Learning Belarusian: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Belarusian course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Belarusian is like
Belarusian is written in Cyrillic and is an East Slavic language — a close cousin of Russian and Ukrainian, so much of the vocabulary and grammar lines up (import that knowledge if you speak either). Two things to know early: there are no words for a or the, so кава can mean "coffee", "a coffee" or "the coffee". It also keeps sounds that Russian lost — the short ў and the digraphs дз and дж. Past-tense verbs change by gender, and stress can fall anywhere, so learn each word with its stressed vowel marked.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Belarusian is written in Cyrillic and is very phonetic — a handful of letters match English exactly, so once you learn the tricky sounds you can read nearly any word aloud.
- ў — A short "u" that sounds almost like English "w" — it never begins a word., as in заўтра = ZAW-trah · быў = byw.
- і — A bright "ee" as in "see" — the soft i., as in віно = vee-NOH · мінута = mee-NOO-tah.
- ы — A deep "i" with the tongue pulled back and lips relaxed — there is no English match. Copy the audio., as in ты = tih · мы = mih.
- дж — Like the "j" in "jam" — a single sound written with two letters., as in джаз = jahz · джон = jahn.
- дз — Like the "ds" in "goods" — a soft, blended sound characteristic of East Slavic., as in дзень = dzen · дзе = dzyeh.
- г — Voiced and guttural, like the "h" in a soft "hello" — not the hard English "g"., as in гарбата = hahr-BAH-tah · гэта = HEH-tah.
- ц — A crisp "ts" as in "cats" — never a plain "s"., as in цяпер = tsyah-PYER · раніца = RAH-nee-tsah.
- ь — The soft sign — it makes no sound of its own, it softens (palatalises) the consonant before it., as in дзень = dzen · сёння = SYOHN-nyah.
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Belarusian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Прывітанне | pry-vee-TAHN-nyeh | Hello (informal) |
| Добры дзень | DOH-bree dzen | Good day / hello |
| Да пабачэння | dah pah-bah-CHEN-nyah | Goodbye |
| Як справы? | yak SPRAH-vih | How are you? |
| Добра, дзякуй | DOH-brah, DZYAH-kooy | Well, thanks |
| Дзякуй | DZYAH-kooy | Thank you |
| Дзякуй вялікі | DZYAH-kooy VYAH-lee-kee | Thanks a lot |
| Калі ласка | KAH-lee LAHS-kah | Please / you're welcome |
| Прабачце | prah-BAHT-syeh | Excuse me / sorry |
| Так | tahk | Yes |
| Не | nyeh | No |
| адзін | ah-DZEEN | 1 |
| два | dvah | 2 |
| тры | trih | 3 |
| пяць | pyats | 5 |
| дзесяць | DZYEH-syats | 10 |
| вада | vah-DAH | water |
| хлеб | khlyeb | bread |
| кава | KAH-vah | coffee |
| гарбата | hahr-BAH-tah | tea |
| рахунка | rah-KHOON-kah | the bill |
| Дзе...? | dzyeh | Where is...? |
| налева | nah-LYEH-vah | to the left |
| направа | nah-PRAH-vah | to the right |
| прама | PRAH-mah | straight ahead |
| вакзал | vahg-ZAHL | the station |
| Колькі гэта каштуе? | KOL-kee HEH-tah kahsh-TOO-yeh | How much is it? |
| Ці ёсць у вас...? | tsi yosts oo vahs | Do you have...? |
| Можна танней? | MOHZH-nah tahn-NEHY | Can it be cheaper? |
| я бяру | yah BYAH-roo | I'll take it |
How the Belarusian course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — hello — Прывітанне · Добры дзень · Да пабачэння
- Polite phrases — Дзякуй · Калі ласка · Прабачце
- Numbers 1–10 — адзін · два · тры · дзесяць
- I want" — хачу & трэба — Я хачу · Мне трэба · Можна?
- Food & drink — вада · хлеб · кава · гарбата
- Getting around — Дзе...? · налева · направа · вакзал
- Questions & "do you have…?" — Ці ёсць? · Колькі? · Гэта
- Family & people — мама · бацька · брат · сябар
- Time, days & weather — сёння · заўтра · Якая пагода?
- Introducing yourself — Мяне завуць · Як цябе завуць? · Вельмі прыемна
- Health & emergency — Дапамажыце! · Урач · Я не разумею
- Tying it together — A full day in Belarusian
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings — hello
Key pieces: Прывітанне · Добры дзень · Да пабачэння
Say hello the friendly way: Прывітанне — hi. It works any time of day.
- Добры дзень (DOH-bree dzen) — good day (formal hello)
- Добры вечар (DOH-bree VEH-chahr) — good evening
- Да пабачэння (dah pah-bah-CHEN-nyah) — goodbye
- Добрай раніцы (DOH-bray RAH-nee-tsih) — good morning
To say “Good day” in Belarusian: Добры дзень (DOH-bree dzen). Built from добры = good; дзень = day.
Two more: Добрай раніцы = good morning, and Добры вечар = good evening.
To say “Hi!” in Belarusian: Прывітанне (pry-vee-TAHN-nyeh). Built from прывітанне = hi / hello.
To ask how someone is: Як справы? — literally "how are things?".
- Як справы? (yak SPRAH-vih) — How are you?
- Добра, дзякуй (DOH-brah, DZYAH-kooy) — Well, thanks
- Добра (DOH-brah) — good
To say “Hi! How are you?” in Belarusian: Прывітанне! Як справы? (pry-vee-TAHN-nyeh! yak SPRAH-vih?). Built from прывітанне = hi; як справы? = how are you?.
Polite phrases
Key pieces: Дзякуй · Калі ласка · Прабачце
The word you'll say every single day: Дзякуй — thank you.
- Дзякуй (DZYAH-kooy) — thank you
- Дзякуй вялікі (DZYAH-kooy VYAH-lee-kee) — thanks a lot
- Калі ласка (KAH-lee LAHS-kah) — please / you're welcome
- Прабачце (prah-BAHT-syeh) — excuse me / sorry
- Так (tahk) — yes
- Не (nyeh) — no
To say “Thank you” in Belarusian: Дзякуй (DZYAH-kooy). Built from дзякуй = thank you.
Калі ласка does two jobs — it means both "please" and "you're welcome".
To say “A coffee, please” in Belarusian: Адна кава, калі ласка (ahd-NAH KAH-vah, KAH-lee LAHS-kah). Built from адна = one (fem.); кава = coffee; калі ласка = please.
To get someone's attention or apologise: Прабачце — excuse me / sorry.
To say “Yes / No” in Belarusian: Так / Не (tahk / nyeh). Built from так = yes; не = no.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: адзін · два · тры · дзесяць
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat the first five: адзін, два, тры, чатыры, пяць .
- адзін (ah-DZEEN) — 1
- два (dvah) — 2
- тры (trih) — 3
- чатыры (chah-TIH-rih) — 4
- пяць (pyats) — 5
To say “Two coffees, please” in Belarusian: Дзве кавы, калі ласка (dzvyeh KAH-vih, KAH-lee LAHS-kah). Built from дзве = two (fem.); кавы = coffees; калі ласка = please.
Now six to ten: шэсць, сем, восем, дзевяць, дзесяць .
- шэсць (shests) — 6
- сем (syem) — 7
- восем (VOH-syem) — 8
- дзевяць (DZYEH-vyats) — 9
- дзесяць (DZYEH-syats) — 10
To say “Three coffees, please” in Belarusian: Тры кавы, калі ласка (trih KAH-vih, KAH-lee LAHS-kah). Built from тры = three; кавы = coffees; калі ласка = please.
I want" — хачу & трэба
Key pieces: Я хачу · Мне трэба · Можна?
The magic phrase to ask for anything: Я хачу — I want.
To say “I want tea” in Belarusian: Я хачу гарбату (yah hah-CHOO hahr-BAH-tah). Built from я = I; хачу = I want; гарбату = tea.
To say you need something, use Мне трэба — I need.
To say “I need water” in Belarusian: Мне трэба вада (mnyeh TREH-bah vah-DAH). Built from мне трэба = I need; вада = water.
To ask for permission, use Можна? — may I? / is it OK?
- Я хачу (yah hah-CHOO) — I want
- Мне трэба (mnyeh TREH-bah) — I need
- Можна? (MOHZH-nah) — May I?
- Калі ласка (KAH-lee LAHS-kah) — please
To say “May I?” in Belarusian: Можна? (MOHZH-nah). Built from можна = may I / is it allowed.
Food & drink
Key pieces: вада · хлеб · кава · гарбата
Eating out? The essentials: вада (water), хлеб (bread), кава (coffee), гарбата (tea).
- вада (vah-DAH) — water
- хлеб (khlyeb) — bread
- кава (KAH-vah) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ English coffee.
- гарбата (hahr-BAH-tah) — tea
- малако (mah-lah-KOH) — milk
- віно (vee-NOH) — wine Memory hook: ≈ English wine.
To say “Water and bread, please” in Belarusian: Вада і хлеб, калі ласка (vah-DAH ee khlyeb, KAH-lee LAHS-kah). Built from вада = water; і = and; хлеб = bread; калі ласка = please.
To order the menu or ask for the bill: меню and рахунка .
- меню (meh-NYOO) — the menu Memory hook: ≈ English menu.
- рахунка (rah-KHOON-kah) — the bill
- смачна (SMAHCH-nah) — tasty / delicious
To say “The bill, please” in Belarusian: Рахунка, калі ласка (rah-KHOON-kah, KAH-lee LAHS-kah). Built from рахунка = the bill; калі ласка = please.
Смачна! = tasty / delicious. A lovely thing to say over a meal.
To say “It's delicious!” in Belarusian: Вельмі смачна! (VEHL-mee SMAHCH-nah!). Built from вельмі = very; смачна = tasty.
Getting around
Key pieces: Дзе...? · налева · направа · вакзал
The most useful question in any city: Дзе…? — where is…?
- Дзе...? (dzyeh) — Where is...?
- налева (nah-LYEH-vah) — to the left
- направа (nah-PRAH-vah) — to the right
- прама (PRAH-mah) — straight ahead
- вакзал (vahg-ZAHL) — the station
- туалет (too-ah-LYET) — the bathroom Memory hook: ≈ English toilet.
To say “Where is the station?” in Belarusian: Дзе вакзал? (dzyeh vahg-ZAHL?). Built from дзе = where; вакзал = the station.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Belarusian: Дзе туалет? (dzyeh too-ah-LYET?). Built from дзе = where; туалет = the bathroom.
Налева and направа tell you which way to turn. Прама is straight ahead.
To say “Straight ahead, then left” in Belarusian: Прама, потым налева (PRAH-mah, POH-tim nah-LYEH-vah). Built from прама = straight ahead; потым = then; налева = to the left.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: Ці ёсць? · Колькі? · Гэта
To ask if someone has something: Ці ёсць у вас…? (formal). With friends, say Ці ёсць у цябе…?
To say “Do you have a table?” in Belarusian: Ці ёсць у вас стол? (tsi yosts oo vahs stol?). Built from ці ёсць = is there / do you have; у вас = with you; стол = a table.
To ask the price: Колькі гэта каштуе? — how much does this cost?
To say “How much is this?” in Belarusian: Колькі гэта каштуе? (KOL-kee HEH-tah kahsh-TOO-yeh?). Built from колькі = how much; гэта = this; каштуе = it costs.
Гэта = this / it — a very handy little word in shops.
To say “Do you have tea?” in Belarusian: Ці ёсць у вас гарбата? (tsi yosts oo vahs hahr-BAH-tah?). Built from ці ёсць у вас = do you have; гарбата = tea.
Family & people
Key pieces: мама · бацька · брат · сябар
Family words: мама (mum), бацька (dad), брат (brother).
- мама (MAH-mah) — mum
- бацька (BAHT-skah) — dad
- брат (braht) — brother Memory hook: ≈ English brother.
- сястра (syah-STRAH) — sister Memory hook: ≈ English sister.
- сябар (SYAH-bahr) — friend
To say “This is my brother” in Belarusian: Гэта мой брат (HEH-tah moy braht). Built from гэта = this is; мой = my (masc.); брат = brother.
Мой = my (masculine), мая = my (feminine). брат is masculine → мой брат.
To say “This is my mum” in Belarusian: Гэта мая мама (HEH-tah MAH-yah MAH-mah). Built from гэта = this is; мая = my (fem.); мама = mum.
To say “This is my friend” in Belarusian: Гэта мой сябар (HEH-tah moy SYAH-bahr). Built from гэта = this is; мой = my (masc.); сябар = friend.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: сёння · заўтра · Якая пагода?
Today is сёння , tomorrow is заўтра , yesterday is ўчора .
- сёння (SYOHN-nyah) — today
- заўтра (ZAW-trah) — tomorrow
- ўчора (oo-CHOH-rah) — yesterday
- дзень (dzen) — day
- тыдзень (TIH-dzen) — week
To say “See you tomorrow” in Belarusian: Да заўтра (dah ZAW-trah). Built from да = until; заўтра = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather: Якая пагода?
- Якая пагода? (yah-KAH-yah pah-GOH-dah) — what's the weather?
- дождж (dohzhd) — rain
- снег (snyehk) — snow
- сонца (SON-tsah) — sun
To say “It's raining” in Belarusian: Ідзе дождж (ee-DZYEH dohzhd). Built from ідзе = goes / falls; дождж = rain.
Introducing yourself
Key pieces: Мяне завуць · Як цябе завуць? · Вельмі прыемна
Introduce yourself: Мяне завуць… = my name is…. It literally means "they call me…".
To say “My name is Alex” in Belarusian: Мяне завуць Alex (myah-NYEH ZAH-voots Alex). Built from мяне = me; завуць = they call; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: Як цябе завуць? (informal). Formal: Як вас завуць?
To say “What's your name?” in Belarusian: Як цябе завуць? (yahk tsyah-BYE ZAH-voots?). Built from як = how; цябе = you (informal); завуць = they call.
Вельмі прыемна = pleased to meet you. Lovely to say when you meet someone new.
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Belarusian: Вельмі прыемна (VEHL-mee prih-YEM-nah). Built from вельмі = very; прыемна = pleased / nice.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: Дапамажыце! · Урач · Я не разумею
The most important words if you need help: Дапамажыце! (help!), and Дапамога! for the noun "help".
- Дапамажыце! (dah-pah-mah-ZHIH-tsyeh) — Help!
- Дапамога! (dah-pah-MOH-hah) — Help! (the noun)
- урач (oo-RAHCH) — the doctor
- аптэка (ahp-TEH-kah) — the pharmacy Memory hook: ≈ English apothecary.
- бальніца (bahle-NEE-tsah) — the hospital
To say “Help!” in Belarusian: Дапамажыце! (dah-pah-mah-ZHIH-tsyeh). Built from дапамажыце = help (please do).
If you don't understand: Я не разумею — I don't understand.
To say “I don't understand” in Belarusian: Я не разумею (yah nyeh rah-zoo-MYEH-yoo). Built from я = I; не = not; разумею = I understand.
To say “I need a doctor” in Belarusian: Мне трэба ўрач (mnyeh TREH-bah oo-RAHCH). Built from мне трэба = I need; ўрач = a doctor.
Tying it together
Key pieces: A full day in Belarusian
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello! How are you?” in Belarusian: Прывітанне! Як справы? (pry-vee-TAHN-nyeh! yak SPRAH-vih?). Built from прывітанне = hi; як справы? = how are you?.
To say “I want tea, please” in Belarusian: Я хачу гарбату, калі ласка (yah hah-CHOO hahr-BAH-tah, KAH-lee LAHS-kah). Built from я хачу = I want; гарбату = tea; калі ласка = please.
To say “Where is the station?” in Belarusian: Дзе вакзал? (dzyeh vahg-ZAHL?). Built from дзе = where; вакзал = the station.
To say “How much is this?” in Belarusian: Колькі гэта каштуе? (KOL-kee HEH-tah kahsh-TOO-yeh?). Built from колькі гэта каштуе = how much is this?.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- Добры дзень (DOH-bree dzen): formal hello.
- Дапамога! (dah-pah-MOH-hah): the noun.
Culture and etiquette
Cyrillic is your friend
Don't be put off — a lot of Cyrillic letters match Latin: А, Е, К, М, О, Т look the same as English. Belarusian also has a few unique letters you'll meet below: the short ў and the digraphs дз and дж. Learn those and you can read most words aloud.
Belarusian ≠ Russian
Belarusian is a separate East Slavic language, not a dialect of Russian. It keeps sounds that Russian has lost — like ў, дз and дж — and shares vocabulary with both Russian and Ukrainian. Its status and identity are a point of real national pride.
An East Slavic cousin
Belarusian sits alongside Russian and Ukrainian: all three descend from Old East Slavic. If you speak Russian or Ukrainian you'll pick Belarusian up fast — вада (water), хлеб (bread), брат (brother), дзякуй (thanks).
History with Poland
Belarus has been close to Poland for centuries, and Polish helped shape the language too. You'll meet words like рахунка (bill) and дзякаваць (to thank) that feel familiar to Polish speakers — a bonus if you know Polish.
Food & hospitality
The national dish is дранікі — potato pancakes, served with sour cream. Guests are welcomed generously with food and a warm cup of tea or coffee. Saying смачна (tasty!) while you eat is a lovely touch.
A little Belarusian goes far
A "добры дзень" and "дзякуй" open every door. Belarusians warm up fast when visitors try their language — a genuine effort and a smile matter far more than perfect grammar.
Example dialogues
At a café
You: Добры дзень! Адну каву, калі ласка. (DOH-bree dzen! ahd-NAH KAH-vah, KAH-lee LAHS-kah) — Good day! One coffee, please.
Barista: Калі ласка. Што-небудзь яшчэ? (KAH-lee LAHS-kah. shtoh-NEH-boots yah-SHOY?) — Here you are. Anything else?
You: Не, дзякуй. Колькі гэта каштуе? (nyeh, DZYAH-kooy. KOL-kee HEH-tah kahsh-TOO-yeh?) — No, thanks. How much is that?
Barista: Тры рублі. (trih ROOB-lee) — Three rubles.
You: Дзякуй вялікі! (DZYAH-kooy VYAH-lee-kee!) — Thanks a lot!
At the station
You: Прабачце, дзе вакзал? (prah-BAHT-syeh, dzyeh vahg-ZAHL?) — Excuse me, where's the station?
Local: Прама, потым налева. (PRAH-mah, POH-tim nah-LYEH-vah) — Straight ahead, then left.
You: Дзякуй. Адзін білет да Мінска, калі ласка. (DZYAH-kooy. ah-DZEEN bee-LYET dah MEEN-skah, KAH-lee LAHS-kah) — Thanks. One ticket to Minsk, please.
Clerk: Пяць рублёў. Цягнік а трэцяй гадзіне. (pyats roob-LYOW. tsyahg-NEEK ah TREH-tsyahy hah-DZEE-nyeh) — Five rubles. The train at three o'clock.
At a restaurant
Waiter: Добры вечар! Столік на дваіх? (DOH-bree VEH-chahr! STOH-leek nah dvah-EEKH?) — Good evening! A table for two?
You: Так, калі ласка. (tahk, KAH-lee LAHS-kah) — Yes, please.
You: Я хачу дранікі і гарбату. (yah hah-CHOO drah-NEE-kee ee hahr-BAH-tah) — I want draniki (potato pancakes) and tea.
Waiter: Выдатны выбар! (vih-DAHT-nih VIH-bahr!) — Excellent choice!
You: Рахунка, калі ласка. (rah-KHOON-kah, KAH-lee LAHS-kah) — The bill, please.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.