showed us how to ask for something — Мо́жно, пожа́луйста. Today, we add the question that comes BEFORE asking: what is that thing in the first place? Ка́тя, the phrase? — Что э́то? Что э́то. Two short words doing a lot of work. Ка́тя, slowly? — Что... э́то? Что means *what* — the question word. And э́то means *this* or *that* — a pointing word. Together: *What this?* Literally direct. In English we'd say *What is that?* but Russian doesn't need the *is.* Quick note on pronunciation, because Что is a little tricky. It's spelled with the letter ч — which usually sounds like the "ch" in *cheese.* But in this particular word, it's pronounced with an sh sound — SHTO. Ка́тя? — Что. SHTO. The good news is that once you know it, you know it. Now, the full question. — Что э́то? Listen and say it along with Ка́тя. — Что э́то? Let's hear it in context. Imagine Ка́тя's at a café — she sees something on the menu she doesn't recognize. Макси́м's behind the counter. — Извини́те, что э́то? — Э́то блины́. — Блины́? — Да. Ру́сские блины́. О́чень вку́сно. A lot just happened there. Ка́тя started with Извини́те — *excuse me* — to politely get Макси́м's attention. Then Что э́то — what is that? Макси́м answered with Э́то блины́ — *this is blini,* Russian pancakes. Then Ка́тя echoed the new word as a question — блины́? — and Макси́м confirmed and added *very tasty.* Notice the structure of the answer: Э́то блины́. Э́то at the start, the thing at the end. Same э́то you just learned, used in the answer. You don't need to learn блины́ formally — but you've now heard it, and you'll remember it. That's how vocabulary builds in conversation: you ask Что э́то, someone tells you, you've learned something new. One more time, the question. — Что э́то? And try a different scenario — Ка́тя pointing at something simpler. — Что э́то? — Э́то вода́. Э́то вода́ — *this is water.* Same answer structure, simpler object. Э́то plus the thing. Now you try, with Ка́тя. — Что э́то? Excellent. You can now ask what something is — one of the most useful questions in any language. Combined with last lesson's Мо́жно, you can see something, ask about it, and decide if you want it. Real conversational ground covered. Молоде́ц!

What is that?

SHTO E-ta — note: Что is pronounced "shto," not "chto"

Say it back.

Good — Что это? Two short words, a lot of use.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

What is that?

Pointing at something on the counter

"Это …" ("*this is …*") is the natural way to answer — это plus the thing. Not taught here; just notice it.

What is that?

Ка́тя

This is tea.

Макси́м

Last lesson, you learned to ask Что э́то? — what is that. Today, its twin — the question you use for people instead of things. Ка́тя, the word? — Кто. Кто — *who.* It works exactly like Что, but for people. Что э́то? asks what a thing is; Кто э́то? asks who a person is. Russian splits the world into what and who, just like English does. — Кто. And the full question — Ка́тя? — Кто э́то? — *Who is that?* Same shape as Что э́то? — no word for *is,* just кто, then э́то. Two short words. Let's hear it in context. Imagine Ка́тя is looking at a photo with Макси́м, and points to someone. — Кто э́то? — Э́то А́нна. Э́то А́нна — *That's Anna.* Notice the answer: Э́то plus the person's name. The very same э́то you already know, and the same answer shape you heard with things — Э́то чай, Э́то А́нна. One pattern, people or things. Макси́м, point back — ask Ка́тя. — Кто э́то? — Э́то Макси́м. Э́то Макси́м — *That's Макси́м.* You point, you ask Кто э́то?, and the answer names the person. So now you have the pair. For a thing — Что э́то? For a person — Кто э́то? Same two-word shape, same Э́то answer. Listen and say it with Ка́тя. — Кто э́то? Excellent. With Что э́то? and Кто э́то?, you can ask about anything and anyone you meet. Молоде́ц!

Who is that?

KTO E-ta — a quick "k-t," then "eta"

Say it back — the question for people.

Good — Кто это? Who is that?

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

Who is that?

Pointing at a photo

The answer is the same Это you know from Что это? — Это plus the person's name.

Who is that?

Ка́тя

That's Anna.

Макси́м

In the last two lessons, you got Что э́то — what is that — and Кто э́то — who is that. Today, the question word that's arguably even more useful in real life: where. Where's the bathroom, where's the metro, where's the exit. The travel-essential question. Ка́тя, the word? — Где. One syllable, one question, enormous usefulness. — Где. Hard g at the start, then "dyeh." Ка́тя? — Где. Just like with Что э́то, Russian skips the *is* — you don't say "Where IS the bathroom," you just say "Где туале́т?" — literally *Where bathroom?* Simple and direct. Let's hear it in context. Imagine Ка́тя's in an unfamiliar café and needs the bathroom. Макси́м's at the counter. — Извини́те, где туале́т? — Там. "Там" — *there.* Макси́м probably pointed. That's typical of Russian directions: short and practical. He didn't say *Oh, the bathroom is just down that hallway to the left past the kitchen* — he said *there* and probably gestured. The brevity isn't rude. It's just how Russian gives directions. Helpful, actually — easy to follow. Ка́тя, try another one. Where's the metro? — Где метро́? Метро́ — the metro, the subway. Direct cognate, easy. And the exit? — Где вы́ход? Вы́ход — exit. New word, but you've now heard it. The pattern is clear: Где plus what you're looking for. Almost anything fits. Макси́м, demonstrate the pattern one more time — say you're looking for coffee. — Где ко́фе? Где ко́фе — where's the coffee? Callback to Lesson 1's vocabulary. The structures combine: you can now find something AND order it. Listen and say it along with Ка́тя. — Где туале́т? One small cultural note. When you ask Где in Russia, expect a short answer — a direction word, a gesture, maybe a single word like Там. Russians don't usually elaborate. That brevity is helpful, not cold — it means the directions are easy to follow. One final practice. — Где туале́т? Excellent. You can now ask where almost anything is — one of the genuinely essential travel questions. Combined with Что э́то? and Мо́жно, you have three real conversational tools. Молоде́ц!

Where's the bathroom?

g-DYEH — hard g, then "dyeh"

Say it back.

Good — Где туалет? Swap in метро, выход, or кофе and the pattern still works.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

Where's the bathroom?

Lost in an unfamiliar place

"Там" ("*there*") — Russian directions are typically short and practical. Not taught here; just notice it.

Excuse me, where's the metro?

Ка́тя

There.

Макси́м

Last lesson, Где was about finding things. Today, the question for when you've found something — and you want to know what it costs. Ка́тя, the phrase? — Ско́лько сто́ит? Ско́лько сто́ит. Two words. Ско́лько means *how much* or *how many* — the quantity question word. And сто́ит is a form of *to cost.* Together literally: *How much costs?* Russian leaves out the *it* — context tells you what you're asking about. If you want to be specific, you can add э́то in the middle: Ско́лько э́то сто́ит — *how much does this cost.* Ка́тя, demonstrate both? — Ско́лько сто́ит? — Ско́лько э́то сто́ит? Both work. The shorter form is more common when you're pointing or context is obvious. The fuller form when you want to be explicit. — Ско́лько сто́ит. Stress on the first syllable of each word. Let's hear it in context. Imagine Ка́тя's at the counter, deciding whether to order. Макси́м's serving. — Извини́те, ско́лько сто́ит ко́фе? — Сто рубле́й. Сто рубле́й — *one hundred rubles.* Russia's currency is the ruble — рубль. We're not teaching numbers in this lesson, but you've just heard "сто" — one hundred. You'll meet numbers properly in a future unit; for now, just notice that they exist and that prices in Russia are usually quoted in rubles. Let's try another. Ка́тя asks about tea. — Ско́лько сто́ит чай? — Пятьдеся́т рубле́й. Пятьдеся́т рубле́й — *fifty rubles.* Different number, same structure. The question stays constant; the price varies. And one more. — Ско́лько э́то сто́ит? — Две́сти рубле́й. Две́сти рубле́й — *two hundred rubles.* Ка́тя used the longer form here — Ско́лько э́то сто́ит — pointing at something specific. Quick cultural note. Russian cafés and shops usually display prices clearly on menus or shelves. So Ско́лько сто́ит is often answered by a gesture toward a price tag rather than spoken numbers. Don't worry that you need to instantly understand spoken Russian numbers to navigate purchases — you don't. The question still matters because sometimes prices aren't labeled, sometimes you want to confirm, and asking practices the language either way. Listen and say it along with Ка́тя. — Ско́лько сто́ит? Excellent. You now have four conversational tools: Мо́жно, Что э́то, Где, and Ско́лько сто́ит. Request, identify, locate, price. That's everything you need for most transactional situations. Next lesson, we bring it all together. Молоде́ц!

How much does it cost?

SKOL-ka STO-it — stress on the first syllable of each word

Say it back.

Good — Сколько стоит? Add это — Сколько это стоит? — when you want to point at something specific.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

How much does it cost?

Asking the price of a specific item

"Сто рублей" ("*one hundred rubles*") — numbers aren't taught here; you'll meet them properly in a future unit. Just notice them.

How much is the coffee?

Ка́тя

One hundred rubles.

Макси́м

Welcome to the final lesson of Unit 4. No new structures today — instead, we celebrate the four tools you now hold. Мо́жно. Что э́то. Где. Ско́лько сто́ит. Request, identify, locate, price. Let's see them working together in real conversation. Two scenes today. First, Ка́тя at a café — the setting where Unit 4 began. Макси́м is behind the counter. — Здра́вствуйте! Извини́те, где ко́фе? — Ко́фе там. — Спаси́бо. А что э́то? — Э́то блины́. О́чень вку́сно. — Ско́лько сто́ит? — Сто рубле́й. — Хорошо́. Мо́жно блины́ и ко́фе, пожа́луйста? — Коне́чно. Спаси́бо. Did you catch it? In that exchange, Ка́тя used all four structures. She located the coffee — Где ко́фе. She asked what something was — Что э́то. She asked the price — Ско́лько сто́ит. And she made her request — Мо́жно. The tools combined into one natural conversation. That's the point. Now, scene two. Different setting, different roles. Imagine a Russian market — ры́нок — open-air, stalls of food, vendors calling out. This time, Макси́м is the customer and Ка́тя is selling fruit. — Здра́вствуйте! Что э́то? — Э́то я́блоки. Све́жие. — А где вода́? — Вода́ там. — Ско́лько сто́ит вода́? — Пятьдеся́т рубле́й. — Хорошо́. Мо́жно я́блоки и во́ду, пожа́луйста? — Две́сти рубле́й всё вме́сте. — Спаси́бо. Same four structures, completely different setting. Макси́м asked what something was, where something was, how much it cost, and made his request. The toolkit transferred from café to market without missing a beat. That's why we taught these as general-purpose structures, not café phrases. They work anywhere transactional — cafés, markets, shops, kiosks. One thing worth noticing across both scenes. The structures don't just sit in isolation — they flow into each other. You locate something, then you identify it, then you ask the price, then you request it. Real conversation is structures combining naturally. And that completes Unit 4. You've crossed a real threshold. With these four tools plus everything from Units 1-3, you can now handle the basic shape of any transactional situation in Russian. You have the words for the questions that matter — what something is, where it is, what it costs, and how to ask for it. Take a moment. Молоде́ц!

May I have coffee, please?

MOZH-na KO-fye, pa-ZHA-lus-ta — stress on the first syllable of Можно

What is that?

SHTO E-ta — note: Что is pronounced "shto," not "chto"

Where's the bathroom?

g-DYEH — hard g, then "dyeh"

How much does it cost?

SKOL-ka STO-it — stress on the first syllable of each word

At the café

Your whole café order — Мо́жно ко́фе, пожа́луйста, and the warm Пожа́луйста back. A complete little exchange.

May I have a coffee, please?

Ка́тя

Coffee? Yes, here you are.

Макси́м

Thank you!

Ка́тя

You're welcome!

Макси́м

Asking what — at the market

"Яблоки" ("*apples*") — exposure only, not taught. The same toolkit works at the market, not just the café.

What is that?

Ка́тя

These are apples.

Макси́м

Asking where

"Там" ("*there*") — Russian directions are typically short and practical. Not taught here; just notice it.

Excuse me, where's the metro?

Ка́тя

There.

Макси́м

Asking the price

"Сто рублей" ("*one hundred rubles*") — numbers aren't taught here; you'll meet them properly in a future unit. Just notice them.

How much is the coffee?

Ка́тя

One hundred rubles.

Макси́м

Say it back — the request that pulls it all together.

Молодец — Можно кофе, пожалуйста? That's the toolkit in your own voice.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

May I have coffee?