The Most Confusing Russian Words and How to Use Them Correctly
Russian is a rich and nuanced language with a long literary tradition and intricate grammar. However, for many learners, it comes with a unique set of challenges—especially when it comes to vocabulary. Some Russian words can be downright baffling due to their similar spellings, multiple meanings, or tricky usage rules.
What makes Russian vocabulary particularly confusing is the presence of aspect pairs, subtle prepositional differences, motion verbs with directionality, and words that seem synonymous in English but are used differently depending on context. As a learner, it can feel like walking through a linguistic minefield—one wrong word, and your meaning might shift entirely or sound unnatural to a native speaker. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a linguistic genius to navigate these complexities. With a bit of guidance and practical examples, you'll start to see patterns and gain confidence in using even the trickiest terms.
Understanding these subtle differences is key to speaking Russian like a native. Misusing just one word can result in misunderstandings or awkward moments. Have you ever confused “to hear” and “to listen,” or said “I go to the store every day” when you meant “I’m going right now”—but used the wrong verb form? These are incredibly common mistakes, and this article is here to help you avoid them. The goal is not just to teach you definitions, but to build your intuition so you instinctively choose the right word in conversation.
Whether you're just beginning your Russian journey or refining your advanced skills, this guide will help you avoid common vocabulary pitfalls. You’ll find clear comparisons, usage tips, and real-life examples that make learning enjoyable and memorable. Get ready to take your Russian to the next level—and if you're looking for structured support, don't forget to check out our Russian classes at Polyglottist Language Academy. We offer flexible evening and weekend schedules for learners in Berkeley, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
1. Слушать vs. Слышать
These two verbs both relate to hearing, but they are used in different contexts:
Слушать means to listen to something intentionally, such as music, a podcast, or someone speaking.
Слышать means to hear something passively, like a noise or someone calling you from afar.
Example:
Я слушаю музыку. (I am listening to music.)
Я слышу голос. (I hear a voice.)
Tip: If you're making a conscious effort to pay attention, use слушать. If it just reaches your ears without effort, use слышать.
Bonus Usage:
Ты меня слушаешь? (Are you listening to me?)
Я слышал, что он приехал. (I heard that he arrived.)
2. Знать vs. Узнать
Знать means to know a fact, a person, a place, or a language. It implies that you already have the information in your mind.
Узнать means to find out, to get to know, or to recognize something or someone. It is often used when you receive or discover new information.
Example:
Я знаю этого человека. (I know this person.)
Я узнал, что его зовут Иван. (I found out that his name is Ivan.)
Tip: Use узнать when something becomes known to you, especially for the first time.
Bonus Usage:
Я узнал новую информацию. (I found out some new information.)
Ты знаешь, кто это? (Do you know who this is?)
3. Ходить vs. Идти
Both verbs mean to go or to walk, but they differ in motion and frequency:
Идти refers to going somewhere in one direction, right now or in the near future. It’s one-time movement.
Ходить refers to habitual or repeated action, or going back and forth.
Example:
Я иду в магазин. (I'm going to the store.)
Я хожу в школу каждый день. (I go to school every day.)
Tip: Think of идти as a single trip and ходить as a routine or general ability.
Bonus Usage:
Куда ты идёшь? (Where are you going?)
Я часто хожу в библиотеку. (I often go to the library.)
4. Год vs. Лет
Both refer to "year," but the usage changes based on number and grammar case:
Год is singular and used with 1 or certain forms like "this year."
Лет is the genitive plural, used in age and when talking about multiple years.
Example:
Он живет в России 5 лет. (He's lived in Russia for 5 years.)
Ей 20 лет. (She is 20 years old.)
Tip: When stating someone's age, always use лет no matter the number.
Bonus Usage:
В этом году он поедет в Москву. (He will go to Moscow this year.)
Четыре года назад он переехал. (He moved four years ago.)
5. Помнить vs. Вспомнить
These two verbs are closely related but have different nuances in how memory functions in Russian:
Помнить means to remember, typically implying a continuous state of having something in your memory.
Вспомнить means to recall or to remember something suddenly, usually as a one-time mental action.
Example:
Я помню тебя. (I remember you.)
Я вспомнил его имя. (I recalled his name.)
Tip: If it’s something you always remember, use помнить. If it’s something you suddenly recall, use вспомнить.
Bonus Usage:
Я хорошо помню этот день. (I clearly remember that day.)
Я не мог вспомнить, где оставил ключи. (I couldn't remember where I left my keys.)
6. Ставить vs. Класть vs. Вешать
These three verbs all translate as "to put" in English, but in Russian, they convey how the object is placed:
Ставить is used when putting something in a standing or vertical position.
Класть is used when laying something down horizontally.
Вешать is used for hanging something up, usually on a wall or a hook.
Example:
Ставь бутылку на стол. (Put the bottle on the table.)
Положи книгу на кровать. (Put the book on the bed.)
Повесь куртку на вешалку. (Hang the jacket on the hanger.)
Tip: Russian cares about orientation—stand it up, lay it down, or hang it.
Bonus Usage:
Ставь чашку рядом с чайником. (Put the cup next to the teapot.)
Вешай картину на стену. (Hang the picture on the wall.)
7. На vs. В
These prepositions are easily confused because they often seem interchangeable but follow different logic:
На is typically used for surfaces, events, or certain idiomatic expressions.
В is used for enclosed spaces and most geographic locations.
Example:
Я на работе. (I'm at work.)
Я в офисе. (I'm in the office.)
Tip: Use на for open areas or activities (like на рынке - at the market), and в for enclosed or defined spaces (like в доме - in the house).
Bonus Usage:
Я на концерте. (I'm at a concert.)
Он живёт в Петербурге. (He lives in St. Petersburg.)
8. Здесь vs. Сюда vs. Тут
These words all relate to location or movement in space, but the distinction is important:
Здесь and тут both mean here and are mostly interchangeable, though "тут" is slightly more informal.
Сюда means to here, showing movement toward the speaker.
Example:
Я здесь. (I am here.)
Подойди сюда. (Come here.)
Tip: If there's movement, use сюда. For stationary presence, use здесь or тут.
Bonus Usage:
Он был тут через минуту после звонка. (He was here a minute after the call.)
Сюда не ходи! (Don't come here!)
9. Хорошо vs. Правильно
These two words might both be translated as right or good in English, but they serve different purposes:
Хорошо means good or well, referring to quality or general approval.
Правильно means correct, focusing on accuracy or correctness.
Example:
Ты хорошо говоришь по-русски. (You speak Russian well.)
Это правильный ответ. (That's the correct answer.)
Tip: Use хорошо for performance and правильно for factual correctness.
Bonus Usage:
Ты всё сделал хорошо. (You did everything well.)
Ответь правильно. (Answer correctly.)
10. После vs. Через
Both deal with time, but in very different ways:
После means after and refers to something that follows an event.
Через means in (a certain amount of time from now).
Example:
После ужина я пойду гулять. (After dinner, I will go for a walk.)
Я уйду через час. (I will leave in an hour.)
Tip: Через is used for future intervals, после for sequencing.
Bonus Usage:
Через две недели начнутся каникулы. (The holidays will start in two weeks.)
После фильма мы пошли кушать. (After the movie, we went to eat.)
Keep Learning: Explore More from Our Blog
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The Most Confusing Russian Words And How To Use Them Correctly
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