Introduction to the
Russian language
The alphabet (Audio 1.2)
The alphabet used for Russian has many similarities with the Greek
alphabet. This is because it was devised by missionaries from the
Greek Orthodox Church. If an earlier form of written Russian existed
before the conversion to Christianity in the tenth century, it has not
been preserved. The alphabet is known as ‘Cyrillic’ in honour of the
missionary St Cyril, who was once thought to have invented it.
The sounds that the alphabet represents are the same or very simi-
lar to sounds that also exist in English.
Russian letter Closest English equivalent
1 А а a as in father
2 Б б b
3 В в v
4 Г г g as in girl
5 Д д d
6 Е е ye as in yes
7 Ё ё yo as in yonder
8 Ж ж zh/s as in treasure
9 З з z
10 И и ee as in feet
11 Й й y as in buy