Some Common Russian Words

Here are some helpful Russian words which you will commonly use in many situations. It's hard to remember them by their sound alone, so if you memorize their spelling in Latin letters below, it will help you recall them a lot. It's best to have a Russian person say these out loud to you first so you can know how they are pronounced. If you're unfamiliar with these words, it's best to print them out and memorize them before going to Russia.

Hello - "Zdrastvyite" or "Privet" (the first one is more hard to remember, so if you want, just use second one although it's more informal.)
What is your name? - "Kak vas zavut?" to unknown people or to "Kak tebyah zavut?" to friends
How are you? - "Kak dila?"
I'm good - "Harasho", but can also mean "OK" or "it's good".
I'm OK - "Narmalno"
Bad or badly - "ploho"
Yes - "Da"
No - "Niet"
How much or How many? - "Skolkah" or "Skolkah stoit" (how much is the price?)
Can you speak English? - "Vi gavarite pa angliski?" to unknown people, "gavarish" to friends
A little - "Chut chut"
Small - "Malo" or "malinki"
Big - "Bolshoy"
I don't know - "Niez nayu"
I don't understand - "Ya nie panimayu", but a female could say that or "Ya nie panila"
Do you understand me? - "Panimayish?" or "Ponyal?" to a man, "Panila?" to a woman.
I understand - "Ya panimayu" or "Ya ponyal" if you're a man, "Ya panila" if you're a woman.
I see (as in "OK I get your point") - "Panyatna"
Thank you - "Spashibo"
Your welcome or please - "Pajalsto"
Sorry or excuse me - "Izviniteh" to unknown people or "Izvini" to friends
Good morning - "Dobroe utra"
Good afternoon - "Dobrie den"
Good evening - "Dobrie viechier"
Goodbye - "Do svidaniya"
Talk to you later - "Paka" or "schastlivo"
When? - "Kagdah?"
Why? - "Pacheemoo?" (but don't use this too often for unnecessary things, because in Russia, it's strange to ask 'why' too often, and pretty soon people will start saying "Patamooshtu" (just because) to you.)
Because - "Patamooshtu"
What for? - "Zachem?"
Where? - "Gdeh?"
Where do we go now? - "Koodah?"
How long? or How far? - "Kak dolgah?"
Who? - "Kto?" or "Kto etoh" for "Who is this?"
Hot - "Jarkah" if you're describing the weather or temperature inside, "garyachye" if you're describing food or an object.
Cold - "Holodni"
Open - "otkrit"
Closed - "zakrit"
Home - "Doma" or "Da moi" for "going home"
Only - "Tolkah"
Girl - "Devushka" you can also use this to address a girl you don't know.
Girlfriend - "Padrooga" can be used to refer to the girlfriend of a man or woman.
Friend - "droog"
Old lady or grandmother - "Babushka"
Toilet - same word as in English
You - "Ti" to friends, "Vi" to uknown people
Me or I - "Ya" or "Minya"
Want - "Hachu"
What? - "Shto?" or "Cheevoo?"
What is this? - "Shto etoh?"
It is - "Etoh ...." also used to introduce someone else or yourself.
Let's do it - "Da vai" which also has many other usages, and is often a favorite expression of foreigners
Very - "ochen"
Beautiful Girl - "kraseevaya devushka"
Cute Girl - "sympatichnaya devushka"
Attractive Girl - "privlikatelnaya devushka"
Pretty girl - "horoshenkaya devushka"
Wonderful or pretty - "prekrasnaya"
Today - "sevodnay"
Tomorrow - "zaftra"
Yesterday - "vcheerah"
What time is it? - "Katori chas?"
Now - "See chas"
Soon - "skorah"
Wait until later - "patome"
Wait a minute or hold on - "shas"
Where are you from? - "Atkoodah-teh?"
What are you doing? - "Ti shto delaesh?"
What are you doing today? - "Ti sevodnay shto delaesh?"
How old are you? - "Skolkah tibeh let?"
Expensive - "doragoh" (but don't use that word too often or you could come across as a cheapskate!
Inexpensive - "ni doragoh"
Money - "dengi"
Like as in "I like it" - "mne nravitsa"
Love - "lu blue" but can also be substituted for "like" above.
I love you - "Ya ti biah lu blue" or "Ya lu blue ti biah"
I miss you - "Ya sku chaiyo"
I will miss you - "Ya budu sku chat"
I can do that - "Ya Magoo"
I can't do that - "Ya Ni magoo"
Nothing - "Neecheevoh"
Can I? - "Moznah?" but this word can be used in many more ways than its English equivalent though such as "Is it possible?" or "Is it allowed?" or "Will you?"
Car - "machina"
shop or store - "magazine"
Remember? - "pomnish?"
Let me think or so... - "Tak" which is used while thinking before one answers.
Cool or excellent - "Class" or "Super"
Strange or weird - "straniyee"
Of course - "kanyeshna"

Also, learn how to say numbers in Russian. It's much easier than you think and will help you a lot. As you get acquainted with the words above, learn to string them together into some phrases. Remember that practice makes perfect.