500 Core Russian Nouns to Accelerate Your Language Learning

Learning Russian words is always difficult. It’s best to start with small portions. But if you want to expand your vocabulary, this list will be helpful.

Here, I have gathered 500 different Russian nouns. These include objects, phenomena, and various concepts. If you have a good command of Russian, make sure you are familiar with all these words. Since there are many of them, I have organized some of them into thematic categories.

Let’s begin!

человек [cheelavyek] – person

люди [lyudee] – people [plural]

ребёнок [rebyonak] – child

женщина [zhenshchina] – woman

мужчина [mooshcheena] – man

парень [paryen’] – guy, boy; boyfriend

девушка [dyevooshka] – girl; girlfriend

мальчик [mal’cheek] – boy (a child)

девочка [dyevachka] – girl (a child)

семья [syem’ya] – family

мать [mat’] – mother

отец [atyets] – father

муж [moosh] – husband

жена [zhina] – wife

сын [sin] – son

дочь [doch’] – daughter

дом [dom] – house

улица [ooleetsa] – street

город [gorat] – city

деревня [dyeryevnya] – village

страна [strana] – country

мир [meer] – world, peace

место [myesta] – place

предмет [preedmyet] – subject, object

машина [mashina] – car

работа [rabota] – work

школа [shkola] – school

книга [kneega] – book

деньги [dyen’gee] – money

документ [dakoomyent] – document

паспорт [paspart] – passport

сумка [soomka] – bag

кошелёк [kashilyok]- wallet, purse

имя [eemya] – name

фамилия [fameeleeya] – surname, last name

возраст [vozrast] – age

дело [dyela] – matter, affair

друг [drook] – friend

подруга [padrooga] – girlfriend (female friend)

общество [obshchyestva] – society

жизнь [zhizn’] – life

душа [doosha] – soul

земля [zyemlya] – earth (land)

воздух [vozdooh] – air

огонь [agon’] – fire

среда [sreeda] – environment, medium

природа [preeroda] – nature

дерево [dyeryeva] – tree

трава [trava] – grass

небо [nyeba] – sky

облако [oblaka] – cloud

погода [pagoda] – weather

температура [teempeeratoora] – temperature

солнце [sontse] – sun

луна [loona] – moon

звезда [zveezda] – star

дождь [dozht’] – rain

снег [snyek] – snow

ветер [vyetyer] – wind

слово [slova] – word

язык [yazik] – language

цвет [tsvyet] – color

размер [razmyer] – size

запах [zapah] – smell

звук [zvook] – sound

форма [forma] – form, shape

фигура [feegoora] – figure, shape

шар [shar] – sphere

квадрат [kvadrat] – square

круг [krook] – circle

линия [leeneeya] – line

конец [kanyetz] – end

начало [nachala] – beginning

период [peereeoot]- period

часть [chast’] – part

область [oblast’] – area, region

сторона [starana] – side

граница [graneetsa]- border

минус [meenoos] – minus; advantage

плюс [plyus] – plus; disadvantage

разница [razneetsa] – difference

проблема [prablyema] – problem

решение [reesheneeye] – decision, solution

средство [sryetstva] – means, instrument

тема [tyema] – theme, topic

вопрос [vapros] – question

ответ [atvyet] – answer

случай [sloochay] – case, incident

ситуация [seetooatsiya] – situation

информация [eenfarmatsiya] – information

компьютер [kampyuter] – computer

телефон [tyeleefon] – phone

контакт [kantakt] – contact

связь [svyaz’] – connection, communication

номер [nomyer] – number

интернет [eenternet] – internet

телевизор [tyeleeveezar] – television

газета [gazyeta] – newspaper

журнал [zhoornal] – magazine

новость [novast’] – news

событие [sabiteeye] – event

развлечение [razvleechyeneeye] – entertainment

игра [eegra] – game

музыка [moozika] – music

фильм [feel’m] – movie

концерт [kantsert] – concert

компания [kampaneeya] – company

право [prava] – right

закон [zakon] – law

система [seestyema] – system

отношение [atnasheneeye] – relation, attitude

поведение [paveedyeneeye] – behaviour

путь [poot’] – way, path

вид [veed] – view, kind, type

образ [obraz] – image, form

группа [groopa] – group

основа [asnova] – basis, foundation

следствие [slyetstveeye] – consequence

условие [oosloveeye] – condition

цель [tsel’] – goal, aim

источник [eestochneek] – source

производство [praeezvotstva] – production

развитие [razveeteeye] – development

позиция [pazeetsiya] – position

возможность [vazmozhnast’] – opportunity, possibility

смысл [smisl] – meaning, sense

теория [teeoreeya] – theory

практика [prakteeka] – practice

организация [arganeezatsiya] – organization

власть [vlast] – power, authority

чувство [choostva] – feeling

эмоция [emotsiya] – emotion

причина [preecheena] – reason, cause

точка [tochka] – point

взгляд [vzglyat] – view, look

роль [rol’] – role

центр [tsentr] – center

середина [syeryedeena] – middle

количество [kaleechyestva] – quantity

степень [styepyen’] – degree

движение [dveezheneeye] – movement

состояние [sastayaneeye] – state, condition

вещество [vyeshchyestvo] – substance

материал [matyeryal] – material

кровь [krov’] – blood

боль [bol’] – pain

лекарство [lyekarstva] – medicine

врач [vrach] – doctor

учитель [oocheetyel’] – teacher

ученик [oocheeneek] – student

студент [stoodyent] – student

урок [oorok] – lesson

экзамен [ekzamyen] – exam

тетрадь [tyetrat’] – notebook

ручка [roochka] – pen

карандаш [karandash] – pencil

коллега [kalyega] – colleague

начальник [nachal’neek] – boss

работник [rabotneek] –

сотрудник [satroodneek] – employee

продавец [pradavyets] – salesperson

покупатель [pakoopatyel’] – buyer/customer

клиент [kleeyent] – client

услуга [ooslooga] – service

зарплата [zarplata] – salary

профессия [prafyesseeya] – profession

труд [troot] – labor, work

праздник [prazneek] – holiday

подарок [padarak] – gift

песня [pyesnya] – song

танец [tanyets] – dance

поездка [payestka] – trip

разговор [razgavor] – conversation

выбор [vibar] – choice

обстоятельство [abstayateel’stva] – circumstance

шанс [shans] – chance

сон [son] – dream, sleep

существо [sooshchyestvo] – creature, being

участие [oochasteeye] – participation

участник [oochasneek] – participant

внимание [vneemaneeye] – attention

расстояние [rastayaneeye] – distance

ошибка [ashipka] – mistake, error

результат [ryezool’tat] – result

процесс [pratses] – process

проект [prayekt] – project

ресурс [reesoors] – resource

схема [shyema] – scheme, plan

фактор [factar] – factor

инструмент [eenstroomyent] – instrument, tool

билет [beelyet] – ticket

счёт [shchyot] – bill; account

итог [eetok] – result, outcome

спорт [sport] – sports

футбол [footbol] – football [soccer]

команда [kamanda] – team, crew

письмо [pees’mo] – letter

дружба [droozhba] – friendship

любовь [lyubof’] – love

страсть [strast’] – passion

счастье [shсhast’ye] – happiness

здоровье [zdarov’ye] – health

горе [gorye] – sorrow

радость [radast’] – joy

грусть [groost’] – sadness

улыбка [oolipka] – smile

смех [smyeh] – laugh

слеза [sleeza] – tear

смерть [smyert’] – death

клуб [kloop] – club

хобби [hobee] – hobby

акция [aktsiya] – stock, share

режим [reezhim] – mode, regime

беседа [beesyeda] – conversation, talk

столица [staleetsa] – capital

приём [preeyom] – reception, admission

союз [sayus] – union

зритель [zreetyel’] – spectator, viewer

специалист [speetsialeest] – specialist

маршрут [marshroot] – route

талант [talant] – talent

категория [kateegoreeya] – category

бизнес [beeznes] – business

бизнесмен [beeznesmyen] – businessman

пол [pol] – gender

изменение [eezmeenyeneeye] – change

продолжение [pradalzheneeye] – continuation

свойство [svoystva] – property

характеристика [harakteereesteeka] – characteristic

характер [haraktyer] – character

опыт [opit] – experience

метр [myetr] – meter

километр [keelamyetr] – kilometer

удар [oodar] – strike, blow

функция [foonktsiya] – function

премия [pryemeeya] – prize, award

агент [agyent] – agent

приказ [preekas] – order, command

пенсия [pyenseeya] – pension

атмосфера [atmasphyera] – atmosphere

комфорт [kamfort] – comfort

сигнал [seegnal] – signal

объявление [abyevlyeneeye] – announcement

вызов [vizav] – call, challenge

интерес [eenteeryes] – interest

шаг [shak] – step

спор [spor] – argument, dispute

цикл [tsikl] – cycle

скандал [skandal] – scandal

скорость [skorast’] – speed

контракт [kantrakt] – contract

столб [stolp] – pillar, column

перевод [pyereevod] – translation

долг [dolk] – debt

поступок [pastoopak] – act, deed

грань [gran’] – facet, edge

пункт [poonkt] – point, item

комплекс [komplyeks] – complex

реклама [reeklama] – advertisement

баланс [balans] – balance

секрет [seekryet] – secret

модель [madel’] – model

разрешение [razreesheneeye] – permission, resolution

произведение [praeezveedyeneeye] – work, creation

симптом [seemptom] – symptom

биржа [beerzha] – stock exchange

член [chlyen] – member

тайна [tayna] – secret, mystery

мечта [meechta] – dream

критика [kreeteeka] – criticism

юг [yuk] – south

север [syevyer] – north

восток [vastok] – east

запад [zapat] – west

институт [eensteetoot] – institute

картина [karteena] – image

бумага [boomaga] – paper

лист [leest] – sheet

миссия [meeseeya] – mission

чемодан [cheemadan] – suitcase

подсказка [patskaska] – hint, prompt

мусор [moosar] – garbage, trash

карьера [kar’yera] – career

набор [nabor] – set, kit

комплект [kamplyekt] – set, outfit

жидкость [zhitkast’] – liquid

пар [par] – steam, vapor

лёд [lyot] – ice

будильник [boodeel’neek] – alarm clock

порог [parok] – threshold

полоса [palasa] – strip, band

железо [zhelyeza] – iron, hardware

чек [chek] – check, receipt

стадия [stadeeya] – stage

кошмар [kashmar] – nightmare

паника [paneeka] – panic

беда [beeda] – trouble, misfortune

автор [aftar] – author

House

квартира [kvarteera] – apartment

комната [komnata] – room

спальня [spal’nya] – bedroom

гостиная [gasteenaya] – living room

ванная [vannaya] – bathroom

коридор [kareedor] – corridor

сад [sat] – garden

гараж [garash] – garage

дверь [dvyer’] – door

окно [akno] – window

стена [steena] – wall

пол [pol] – floor

потолок [patalok] – ceiling

мебель [myebyel’] – furniture

стол [stol] – table

стул [stool] – chair

кровать [kravat’] – bed

шкаф [shkaf] – closet

кухня [koohnya]

крыша [krisha] – roof

диван [deevan] – couch

кровать [kravat’] – bed

техника [tyehneeka] – appliances

холодильник [haladeel’neek] – refrigerator

плита [pleeta] – stove

тарелка [taryelka] – plate

вилка [veelka] – fork

ложка [loshka] – spoon

нож [nosh] – knife

чашка [chashka] – cup

стакан [stakan] – glass

банка [banka] – jar

ведро [veedro] – bucket

бочка [bochka] – barrel

мешок [meeshok] – bag, sack

пакет [pakyet] – plastic bag

See Also: Russian Words for Rooms, Furniture, and Beyond

Time

утро [ootra] – morning

вечер [vyecher] – evening

день [dyen’] – day

ночь [noch’] – night

время [vryemya] – time

секунда [seekoonda] – second

минута [meenoota] – minute

час [chas] – hour

неделя [needyelya] – week

месяц [myesyats] – month

год [got] – year

век [vyek] – century

эпоха [epoha] – epoch, era

момент [mamyent] – moment

лето [lyeta] – summer

зима [zeema] – winter

осень [osyen’] – autumn

весна [veesna] – spring

январь [yanvar’] – January

февраль [fyevral’] – February

март [mart] – March

апрель [apryel] – April

май [may] – May

июнь [eeyun’] – June

июль [eeyul’] – July

август [avgoost] – August

сентябрь [seentyabr’] – September

октябрь [aktyabr’] – October

ноябрь [nayabr’] – November

декабрь [deekabr’] – December

See Also: Seasons and Months in Russian

Clothes

одежда [adyezhda] – clothes

рубашка [roobashka] – shirt

штаны [shtani] – pants

обувь [oboof’] – shoes

куртка [koortka] – jacket

пальто [pal’to] – coat

шапка [shapka] – hat

платье [platye] – dress

юбка [yupka] – skirt

футболка [footbolka] – t-shirt

свитер [sveetyer] – sweater

джинсы [dzhinsi] – jeans

кроссовки [krasofkee] – sneakers

туфли [tooflee] – shoes [dress shoes]

See Also: Russian Vocabulary for Clothes

City

магазин [magazeen] – store

больница [bal’neetsa] – hospital

университет [uneevyerseetyet] – university

аптека [aptyeka] – pharmacy

ресторан [ryestaran] – restaurant

кафе [kafe] – cafe

транспорт [transpart] – transportation

дорога [daroga] – road

автобус [aftoboos] – bus

поезд [poyest] – train

самолёт [samalyot] – airplane

метро [myetro] – subway

велосипед [vyelaseepyet] – bicycle

вокзал [vakzal] – station [train or bus]

аэропорт [aeraport] – airport

банк [bank] – bank

почта [pochta] – post office

офис [ofees] – office

корабль [karabl’] – ship

велосипед [vyelaseepyet] – bicycle

супермаркет [soopyermarkyet] – supermarket

рынок [rinak] – market

площадь [ploshchat’] – square

парк [park] – park

See Also: City Objects and Places in Russian

Food

вода [vada] – water

еда [yeda] – food

хлеб [hleb] – bread

молоко [malako] – milk

сыр [sir] – cheese

чай [chay] – tea

кофе [kofye] – coffee

сок [sok] – juice

сахар [sahar] – sugar

соль [sol’] – salt

перец [pyerets] –

мясо [myasa] – meat

рыба [riba] – fish

фрукты [frookti] – fruit

овощи [ovashchee] – vegetables

яблоко [yablaka] – apple

картошка [kartoshka] – potato

апельсин [apeel’seen] – orange

банан [banan] – banana

помидор [pameedor] – tomato

огурец [agooryets] – cucumber

лук [look] – onion

морковь [markof’] – carrot

чеснок [cheesnok] – garlic

пирог [peerok] – pie, cake

See Also: Essential Food Vocabulary in Russian

Body Parts

тело [tyela] – body

голова [galava] – head

волосы [volasi] – hair

лицо [leetso] – face

глаз [glas] – eye

нос [nos] – nose

рот [rot] – mouth

ухо [ooha] – ear

щека [shcheeka] – cheek

зуб [zoop] – tooth

шея [sheya] – neck

плечо [pleecho] – shoulder

живот [zhivot] – belly

спина [speena] – back

рука [rooka] – hand

нога [naga] – leg

палец [palyets] – finger, toe

колено [kalyena] – knee

кость [kost’] – bone

мозг [mosk] – brain

сердце [syertse] – heart

желудок [zheloodak] – stomach

See Also: Face And Body Parts in Russian

Nature

река [ryeka] – river

озеро [ozyera] – lake

море [morye] – sea

океан [akyean] – ocean

гора [gara] – mountain

лес [lyes] – forest

поле [polye] – field

пустыня [poostinya] – desert

песок [peesok] – sand

камень [kamyen’] – stone

растение [rastyeneeye] – plant

цветок [tsveetok] – flower

животное [zhivotnaye] – animal

кошка [koshka] – cat

собака [sabaka] – dog

птица [pteetsa] – bird

рыба [riba] – fish

насекомоe [naseekomaye] – insect