In the Russian alphabet, there are 10 vowel letters. Below is a list of these vowels, their pronunciation, and an example word for each:
| Letter | Pronunciation | Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| А а | [a] | автобус (avtobus) | bus |
| Е е | [je] | еда (yeda) | food |
| Ё ё | [jo] | ёж (yozh) | hedgehog |
| И и | [i] | имя (imya) | name |
| Й й | [j] (as in “y” in “yes”) | май (may) | May |
| О о | [o] | окно (okno) | window |
| У у | [u] | утка (utka) | duck |
| Э э | [e] | это (eto) | this |
| Ю ю | [ju] | юг (yug) | south |
| Я я | [ja] | я (ya) | I |
Summary
The Russian vowels contribute to the pronunciation and meaning of words. Each vowel has a distinct sound that can affect the overall pronunciation of a word. Understanding these vowels is essential for mastering Russian pronunciation and reading.