Russian

SVO; prepositions; genitives after noun heads; adjectives, numerals before noun heads; question word initial; 1 prefix on a word; recursive addition of suffixes allowed; nontonal.

Language Development

Fully developed. Bible: 1680–2011.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Russian

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All

Azerbaijan

Language nameRussian

Population

475,000 in Azerbaijan.

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Udi [udi].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Azerbaijan

Belarus

Language nameRussian

Population

6,670,000 in Belarus (2009 census). Russian [rus] is spoken by most of the population in Belarus as their L1. Ethnic population: 785,000 (2009 census).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national working language (1998, Languages Act, Article 2(1)).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Belarus

China

Language nameRussian

Population

2,940 in China (Shearer and Sun Hong Kai 2002). Ethnic population: 15,600 (2000 census).

Location

North Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Karamay (Kelamayi), Changji, and Tacheng cities; Yili prefecture (especially Yi’ning city); Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, E’erguna Enhe Russian autonomous district (Hulunbeier banner); Heilongjiang Province, Heihe city.

Alternate Names

Eluosi, Olossu, Russ, Russki

Status

5 (Dispersed). Language of recognized nationality: Russian.

Language Use

Mostly neutral attitudes. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Uyghur [uig]. Used as L2 by Korean [kor], Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Oroqen [orh], Uyghur [uig], Xibe [sjo].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 96% in any language for Russian nationality (2000 census).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian.

View other languages of China

Estonia

Language nameRussian

Population

383,000 in Estonia (2011 census). Ethnic population: 321,000 (2011 census). L2 users: 725,000 in Estonia (ELDIA 2012).

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Standard Estonian [ekk].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Estonia

Georgia

Language nameRussian

Population

372,000 in Georgia.

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Assyrian Neo-Aramaic [aii], Svan [sva].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Georgia

Israel

Language nameRussian

Population

750,000 in Israel (1999 H. Mutzafi).

Alternate Names

Russit, Russki

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Hebrew [heb].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

Jewish.

View other languages of Israel

Kazakhstan

Language nameRussian

Population

6,230,000 in Kazakhstan.

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(2)).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Language nameRussian

Population

1,410,000 in Kyrgyzstan (1996).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Article 10(2)).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian.

View other languages of Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Language nameRussian

Population

862,000 in Latvia. L2 users: 1,390,000 in Latvia (ELDIA 2012).

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Eastern Yiddish [ydd], Latgalian [ltg].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian, Jewish.

View other languages of Latvia

Lithuania

Language nameRussian

Population

344,000 in Lithuania. L2 users: 2,430,000 in Lithuania (ELDIA 2012).

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Lithuanian [lit].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian.

View other languages of Lithuania

Moldova

Language nameRussian

Population

562,000 in Moldova.

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Moldova

Mongolia

Language nameRussian

Population

4,000 in Mongolia (Johnstone 1993).

Alternate Names

Russki

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

Other Comments

‘Mectny Oros’, permanent Russian residents. Widely taught in schools and higher education.

View other languages of Mongolia

Tajikistan

Language nameRussian

Population

237,000 in Tajikistan.

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language, no longer language of record in higher levels of government.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Tajiki [tgk], Yagnobi [yai].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Tajikistan

Ukraine

Language nameRussian

Population

8,330,000 in Ukraine (2001 census).

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory national working language (2009, No. 1167-VI, Autonomous Republic Crimea Republic Constitution (amended), Articles 10-13).

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Ukraine

Uzbekistan

Language nameRussian

Population

1,660,000 in Uzbekistan.

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Karakalpak [kaa], Northern Uzbek [uzn].

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], primary usage.

View other languages of Uzbekistan

Ethnologue

Russian

Primary tabs

A language of Russian Federation

Also spoken in:

Browse by

Current Edition

Other Products

Related Sites

Contact

Search form

Russian

Primary tabs

A language of Russian Federation

Also spoken in: