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.
| комета | директор | буфет | пять | яхта |
| тема | билет | портфель | яблоко | семья |
| текст | Чехов | ферма | ребята | Ялта |
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.
| телефон | театр | декабрь | берёза | язык |
| ресторан | винегрет | планетарий | японец | январь |
| номер | календарь | галерея | японка | яйцо |