Your first words.
Your first Russian story.
Learn Russian for absolute beginners
You don’t need to know a single word of Russian. Meet a few words with pictures and audio, practice them with guidance, then see them come together in a story.
Module 1 needs no account. Create a free account to save progress and unlock module 2.
Make Cyrillic familiar through real Russian words
Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, and a familiar-looking letter may sound different from what you expect. Follow the recording while looking at a short word. Pictures and translations support recognition before you meet the vocabulary again in a sentence.
Begin with recognition
Meet a manageable set of words with visual and listening support. You can repeat before moving on.
Practice in small steps
Follow the module’s guided activities, check your understanding and revisit unfamiliar words.
Grow into stories
Milestone stories bring earlier vocabulary together, so your practice has a clear destination.
Your Russian beginner course
Start at the beginning and build on familiar words. Explore any module below to see its goal and vocabulary before opening the course.
- 1TRY WITHOUT SIGNUP
Mom Comes Home
Understand a simple moment about seeing Mom walk home and smiling.
мама · дом · в - 2FREE WITH YOUR ACCOUNT
What Is This?
Recognize and understand simple references to people, questions about objects, and yes-or-no replies.
это · что · да - 3CONTINUE IN THE APP
Dad at the Door
Recognize and use words for dad, a door, a window, looking, opening, placement, and negation in a simple home situation.
папа · дверь · окно - MILESTONE STORY
Who Is at the Door?
Follow a short family story about looking, seeing, speaking, and opening a door.
- 4CONTINUE IN THE APP
Running Home
Recognize and understand words for people, place, direction, speed, sequence, and running in a short everyday situation.
человек · они · там - 5CONTINUE IN THE APP
Grandmother and the Little Old House
Recognize and understand words for grandmother, simple descriptions, emphasis, and joining two ideas.
бабушка · маленький · старый - 6CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Neighbor Upstairs
Recognize and understand simple Russian phrases about where someone lives, what is here, and who something belongs to.
соседка · этот · большой - MILESTONE STORY
The Person at the Window
Read a short family story about looking, identifying a person, and discovering who is at the door.
- 7CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Cold Morning at Home
Understand simple descriptions of a snowy morning and recognize how Russian expresses being in the present.
снег · небо · утро - 8CONTINUE IN THE APP
Who Is at the Door?
Recognize and use words for identifying someone, asking, knowing, thinking, possession, and contrast.
женщина · кто · спрашивать - 9CONTINUE IN THE APP
Evening in the Forest
Understand simple descriptions of an evening outdoors, including sitting with someone and hearing a sound.
лес · костёр · вечер - MILESTONE STORY
Who Is at the Door?
Follow a family story about seeing someone outside, asking who it is, and opening the door.
- 10CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Ride Home
Understand simple descriptions of leaving a place, traveling home, moving slowly, waiting, and what is happening now.
улица · из · домой - 11CONTINUE IN THE APP
Ready to Play
Understand and use simple Russian words for wanting, being able, playing, feeling glad, and saying that someone feels the same way.
девочка · играть · хотеть - 12CONTINUE IN THE APP
Tea and the Red Pencil
Recognize and understand words for tea, nearby location, a hand, an eye, the color red, and only.
чай · рядом · рука - MILESTONE STORY
Grandmother at the Door
Follow a family story about seeing someone outside, waiting, and opening the door.
- 13CONTINUE IN THE APP
Waiting for Grandfather
Recognize and understand words for grandfather, hours, years, repeated time, and one completed act of speaking.
дедушка · час · год - 14CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Beautiful Blue Day
Recognize and understand words for a day, blue and beautiful descriptions, quantity, wholeness, and male possession.
красивый · синий · день - 15CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Quiet Boat
Recognize and use six Russian words to describe a quiet moment, a sudden action, and a happy feeling.
лодка · тёмный · тихий - MILESTONE STORY
The Door at Last
Follow a short story about waiting, hearing, checking, and finding out who is at the door.
Your progress comes with you.
Try module 1 here without signing up. Create a free account to save your progress and complete module 2 on the web. Then continue in the Inklingo app.
Already have an account? Sign in to that same account in the app. Use the same sign-in method as on the website. You don’t need a new account or to start again.
The free app includes the first 3 modules and the first milestone story. Premium learners can continue through the full course.
Open Foundations
Before you start
What does A0 mean?
Inklingo uses A0 for the starting point before A1: absolute beginners who are building their first vocabulary. You don’t need a placement test or previous lessons to start Foundations.
Do I need an account for the first module?
No. You can try module 1 as a guest. Create an account when you are ready to continue so your completion is saved and available across the web and app.
Can I use the course on a computer?
Yes. The first two modules are available to free learners on the web; module 2 requires an account. Continue free starter access in the app, or use your existing Premium access for the full web course.
What should I practice after Foundations?
Try beginner Russian stories. Keep using audio and word meanings while you build reading confidence. You can also explore the Russian vocabulary library.