How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Russian words on “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 99 at the easy level, 100 at the medium level and 47 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Russian vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Russian vocabulary: basic verbs

To be, to have, to go, to do, to want: the basic Russian verbs, the ones found in almost every sentence.

Here are 100 Russian words on “Core verbs”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

Russian	English
принимать	to acceptSay yes to what is offered
спрашивать	to ask
избегать	to avoid
знать	to be familiar withBe familiar with someone or something
верить	to believe
покупать	to buy
носить	to carryHave on you, carry around
менять	to change
делать	to do
есть	to eat
чувствовать	to feelPerceive a physical sensation or an emotion
находить	to find
следовать	to follow
идти	to go
возвращаться домой	to go home
слышать	to hear
надеяться	to hopeWish that something will happen
знать	to knowHave a piece of information or a skill
смеяться	to laugh
учиться	to learnGain new knowledge or a new skill
уезжать	to leave
оставлять	to leave behind
жить	to live
добиваться	to obtain
тянуть	to pull
сказать	to say
показывать	to show
спать	to sleep
говорить	to speak
начинать	to start
преуспевать	to succeed
брать	to takeTake hold of something
брать с собой	to take alongTake someone along with you
думать	to think
пытаться	to try
использовать	to use
ждать	to waitBe patient, let time pass
ходить	to walk
хотеть	to want
смотреть	to watch

Level 2: medium 41 words

Russian	English
добавлять	to add
позволять	to allow
рождаться	to be born
бронировать	to book
отменять	to cancel
проверять	to check
сравнивать	to compare
содержать	to contain
считать	to countWork out how many there are
требовать	to demand
разрушать	to destroy
обсуждать	to discuss
мечтать	to dream
наполнять	to fill
одеваться	to get dressed
ненавидеть	to hate
прятать	to hide
ударять	to hit
увеличивать	to increase
присоединяться	to join
прыгать	to jump
лгать	to lie
любить	to love
замечать	to notice
организовывать	to organise
нажимать	to press
мешать	to prevent
обещать	to promise
узнавать	to recogniseIdentify something already seen before
возвращаться	to returnGo back to a place you have already been
служить	to serve
кричать	to shout
подписывать	to sign
преподавать	to teach
бросать	to throw
убирать	to tidy up
трогать	to touch
просыпаться	to wake up
мыться	to wash oneself
желать	to wish
задаваться вопросом	to wonder

Level 3: hard 19 words

Russian	English
советовать	to advise
выглядеть	to appearCome across to others, look a certain way
одобрять	to approve
признаваться	to confess
поздравлять	to congratulate
зависеть	to depend
превышать	to exceed
обменивать	to exchangeGive one thing for another, mutually
заставлять	to force
предвидеть	to foresee
угадывать	to guess
смешивать	to mix
планировать	to plan
награждать	to reward
рано вставать	to rise early
предполагать	to suppose
предупреждать	to warn
шептать	to whisper
записывать	to write down

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Russian words on “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 99 at the easy level, 100 at the medium level and 47 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Russian vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Russian vocabulary on iPhone.