Stress moves, and changes sounds
Stress can fall on any syllable and isn't marked in normal texts. Unstressed o is said like a: молоко (milk) is mah-lah-KOH. Talvo marks the stress on every new word.
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Learn Russian by speaking it
Reading Cyrillic takes days, not months. Cases and moving stress take practice. Talvo marks the stress on every new word, explains grammar like cases in plain English as it comes up, and gives you a tutor to talk to until it starts to feel natural.
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Russian · First phrasesКак дела?
kahk dee-LAH
How are you?
WaiterЗдравствуйте! Что будете заказывать?Hello! What would you like to order?
Your first Russian phrases
Twelve phrases for cafés, shops and meeting people, with a guide to where the stress falls.
| Russian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Здравствуйте! / Привет! | ZDRAST-vooy-tyeh / pree-VYET | Hello (polite) / Hi |
| Как дела? | kahk dee-LAH | How are you? |
| Хорошо, спасибо. | khah-rah-SHOH, spah-SEE-bah | Good, thanks. |
| Меня зовут Сэм. | mee-NYAH zah-VOOT sem | My name is Sam. |
| Очень приятно! | OH-cheen pree-YAHT-nah | Nice to meet you! |
| Пожалуйста | pah-ZHAH-loos-tah | Please / You're welcome |
| Извините | eez-vee-NEE-tyeh | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Сколько стоит? | SKOHL-kah STOH-eet | How much is it? |
| Счёт, пожалуйста. | SHYOHT, pah-ZHAH-loos-tah | The check, please. |
| Где туалет? | gdyeh too-ah-LYET | Where's the restroom? |
| Я не понимаю. | yah nee pah-nee-MAH-yoo | I don't understand. |
| Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста. | gah-vah-REE-tyeh MYED-lee-nee-yeh, pah-ZHAH-loos-tah | Please speak more slowly. |
Unstressed o sounds like a, which is why хорошо is khah-rah-SHOH. In Talvo, new Russian words mark the stressed vowel with an accent, as in хорошо́.
A conversation you'll practice
Lunch at a Russian café. The tutor plays the waiter, and you answer out loud.
WaiterЗдравствуйте! Что будете заказывать?zdravstvuyte! chto budete zakazyvat'?Hello! What would you like to order?
YouКапучино и блины, пожалуйста.kapuchino i bliny, pozhaluysta.A cappuccino and blini, please.
WaiterБлины со сметаной или с вареньем?bliny so smetanoy ili s varen'yem?Blini with sour cream or with jam?
YouСо сметаной.so smetanoy.With sour cream.
WaiterХорошо, сейчас принесу.khorosho, seychas prinesu.Good, I'll bring it right away.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Cases change endings
Nouns change their endings with their role in the sentence: Москва (Moscow), в Москве (in Moscow), из Москвы (from Moscow). Talvo explains each one in plain English as it comes up.
Ты or вы
Ты is for friends, family and children; вы is for strangers, elders and anyone at work. Здравствуйте goes with вы, привет with ты.
No am, is or are
Я студент (ya student) means I am a student, literally I student. Russian drops “to be” in the present tense.
How Talvo teaches Russian
- Every new word shows Cyrillic, a readable transliteration and the stressed vowel
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Russian
Do I need to learn Cyrillic first?
No. Every phrase shows a transliteration alongside the Cyrillic, and you can answer in Latin letters while you learn. Many Cyrillic letters look or sound familiar, so reading comes quickly.
Can I learn Russian with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
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