Is the russian to english voice translator free?

Yes, free for up to 30 minutes a day. The limit exists to prevent abuse. It needs a free Owaa account, which takes a moment to create.

Can I call someone in Russia who speaks Russian?

Yes. Owaa translates a real phone call both ways. A call to Russia costs $0.75–$0.80 per minute, and new accounts can claim 10 free minutes once. You can also call the hotline, +1 833 988 4455.

What is the difference between Face-to-Face and Listen for Russian?

Face-to-Face is two-way, for two people in the same room: each speaks their own language and hears the other in theirs. Listen is one-way: it translates a talk, a broadcast or a speaker into English.

Does it work for Ukrainian?

No. These pages are for Russian only. Ukrainian is a separate language; the app lists the languages it supports.

Should I use ты or вы?

Use вы (formal) with anyone you do not know well, with elders and with officials. Switch to ты only when invited.

Is Russian written in the Latin alphabet?

No, Russian uses Cyrillic. The romanization on this page is a reading aid only.

Voice translator

Russian to English voice translator

Someone is speaking Russian and you need to follow it in English. Open the translator, pick Russian for them and English for you, and take turns: they speak Russian, you hear English, and your English reaches them in Russian.

Translate Russian to English Hear a talk in English

Face-to-Face and Listen are free for up to 30 minutes a day. Sign in with a free Owaa account to use it.

How to use it

01
Open it with the pair chosen
The button above opens Face-to-Face with Russian for you and English for the other person already selected. If you are not signed in, you are taken through sign-in and brought back.
02
Take turns
One person speaks at a time. Wait until the translation finishes playing before you speak, because anything said while it plays is not heard.
03
Hear each other
Each of you hears the other in your own language through the same device. Major pairs such as English with Chinese, Spanish or Japanese are strongest; for anything important, repeat the key detail back.

Need the other direction? English to Russian voice translator.

Useful Russian phrases

Common Russian phrases and their English meaning
Russian	Romanization	English
Здравствуйте.	Zdravstvuyte.	Hello. (formal)
Спасибо.	Spasibo.	Thank you.
Я не понимаю.	Ya ne ponimayu.	I don't understand.
Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста.	Govorite medlennee, pozhaluysta.	Please speak more slowly.
Где туалет?	Gde tualet?	Where is the bathroom?
Сколько это стоит?	Skolko eto stoit?	How much does it cost?
Мне нужен врач.	Mne nuzhen vrach.	I need a doctor.
Извините.	Izvinite.	Excuse me.

Everyday phrases for reading or saying aloud. They are a reference, not a substitute for the translator in a real conversation.

Russian: varieties and dialects

Russian is spoken natively in Russia and widely as a first or second language in other former Soviet countries, including Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Baltic states. Standard Russian is largely the same in all of them; accent and some vocabulary vary.

Russian uses the Cyrillic alphabet. The romanization above is for reading aloud only.

Politeness and formality in a translated conversation

Russian distinguishes informal “you” (ты) and formal or plural “you” (вы). Use вы with strangers, officials, doctors and anyone older.
A polite way to address an adult is by first name and patronymic (for example Ivan Petrovich). If someone introduces themselves that way, use it back.

Common situations with Russian speakers

At the doctor

Describe symptoms one sentence at a time, and write down the names of medicines you take since brand names differ by country.

With a landlord

Confirm the rent and the due date aloud, and ask for important terms in writing.

At your child’s school

Ask staff to spell the child’s name as it appears on school records, since Cyrillic names can be spelled several ways in English.

At the bank

Spell your name in English letters as it appears on your ID, and say numbers digit by digit.

General conversation tips only, not legal or medical advice. For anything with legal, medical or financial consequences, use a qualified human interpreter.

Call someone who speaks Russian

Owaa also translates a real phone call both ways, to any number, with no app for the person you call. A call to Russia, the main country for Russian, costs $0.75–$0.80 per minute. New accounts can claim 10 free minutes once.

Calling Russia: rate and dialing Phone call translator

Questions

Is the russian to english voice translator free?: Yes, free for up to 30 minutes a day. The limit exists to prevent abuse. It needs a free Owaa account, which takes a moment to create.
Can I call someone in Russia who speaks Russian?: Yes. Owaa translates a real phone call both ways. A call to Russia costs $0.75–$0.80 per minute, and new accounts can claim 10 free minutes once. You can also call the hotline, +1 833 988 4455.
What is the difference between Face-to-Face and Listen for Russian?: Face-to-Face is two-way, for two people in the same room: each speaks their own language and hears the other in theirs. Listen is one-way: it translates a talk, a broadcast or a speaker into English.
Does it work for Ukrainian?: No. These pages are for Russian only. Ukrainian is a separate language; the app lists the languages it supports.
Should I use ты or вы?: Use вы (formal) with anyone you do not know well, with elders and with officials. Switch to ты only when invited.
Is Russian written in the Latin alphabet?: No, Russian uses Cyrillic. The romanization on this page is a reading aid only.