Master Russian vowel reduction and stress patterns to be understood clearly by native speakers. Learn why Russians might forgive your clumsy Rs but struggle with over-articulated vowels, discover the rhythm that makes Russian flow naturally, and fix the single pronunciation mistake that makes you sound like you’re mocking the language. Includes audio examples and practice phrases.
Master your Russian consonants, and 80% of the pronunciation job is done. When you voted in my poll, you correctly identified hard and soft consonants as the real challenge—not the rolled R. This article explains what actually happens in Russian mouths when we palatalize consonants, why textbooks fail to teach it, and the surprising role of tongue root movement.
When I polled my readers about their toughest Russian pronunciation challenges, you surprised me—instead of obsessing over the rolled R, you identified the real villains: soft/hard consonants and stress patterns. You’re right. Let’s explore why adult pronunciation acquisition is so different from childhood, why Russian sounds are particularly tricky, and what you can actually do to improve. Spoiler: it’s physical, not intellectual.
Hey! A fellow learner here. I was wondering if you have any tip or site to practice Russian pronunciation, especially
