Introducing Yourself (Sich vorstellen) in Russian



Lesson Objective:


By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to introduce themselves in Russian, providing basic personal information such as name, nationality, and profession.



Vocabulary List:



  • Здравствуйте – Hello (formal)

  • Привет – Hi (informal)

  • Меня зовут... – My name is...

  • Я из... – I am from...

  • Я говорю по-русски – I speak Russian

  • Очень приятно – Nice to meet you

  • Как вас зовут? – What is your name? (formal)

  • Кто вы по профессии? – What is your profession? (formal)

  • Я учитель – I am a teacher

  • Я студент – I am a student



Grammar Point:


In Russian, to introduce yourself you typically use the phrase Меня зовут [name], which literally means "They call me [name]."


Unlike English, Russian often omits the verb "to be" in the present tense. For example:



  • Я студент. – I am a student. (Literally: I student.)

  • Она врач. – She is a doctor. (Literally: She doctor.)


Note also that Russian distinguishes between formal and informal forms depending on who you speak with. Use вы for formal situations and ты for informal ones.



Exercises:



Reading Comprehension:


Read the following dialogue and answer the questions below:


Алексей: Здравствуйте! Меня зовут Алексей. Я из России. Я инженер. А вы?

Мария: Приятно познакомиться, Алексей. Меня зовут Мария. Я из Германии. Я студентка.


Questions:



  • What is Alexei’s profession?

  • Where is Maria from?

  • What is Maria’s occupation?



Listening Comprehension:


Listen to a short audio file in which three people introduce themselves in Russian. Identify the names, nationalities, and professions of each speaker (audio resource to be provided by instructor).



Speaking Practice:


Practice the dialogue below with a partner or record yourself saying both parts:


Person A: Здравствуйте! Меня зовут [Your Name]. Я из [Your Country]. Я [Your Profession]. А вы?

Person B: Очень приятно! Меня зовут [Partner’s Name]. Я из [Partner's Country]. Я [Partner's Profession].



Summary:


In this lesson, we learned how to introduce ourselves in Russian using key vocabulary and a simple sentence structure. We also practiced reading, listening, and speaking to reinforce these skills. Remember that Russian distinguishes between formal and informal speech, and the verb “to be” is often omitted in the present tense.



Homework:



  • Write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) introducing yourself in Russian. Include your name, where you are from, your profession, and one language you speak.

  • Listen to native Russian speakers introducing themselves (find a video or podcast online) and try to write down any vocabulary you understand.

  • Practice out loud: introduce yourself in front of a mirror or record your introduction and listen for pronunciation practice.