Quick Russian Practice: Ordering Coffee ☕

Sometimes the best way to practice Russian is to stop studying individual words and start using them in a conversation.

Here's a simple one you can practice out loud.

At a Coffee Shop

☕ Barista:
Здравствуйте! Что будете?
ZDRAST-vooy-tye! Shto BÚ-dee-tye?
Hello! What would you like?

👤 You:
Здравствуйте! Мне, пожалуйста, кофе.
ZDRAST-vooy-tye! Mnye, pa-ZHÁ-loos-ta, KÓ-fye.
Hello! A coffee for me, please.

☕ Barista:
Большой или маленький?
bal-SHÓY EE-lee MÁ-len-kee?
Large or small?

👤 You:
Большой, пожалуйста.
bal-SHÓY, pa-ZHÁ-loos-ta.
Large, please.

☕ Barista:
С молоком?
s ma-la-KÓM?
With milk?

👤 You:
Да, спасибо.
da, spa-SEE-ba.
Yes, thank you.

☕ Barista:
Вот ваш кофе.
vot vash KÓ-fye.
Here's your coffee.

👤 You:
Спасибо!
spa-SEE-ba!
Thank you!

Now Try It Without the English

Read the conversation again, but this time don't look at the English translation.

Then try it using only the Russian alphabet.

The goal isn't perfection.

It's getting comfortable seeing Russian, saying it out loud, and understanding what you're saying without translating every word in your head.

☕ And congratulations—you just ordered your first coffee in Russian.