The Russian alphabet is based on the Greek alphabet

The Russian words in the following list are all written with the Cyrillic alphabet, but if you read them carefully, one word at a time, from top to bottom from the top of Column One, by the time you reach the final word at the bottom of Column Two, you will know the Cyrillic alphabet (as well as a few Russian words). Use the Greek letters you know to help. There is also a helpful table on the next page. Hardware information about the Cyrillic alphabet and keyboards may be found HERE.


COLUMN ONE COLUMN TWO
мама granny's kid вулкан a geological zit
папа the other granny's kid табак avoid this
акт part of a play бар an urban oasis
парк a rest area банан(а) fruit with appeal
порт any is fine in a storm балет home of the tu-tu
террор Stalin's forte публика John Q.'s last name
метеор falling star парламент British legislature
доктор has infinite patients крокодил Capt. Hook's nemesis
трактор what farmers ride президент US head honcho
термометр it has a lot of degrees физика a natural science
математика the unnatural science базар a bizarre market
Америка Yuwessov, A. кризис a major problem
Арктика go there for goosebumps виза you need it to travel
радио it talks and rocks визит the shorter the better
радиатор a source of warmth фантазия like, unreal!
драма unfunny stuff формула chemical recipe
Африка a major continent апрель a springy month
факт something undeniable культура I ain't got none of it
фронт put up a good one календарь where you get dates
танк heavy-duty vehicle техника technical stuff
патент protector of inventions механик the car-fixer
Антарктика opposite of Арктика характер personality
капитан the boat's boss хоккей ice game
митинг let's all get together медицина does good; tastes bad
план a good idea циник stick-in-the-mud
гранит a hard stone цемент heavy stuff
грамм European measure цифр figures
гол where you score цивилизация results of civil engineering?
металл heavy stuff Вашингтон Gridlocksville, USA
телефон distant sound machine машина mechanical device
телеграф Western Union галоши rubbers
телеграмма a wire шарлатан an insincere guy
лампа it sheds much light Хрущёв former Party chief
ангел a feathered friend борщ Russian soup
Италия the boot country экспорт take it away!
Германия Reunited at last! эскалатор the way upstairs
Англия Hail Brittania! экватор some like it hot
армия big bunch of fighters поэт writes pomes
салат uncooked greens Югославия former Balkan nation
аспирин headache med'cine юмор Russian Program forte
сигара product of Cuba бюрократ Soviet deadwood
министр government official нюанс it's easy to miss
сенат US deadwood branch мираж it's not what it seems
сенатор US political deadwood журнал a magazine
система organization журналист a журнал worker
сигнал it let's you know жасмин tea flower
авиатор a flyer Женева Swiss city
ветеран s/he's been around жакет goes with a tie
витамин health pills жираф an excellent necker
веранда where Southern belles sit чемпион the guy with the gold
вампир suave blood-sucker Шанхай city in China
Волга famous Russian river Нью Йорк The Big [Red Fruit]
студент an easy job май another spring month
университет sports-fraternity complex гейзер a worthless gusher
аудитория a good place to spectate Чайковский big Russky composer
литература like, uh, novels & pomes музыка tunes
август a summery month шашлык shishkabob

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© Robert Beard