If you want to talk like a local in Russia, you’ll need to understand common abbreviations. They pop up in everyday conversations, news, and even official documents. Here are some of the most useful ones:
🏫 ВУЗ — высшее учебное заведение (university or institute)
👉 Она работает в ВУЗе. (She works at a university.)
💷 НДС — налог на добавленную стоимость (value-added tax)
👉 Цена указана без учёта НДС. (The price doesn’t include VAT.)
🔧 СТО — станция технического обслуживания (garage)
👉 Машина сломалась, еду на СТО. (The car’s broken down — I’m off to the garage.)
🚒 ЧП — чрезвычайное происшествие (emergency)
👉 На месте ЧП работают спасатели. (Rescuers are working at the scene of the emergency.)
Abbreviations save time and make speech more natural, but they can be tricky for learners. If you understand these short forms, you’ll be able to follow conversations and texts much more easily.
To be continued… More everyday Russian abbreviations are coming soon!
✍️ Which of these Russian abbreviations did you already know? Share in the comments below!
Check out my post on Russian plural-only nouns — another fun challenge for learners.