Nowadays there are so many apps, websites and tools to help you learn a language, that most of us are simply get lost and don’t know what to choose! I learned several languages on my own by practicing online and have tested lots of apps.
I am now working on my Spanish and French, and testing new apps every month.
Here is the list of the best apps and tools if you are learning Russian. Good news: all of them are free!
Download the list to your mobile or laptop now, or pin it on PINTEREST.
Yandex Translate (Яндекс Переводчик) is a translator with a clean and simple interface available as an app for iOS or Android, as well as in the browser.
It offers offline translation too. The translation into Russian and back is more precise than in Google Translator, as the service itself was made for the Russians in the first place, and has better translation suggestions for single words.
You can translate words, big texts, web pages, as well as upload a picture with the text on it.
Why is it good to learn Russian?
Every time you look for a single Russian word in it, the translator gives you synonyms or ‘related words’ for you to learn more. Your vocabulary can grow so much faster with this tool!
Translation is available for 95 languages:
Yandex Translate also gives you a very useful phrasebook for free. Many people told me they didn’t know about this feature. But you can easily find it in the right corner.
There are phrasebooks English-Russian on different topics: For Beginners, 50 first phrases when you travel, Top 100 Verbs, and so on. You can also create your own sets of vocabulary, i.e. your own phrasebooks!
2. Forvo
Forvo is a pronunciation dictionary, in which you’ll find words and phrases pronounced in their original languages.
According to Forvo’s website, it is now the largest online reference for pronunciations with a database of nearly 6 million words pronounced in over 390 languages – all created and maintained by native speakers.
It is available for free in your browser (PC or mobile), the app for iOS or Android costs $2.99. But as I said you can use it for free in the browser.
Why is it good to learn Russian?
What I like most about Forvo, is that you can find the pronunciation of the words or phrases in your target language, and most of the time it will be pronounced by several people (both male and female). This gives you a chance to listen to the authentic sound and not the robotic one.
An example:
In addition, Forvo recently introduced its eLearning Platform available for those who is learning English, French or Spanish (I hope they will add Russian soon!). And also ForvoKids, an app created for kids learning English, German, Spanish, French and even Basque!
3. Quizlet
Quizlet is one of the biggest online learning communities in the world. It has millions of study sets, and you can also create your own!
Why is it good to learn Russian?
Well, there are already tons of sets available for this language, and you can open any of them and study for free! But I usually recommend creating your own flashcards with the vocabulary YOU are currently learning, and learn it in an easy entertaining way on your mobile or your laptop.
Available in the browser or as a mobile app. It is free, but there is a premium version. You have to create an account or sign up with Google or any social media account in order to use it.
Reverso.Context is a contextual dictionary, which can be used to translate words, expressions, or longer texts. You can type or even dictate your text on the mobile app.
Why is it good to learn Russian?
It is a great tool to enrich your vocabulary in Russian. But wait, knowing words is one thing, but knowing HOW and WHERE to use these new words is another! Once you start learning a new language, you encounter new words every day. But as a beginner you still don’t have this language intuition so that you ‘feel’ in which situations those words and expressions are actually used in the real life, right?
So Reverso.Context actually gives you these real life example once you type a word there. Examples used on the platform are extracted from millions of previously translated texts: movie dialogs, official documents, websites, newspapers, and are authentic indeed.
You can listen to texts’ pronunciation, bookmark a favorite translation, copy it, add it to a Reverso dictionary and so on. Available in the browser or as an app.
5. Clozemaster
Clozemaster is gamified language learning in context through mass exposure for learners of all levels. I am using it as an app, but they have a full browser version available for free too. You also don’t have to sign up to use it. You can play as much as you’d like, but the sentences you see each round will be selected randomly and your progress won’t be saved.
Why is it good to learn Russian?
It’s a fun way to study Russian, and I think it is a very good complimentary to other language learning apps which again usually don’t show you real life examples of the language use.
You’ve just read my short apps & tools review to learn Russian till the end. Well done!!
Try at least 1-2 of these tools, practice your Russian for a while, and let me know which one you find the most useful for you!
In the next article I’ll be reviewing several most popular vocabulary learning apps like Duolingo, Memrise, Drops, Babbel and others.
Are you struggling with your language learning?
Do you need a perfectly tailored language routine for your busy days?
Or would you like to learn Russian with me?
Send me a request, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Download the list to your mobile or laptop now, or pin it on PINTEREST.
