Rule 2: The vowels е and я

  1. In Russian the vowels e and я are given full pronunciation only when they are stressed. Listen as your instructor reads the following words then repeat after him/her. You'll also find this exercise on the tape for this lesson.

    кометадиректорбуфетпятьяхта
    темабилетпортфельяблокосемья
    текстЧеховфермаребятаЯлта

  2. When unstressed these vowels are pronounced as a short i. Listen as your instructor reads the following words then repeat after him/her. You'll also find this exercise on the tape for this lesson.

    телефонтеатрдекабрьберёзаязык
    ресторанвинегретпланетарийяпонецянварь
    номеркалендарьгалереяяпонкаяйцо