Learn Russian Hard and Soft сonsonants. Vowel reduction (я, е)

Russian For Everyone Learn Russian Language Online

Self study guide for elementary level learners of Russian
and for intermediate level students who wish to review basic grammar and vocabulary

Introductory Lesson 6

Learn Russian Hard and Soft сonsonants. Vowel reduction (я, е)

Introduction. Russian letters and sound system
Russian alphabet Sounds, handwriting, keyboard
Introductory Lesson 1 Reading syllables. Translating This is..., Here is...
Introductory Lesson 2 Reading syllables. Conjunctions и and а
Introductory Lesson 3 Learn Russian hushing and velar sounds. Stress and vowel reduction (а, о)
Quiz 1 Check what you have learned from Lessons 1-3 with this 10 minute quiz.
Introductory Lesson 4 Letters ц,й,ы,и
Introductory Lesson 5 Learn Russian 7-letter spelling rule
Introductory Lesson 6 Learn Russian Hard and Soft сonsonants. Vowel reduction (я, е)
Quiz 2 Check what you have learned from Lessons 4-6 with this 15 minute quiz.
Introductory Lesson 7 Letters ь and ъ. Pronunciation of я, ё, ю, е. Letters к, г, х
Introductory Lesson 8 Unpaired hard and soft consonants. The soft consonant й
Quiz 3 Check what you have learned from Lessons 7-8 with this 15 minute quiz.
Introductory Lesson 9 Voiced and Voiceless Consonants. Devoicing of Final Consonants. Consonant Clusters
Introductory Lesson 10 Pronunciation of г, ч, тся and ться
Phrasebook Topic 1 Learn how to greet people and say goodbye in Russian
Phrasebook Topic 2 Introducing Yourself in Russian
Quiz 4 Check what you have learned from Lessons 7-8 with this 10 minute quiz.

Фонетика Lesson 6 - Урок 6

6.1.

Hard and Soft Consonants

For almost every consonant letter Russian has two sounds: a hard consonant and a soft consonant. The hard/soft distinction can make a difference in the meaning of some Russian words. Click the pair of words to listen. Compare:

угол -

уголь

(corner - coal)

The letter ь has no sound of it's own. It indicates the softness of the preceding consonant when there is no vowel after the consonant. When a vowel appears after the consonant, it indicates whether that consonant is hard or soft.
Click the pair of words to listen. Compare:

лук -

люк

(onion - manhole)

The five Russian vowel sounds are spelled with one set of letters (а, о, у, э, ы) after hard consonants and with an alternative set of letters (я, ё, ю, е, и) after soft consonants.

Memorize both sets of letters in order to read Russian correctly:

а о у э ы - indicate that the preceding consonant is hard.

я ё ю е и and ь - indicate that the preceding consonant is soft.

The following consonants can be hard or soft: б- б'; в- в'; д- д'; з- з'; л- л'; м- м'; н- н'; п- п'; р- р'; с- с', т- т'; ф- ф'. (We will agree to indicate the softness of a consonant by means of [ '] in the phonetic transcription).

After these consonants, the letter pairs а/я, о/ё, у/ю, э/е, ы/и represent the same vowel sound but the letters я, ё, ю, е, и indicate that the preceding consonant is soft.

Listen how different syllables with the hard [б] and soft [б'] are pronounced. Click the syllable to listen, then say it. Two syllables in each pair should sound differently when you pronounce them.

ба <->	бя
бо <->	бё
бу <->	бю
бэ <->	бе
бы <->	би

Practice reading words with hard and soft consonants. Click each word to listen, then say it.

масло	мясо	butter	meat
Тома	Тёма	women's first name	men's first name
руки	брюки	hands	pants
мэр	мера	mayor	measure
мыло	Мила	soap	women's first name

6.2.

Vowel Reduction Rule 3

In the first syllable before the stress the letters е, я are pronounced like и [ih]:

we spell	сестра	мечта	река	далеко
we say	[с'истра]	[м'ичта]	[р'ика]	[дл'ико]
translation	sister	dream	river	far away

6.3.

Vowel Reduction Rule 4

Anywhere after the stress and more than one syllable before the stress е, я are pronounced like ' [yuh]

we spell	номер	учитель	десять	дядя
we say	[ном'р]	[учит'л']	[д'ес'т']	[д'ад']
translation	number	teacher	ten	uncle

Exercises Упражнения

Listening and reading practice (hard [б] and soft [б']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [в] and soft [в']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [д] and soft [д']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [з] and soft [з']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [л] and soft [л']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [м] and soft [м']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [н] and soft [н']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [п] and soft [п']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [р] and soft [р']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [с] and soft [с']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [т] and soft [т']).
Listening and reading practice (hard [ф] and soft [ф']).
Listening and reading practice (unaccented е and я).

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