The Beginning Learner’s Russian Dictionary is designed for beginning learners of Russian, including those preparing to take the Test of Russian as a Foreign Language (TORFL) at the elementary (A1) level.

About the Dictionary

The dictionary is based on the official Lexical Minimum for the standardized TORFL test, developed by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. It includes 780 items that learners are expected to know at the A1 level. Additional entries—such as country names, common Russian personal names, and grammatical terms—bring the total to just over 1,000 headwords. Whether or not you plan to take the TORFL, this selection of vocabulary provides a solid foundation for developing competency in Russian.

Designed for Learners

This dictionary offers many advantages for beginning learners over standard Russian–English dictionaries. It features a clear, learner-friendly layout, showing only meanings appropriate for the A1 level. Grammatical information is presented in easy-to-read tables with helpful usage notes. Example sentences use only A1-level vocabulary. Traditional dictionaries can overwhelm beginners with numerous uncommon meanings, minimal grammatical guidance, and complex example sentences—this dictionary avoids all that.

Practical Reference and Study Tool

An English–Russian index makes it easy to find the Russian word you need and review its pronunciation, grammar, and usage. More than a simple reference, this dictionary is designed as a study tool to expand your vocabulary and reinforce grammar. You are encouraged to read through the entries, study example sentences, observe patterns of inflection, and practice pronunciation and listening using the accompanying audio tracks.