Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Belarusian words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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Jak vas zavutsʲ? What is your name? Mʲanʲe zavutsʲ ... My name is ... Jak vɨ spravɨ? How are you? Dobra. A u vɨ? Fine. And you? Dzʲe ...? Where is ...? Dzʲe tualʲet? Muzhchɨnɨ/Zhanshchɨnɨ Dzʲe tut prɪbʲiralnʲa? Muzhchɨnɨ/Zhanshchɨnɨ Where is the toilet? Men/Women Vɨbachaitsʲe. Prabachtsʲe. Sorry. Excuse me. Gheta nʲe prablʲema. Nʲichogha. No problem. Ja khachu ... I want ... Ja nʲe khachu ... I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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Atkulʲ vɨ? Where are you from? Ja z Australʲiji.* I am from Australia. Rakhunak, kalʲi laska. The bill, please. Ja zablukau. (man) Ja zablukala. (woman) I'm lost. Stop! Pachakaitsʲe! Stop! Wait! Tut, tam. Here, there. Taksi. Ghatelʲ. Aeraport. Vagzal. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. Mnʲe padabajettsa ... Ja lʲublʲu ... I like ... Mnʲe nʲe padabajettsa ... Ja nʲe lʲublʲu ... I don't like ... adzʲin, dva, trɨ, chatɨrɨ, pʲatsʲ. one, two, three, four, five. shestsʲ, sʲem, vosʲem, dzʲevʲatsʲ, dzʲesʲatsʲ. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: z Amʲerɨkʲi - from America z Kanadɨ - from Canada z Anglʲiji - from England z Irlandʲiji - from Ireland z Novai Zʲelandʲiji - from New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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Za zdarowʲe! Cheers! dobrɨ / drennɨ good / bad vʲalʲikʲi / malʲenʲkʲi big / small kalʲa / dalʲoka near / far mʲensh / bolʲsh less / more jashche adzʲin / dastatkova another / enough Ja vʲegʲetarɨjanʲets. (man) Ja vʲegʲetarɨjanka. (woman) I am vegetarian. Ja nʲa jem mʲasa. I don't eat meat. ... kurɨtsɨ. ... chicken. ... rɨbɨ. ... fish. U mʲanʲe alʲerghija na arekhʲi. I am allergic to nuts. ... arakhʲis. ... peanuts. ... rɨbu. ... fish. ... morapraduktɨ. ... seafood. ... jaikʲi. ... eggs. |
Vowels:
e is pronounced as e as in pet (ɛ)
ɨ is pronounced as a high schwa ə or New Zealand i (Cyrillic ы)
o is pronounced as o as in pot (ɔ)
Consonants:
ch is pronounced as a retroflex ch as in church (tʂ)
dzh is pronounced as a retroflex j as in judge (dʐ)
gh is a voiced velar fricative (ɣ), a voiced form of kh
j is pronounced as y as in yet (IPA j)
kh is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
lʲ is pronounced as lʲ as in million (ʎ)
nʲ is pronounced as nʲ as in canʲon (ɲ)
sh is pronounced as a retroflex sh as in shop (ʂ)
a small j (ʲ) after a consonant indicates a palatalised consonant
eg. lʲ indicates lʲ, sʲ indicates sʲ, tʲ indicates tʲ etc.
zh are pronounced as retroflex zh as in pleasure (ʐ)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
e is pronounced as e as in pet (ɛ)
ɨ is pronounced as a high schwa ə or New Zealand i (Cyrillic ы)
o is pronounced as o as in pot (ɔ)
Consonants:
ch is pronounced as a retroflex ch as in church (tʂ)
dzh is pronounced as a retroflex j as in judge (dʐ)
gh is a voiced velar fricative (ɣ), a voiced form of kh
j is pronounced as y as in yet (IPA j)
kh is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
lʲ is pronounced as lʲ as in million (ʎ)
nʲ is pronounced as nʲ as in canʲon (ɲ)
sh is pronounced as a retroflex sh as in shop (ʂ)
a small j (ʲ) after a consonant indicates a palatalised consonant
eg. lʲ indicates lʲ, sʲ indicates sʲ, tʲ indicates tʲ etc.
zh are pronounced as retroflex zh as in pleasure (ʐ)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)