🇷🇺Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus

Learn Russian with real humans

Learn Russian with native teachers from Russia. Russian is spoken by 260 million people worldwide and remains the lingua franca of 15 post-Soviet countries. It's the 5th most used language on the internet and an official language of the UN. The Cyrillic alphabet can be learned in 3 weeks, and that first victory opens the door to one of the world's richest literary traditions: Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Chekhov, Bulgakov. Our small-group classes make what seems intimidating fully accessible.

Small groupsNative teachersTwice a week

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★★★★★✓ 30-day money-back guarantee • ✓ No commitment • ✓ Certified native teachers

First words in Russian

Привет! Как дела? (Privet! Kak dela?), Hi! How are you?

ZDRA-stvooy-tye / pri-VYET - kak dye-LA

Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte), Hello (formal)

Formal greeting

Did you know? Russian is famous for its 6 grammatical cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental, prepositional), which change the ending of every noun depending on its role in the sentence. But what truly fascinates learners is the emotional richness of the language: Russian has words with no equivalent in English, 'toska' (deep melancholy without specific cause, immortalized by Nabokov), 'perezhivat' (to live through an emotion intensely), 'tupik' (dead end, literally and metaphorically). The famous 'Nichevo' (Nothing / Never mind) sums up an entire Russian philosophy of life on its own.

Small

Class groups

2×

Live classes / week

100%

Native teachers

30d

Money-back guarantee

Live classes

Learn Russian live with a native teacher

2 live classes per week in small groups. Ask questions, practice conversation, progress fast.

Native teacher in class - Russian | Targumi

Conversation with a teacher - Russian | Targumi

classes per week

Small

groups

100%

certified native teachers

Live classes

Your typical Russian week

2 live video classes per week, Mondays and Thursdays at 8pm (Paris time). Small groups.

Week of

1 – Jun 7, 2026

Mon1

Tue2

Wed3

Thu4

20:00

At the restaurant: ordering

Role-playBeginner

Join class →

Fri5

Sat6

Sun7

Ready to get started?

Try Targumi risk-free for 30 days. Money-back guarantee, no commitment.

Try for 30 days

Risk-free trial · 30-day refund · Small groups of 2-5

The platform

Progress in Russian between classes, at your own pace

Interactive lessons with native audio, vocabulary, dialogues and quizzes. Everything you need to reinforce your skills between live sessions.

Ready to improve?

Access all interactive exercises and online courses.

Try for 30 days

Risk-free trial · 30-day refund · Small groups of 2-5

The community

Join Targumi's Russian community

Dedicated WhatsApp group, exchanges between learners, resource sharing. You're never alone in your learning journey.

Join the support group

Free · Lifetime access · Native speakers present

🇲🇦

Russian School - Community

Anissa

Hi everyone 🙌

4:22 PM

Fatiha

Hey, welcome back!

4:23 PM

I’m not on desktop, is it mobile-friendly too?

4:23 PM

Mrhd

Yes, it works on phone and computer together 📱💻

4:24 PM

Message

The method

Our method for learning Russian

Step 01

Quick level test

Assess your current knowledge in 5 minutes

Step 02

Structured modules

Progressive learning path with native audio and exercises

Step 03

Interactive live classes

2 sessions per week with your native teacher

Step 04

Level certification

Validate your progress with an official certificate

Why Targumi

What makes us different for Russian

100+

Available languages

Including rare languages you won't find anywhere else.

Free trial days

Try everything with no commitment. Classes, exercises, community.

3-en-1

Complete platform

Video classes + interactive exercises + WhatsApp community. All included.

24/7

Unlimited access

Learn whenever you want. Exercises and content are available 24/7.

The curriculum

What you'll learn in Russian

A curriculum designed to get you speaking Russian in the situations that actually matter to you.

Try for 30 days

01
Cyrillic alphabet: read and write fluently in 3 weeks
02
Conversational Russian and modern idiomatic expressions
03
Mastering Russian grammar: 6 cases and verbal aspects, explained simply
04
Business Russian for markets in Eastern Europe, the CIS and Central Asia
05
Russian literature and culture: from Pushkin to contemporary TV series
06
TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) preparation, A1 to C2

Start Russian now

Try free for 30 days, no commitment.

Try for 30 days

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about learning Russian

Is the Cyrillic alphabet hard to learn?

No, this is really the good news about Russian. The Cyrillic alphabet has 33 letters and can be learned in 2-3 weeks with regular 15-20 minute daily practice. Several letters look like Latin letters (А, Е, О, М, К, Т), others have a different shape but represent a sound you already know. Our teachers introduce Cyrillic from the very first class in parallel with transliteration, so you read real Russian very quickly. Reading your first Cyrillic sentence is a concrete, motivating achievement.

Are the 6 Russian cases really indispensable?

Russian cases look intimidating on paper, they're less so in practice. In everyday spoken communication, 3 cases cover 80% of situations (nominative for the subject, accusative for the direct object, genitive for possession). Our teachers teach cases progressively through real-life situations, you're not asked to memorize abstract tables before speaking. You absorb endings naturally, the way a child learns their native language.

Why learn Russian in 2025-2026?

Despite the current geopolitical context, Russian remains the lingua franca of 15 countries and 260 million speakers, from Vladivostok to Riga, from Moscow to Almaty. It's the language of mathematics, quantum physics (half the world's publications in theoretical physics are of Russian-speaking origin) and a major body of world literature. For companies operating in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan), Russian is the indispensable business language. And many Eastern European countries (Moldova, Georgia) maintain active Russian bilingualism.

Can I take the TORFL (Russian certification) with Targumi?

Yes. TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) is the Russian equivalent of DELF or the Goethe-Zertifikat, recognized by Russian universities and companies operating in Russia and the CIS. We prepare levels A1 to C2 with targeted exercises on the 4 skills (writing, speaking, reading, listening) and simulations of real exams. TORFL level B1 is often required for positions in international organizations active in the post-Soviet space.

What's the difference between Russian from Russia and Russian from Ukraine or Kazakhstan?

Standard Russian (based on the Moscow dialect, known as 'literary Russian') is the academic reference taught in schools across the post-Soviet space. Ukrainian Russian incorporates Ukrainian inflections and borrowings, the two languages are mutually comprehensible at about 85%. In Kazakhstan, Russian is co-official and remains the language of business and administration in many sectors. At Targumi, we teach standard Russian understandable everywhere, and we explain regional variants for full comprehension.

Is Russian useful for my career?

For professionals working with Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Baltic states (where a portion of the population still speaks Russian fluently) or with the large Russian-speaking communities of Western Europe, mastering Russian is a rare differentiating advantage. In-demand sectors: energy (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan), international cooperation and diplomacy, cybersecurity (the Russian-speaking scientific community is very active), import-export and logistics in Eastern Europe.

How long does it take to learn Russian?

For an English speaker, reaching conversational B1 level in Russian takes roughly 12 to 18 months with 2 classes per week. The Cyrillic alphabet is learned in 2-3 weeks, and simple first conversations are possible after 3-4 months. The 6 grammatical cases are mastered progressively over 6-9 months. With Targumi, native teachers make cases accessible through everyday life situations.

Can you learn Russian on your own?

The Cyrillic alphabet and basic vocabulary are accessible to self-learners. But pronunciation (soft and hard consonants, stress that changes the meaning of words), declensions in spoken context and verbal aspects require a native teacher. On Targumi, our small-group classes let you practice cases and pronunciation with immediate corrections, which accelerates progress significantly.

How much do Russian courses cost on Targumi?

Targumi offers 3 plans: quarterly, yearly, and lifetime access. All plans include live small-group classes with native teachers, interactive lessons, and the community. See full pricing on the pricing page.

Are the Russian courses online or in person?

100% online. Live classes happen twice a week in small groups via Google Meet. You can join from anywhere in the world. The mobile and web app stay accessible 24/7 for interactive lessons.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. Targumi offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. If you are not satisfied, just email [email protected] for a full refund.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel anytime from your profile (“My subscriptions” section) with no hidden fees. Your access stays active until the end of your paid period.

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