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; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); no articles; case-marking (6 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; tense and aspect; comparatives; 32 consonants, 5 vowels, 4 diphthongs; non-tonal; free stress.

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:

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Azerbaijan

Language nameRussian

Population

122,000 in Azerbaijan (2011 UNSD).

Status

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

Language Use

Used as L2 by Rutul [rut], Udi [udi].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Belarus

Language nameRussian

Population

6,670,000 in Belarus (2011 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)).

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China

Language nameRussian

Population

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

Location

Heilongjiang province: Heihe; Nei Mongol Autonomous Region: E’erguna Enhe Russian autonomous district, Hulunbeier banner; Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Changji, Karamay (Kelamayi), Tacheng, and Urumqi; Yili prefecture, Yi’ning.

Alternate Names

Eluosi, Olossu, Russ, Russki

Status

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

Language Use

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).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Estonia

Language nameRussian

Population

383,000 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 725,000 in Estonia (European Commission 2012). Ethnic population: 321,000 (2011 census).

Status

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

Language Use

Used as L2 by Standard Estonian [ekk].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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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].

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Israel

Language nameRussian

Population

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

Location

Central District, Tel Aviv; Hefa district, Haifa; Yerushalayim District, Jerusalem.

Alternate Names

Russit, Russki

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use Hebrew [heb].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Jewish.

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Kazakhstan

Language nameRussian

Population

3,750,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). L2 users: 15,200,000 in Kazakhstan (2001 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 3,790,000 (2009 census).

Location

Widespread.

Status

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

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Kyrgyzstan

Language nameRussian

Population

482,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 420,000 (2009 census).

Location

Concentrated around Lake Ysyk Kol in Ysyk-Kol region; otherwise, widespread throughout country.

Status

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Latvia

Language nameRussian

Population

699,000 in Latvia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 1,390,000 in Latvia (European Commission 2012).

Status

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

Language Use

Used as L2 by Latgalian [ltg].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian, Jewish.

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Lithuania

Language nameRussian

Population

218,000 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 2,430,000 in Lithuania (European Commission 2012).

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Lithuanian [lit].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Moldova

Language nameRussian

Population

381,000 in Moldova (2009 UNSD).

Status

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Mongolia

Language nameRussian

Population

4,000 in Mongolia (Johnstone 1993).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Russki

Status

3 (Wider communication).

Other Comments

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

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Poland

Language nameRussian

Population

21,900 in Poland (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 6,940,000 in Poland (European Commission 2012).

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2005, Minorities Act of 2 January, Article 2(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Tajikistan

Language nameRussian

Population

40,600 in Tajikistan (2012 UNSD). Ethnic population: 34,800 (2010 census).

Location

Widespread.

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].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ukraine

Language nameRussian

Population

14,300,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD).

Location

Widespread, particularly in east and south.

Status

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

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Uzbekistan

Language nameRussian

Population

4,070,000 in Uzbekistan (2014 World Factbook). Ethnic population: 1,600,000 (2014 World Factbook).

Location

Long-standing presence, mostly urban communities, widespread.

Status

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

Language Use

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

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Uzbekistan

Ethnologue

Russian

Primary tabs

A language of Russian Federation

Also spoken in:

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