☰ Units · Russian A1

The rest of the alphabet

Unit 2 · Part A · Russian A1 (Beginners)
1

У Б Г Х

Russian A1 · Unit 2
GoalRead and write the letters У, Б, Г, Х and read eight new words.
New words
суп (sup) · soupбрат (brat) · brotherбанк (bank) · bankбана́н (banán) · bananaгора́ (gorá) · mountainу́хо (úkho) · earрука́ (ruká) · hand, armуро́к (urók) · lesson
Explanation

У says oo, as in “moon”, but a little shorter. It is not “you”. Б says b, as in “boy”, and Г says g, as in “go”. Х has no English partner: it is a breathy kh, like the ch in Scottish “loch” or a strong h, made with the back of the tongue near the roof of the mouth. Х looks like an English X, but never say ks. With four more letters you can read many more words.

Уу
уро́кlesson
uoo as in “moon”, a little shorter
Бб
братbrother
beb as in “boy”
Гг
гора́mountain
geg as in “go”
Хх
у́хоear
khakh, a breathy sound like ch in “loch”
Worked examples
Three short words. Press each card and say it after the voice.
баba·на́нnán
Break бана́н into syllables. The loud one is the last.
Listen for the kh in у́хо and the g in гора́.
Class activity

Mirror practice. Say kh slowly in front of a mirror: your mouth is almost closed and the air rubs at the back. Then say the eight words of this lesson aloud, with the stress. Draw a banana and a mountain and write the Russian words under them.

Practice
1
Press Listen. Write the word you hear.
2
The letter Х looks like English X. What sound does it make?
Хх
3
Write the Russian word for this picture. It has four letters and starts with Г.
4
Read aloud and say what it is: бана́н.
5
Write in Russian letters: “brother”.