Rule 1: the vowels o and a

  1. In Russian, the vowels о and a are pronounced as о and a only when they are stressed. Look at the following words and note the syllable which is stressed. Listen as your instructor reads these words aloud and repeat after him/her. You'll also find this exercise on the tape for this lesson.

    торт вино лимон патриот бюро
    сорт норма жаргон Волга кино
    зона метро киоск кофе номер
  2. In Russian, the vowels о and a are pronounced as о and a only when they are stressed. Look at the following words and note the syllable which is stressed. Listen as your instructor reads these words aloud and repeat after him/her. You'll also find this exercise on the tape for this lesson. Now listen and repeat:

    Москва концерт канал аванс
    поэт комета Канада абсурд
    роман газета Пентагон аорта
    хоккей балет дипломат оркестр
    протест туалет аэропорт океан
    Толстой банан агроном омега
  3. In all other unstressed syllables both vowels о and а are pronounced like the short, indistinct "a" in tuna. Look at the following words and note the syllable which is stressed. Now listen and repeat:

    паспорт маска
    трактор гамма
    атом дача
    доктор самовар
    фото стадион
    экспорт Динамо
    Лондон молоко
    хроника каша
    климат машина