What Language Do They Speak in Russia?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
The official language of Russia is Russian. Russian is also an official language in 6 other countries worldwide.
Learn some Russian before you go
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Russian Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of Russia at a glance
| Official language | Russian |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 1 |
| Countries on this site where Russian is official | 7 |
| People (demonym) | Russian |
| Capital | Moscow |
| Internet domain | .ru |
Other countries where Russian is official
Russian is also an official language in 6 other countries covered here:
Languages of neighbouring countries
| Azerbaijan | Azerbaijani |
|---|---|
| Belarus | Russian, Belarusian |
| China | Chinese |
| Estonia | Estonian |
| Finland | Finnish, Swedish |
| Georgia | Georgian |
| Kazakhstan | Kazakh, Russian |
| North Korea | Korean |
| Latvia | Latvian |
| Lithuania | Lithuanian |
| Mongolia | Mongolian |
| Norway | Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami |
| Poland | Polish |
| Ukraine | Ukrainian |
Russia in context
- Russia covers 17,098,246 km², making it the 1st largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 9 people per km² ranks 185th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 14 countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, Ukraine.
- With 146,028,325 people, Russia holds about 76.6% of the population of Eastern Europe.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- Russia is a member state of the United Nations.
Compare Russia
Useful phrases for visitors to Russia
Everyday Russian phrases you will hear and use in Russia:
| English | Russian |
|---|---|
| Hello | Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) |
| Thank you | Спасибо (Spasibo) |
| Please | Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta) |
| Goodbye | До свидания (Do svidaniya) |
| Yes | Да (Da) |
| No | Нет (Nyet) |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in Russia — FAQ
What language do they speak in Russia?
The official language of Russia is Russian.
How many official languages does Russia have?
Russia has 1 official language: Russian.
Is Russian spoken anywhere else?
Russian is also an official language in 6 other countries.
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