What Language Do They Speak in Russia?

Header image for Russia

Russia

Russia, the largest country in the world, spans Eastern Europe and northern Asia, covering over 17 million square kilometers. It is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, featuring iconic landmarks such as the Kremlin and the historic city of Saint Petersburg. Economically, Russia is a significant global powerhouse, largely due to its vast natural resources, including oil and gas.

Languages Spoken

Russia is home to a rich tapestry of linguistic diversity, with Russian being the dominant official language, spoken by approximately 85.74% of the population. Beyond Russian, the country boasts a multitude of minority languages that reflect its vast ethnic variety. Tatar is the second most commonly spoken language, accounting for about 3.16% of speakers, predominantly among the Tatar ethnic group centered in Tatarstan. Ukrainian is spoken by 1.66% of the population, followed closely by Bashkir at 1.44%, which is primarily spoken in the Republic of Bashkortostan. The Chuvash language has 1.21% of speakers, mainly in the Chuvash Republic. Chechen makes up approximately 1.04% of the languages spoken, concentrated in the Chechen Republic. This diverse linguistic landscape underscores Russia's cultural richness and multi-ethnic composition.

Different Languages Spoken in Russia

Language data last updated 2024 est. from World Population Review - Russia

LanguageUsage
Russian85.74%
Tatar3.16%
Ukrainian1.66%
Bashkir1.44%
Chuvash1.21%
Chechen1.04%
Note: The total may add up to more than 100% as people may speak multiple languages

Useful Russian Phrases

Learn these phrases if you're planning on traveling to Russia

Привет!

Hello!

A simple greeting that can be used in informal settings.

Как дела?

How are you?

A common question to ask someone how they are doing.

Сколько это стоит?

How much does it cost?

Useful for asking the price of an item.

Где находится... ?

Where is... ?

Can be used to ask for directions to a location.

Пожалуйста и спасибо

Please and thank you

Essential polite words to use in daily interactions.

Learn to speak Russian

Interested in speaking Russian in Russia? Using Lingocat you can learn the basics of the language and start speaking in no time with the help of our AI Language Tutors.

Download for iOS