Greetings and Basic Phrases
Being able to greet people and use basic phrases is foundational in any language. Here are some essential Belarusian greetings and phrases:
– Добры дзень (Dobry dzień) – Hello
– Прывітанне (Pryvitannie) – Hi
– Як справы? (Jak spravy?) – How are you?
– Добра, дзякуй (Dobra, dziakuj) – Fine, thank you
– Калі ласка (Kali laska) – Please
– Дзякуй (Dziakuj) – Thank you
– Так (Tak) – Yes
– Не (Nie) – No
– Калі ласка (Kali laska) – You’re welcome
– Прабачце (Prabachcie) – Excuse me / I’m sorry
These phrases will help you navigate basic conversations and show politeness in social interactions.
Numbers and Counting
Understanding numbers is crucial for everyday activities such as shopping, telling time, and asking for prices. Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Belarusian:
1. Адзін (Adzin)
2. Два (Dva)
3. Тры (Try)
4. Чатыры (Chatyry)
5. Пяць (Piać)
6. Шэсць (Šesć)
7. Сем (Siem)
8. Восем (Vosiem)
9. Дзевяць (Dziewiać)
10. Дзесяць (Dziesiać)
For higher numbers, here are a few more to get you started:
– Дваццаць (Dvaćcać) – Twenty
– Трыццаць (Tryccać) – Thirty
– Сорак (Sorak) – Forty
– Пяцьдзясят (Piaćdziesiat) – Fifty
– Сто (Sto) – One hundred
Days of the Week and Months
Knowing the days of the week and months is essential for making plans and understanding schedules. Here are the days of the week in Belarusian:
– Панядзелак (Paniadziełak) – Monday
– Аўторак (Aŭtorak) – Tuesday
– Серада (Sierada) – Wednesday
– Чацвер (Čacvier) – Thursday
– Пятніца (Piatnica) – Friday
– Субота (Subota) – Saturday
– Нядзеля (Niadzieľa) – Sunday
And the months of the year:
– Студзень (Studzień) – January
– Люты (Liuty) – February
– Сакавік (Sakavik) – March
– Красавік (Krasavik) – April
– Май (Maj) – May
– Чэрвень (Červień) – June
– Ліпень (Lipień) – July
– Жнівень (Žniwień) – August
– Верасень (Vierasień) – September
– Кастрычнік (Kastričnik) – October
– Лістапад (Listapad) – November
– Снежань (Sniežań) – December
Food and Drink
When dining out or shopping for groceries, knowing some basic food-related vocabulary will be very useful. Here are some common words:
– Хлеб (Chleb) – Bread
– Вада (Vada) – Water
– Малако (Malako) – Milk
– Сок (Sok) – Juice
– Кава (Kava) – Coffee
– Чай (Čaj) – Tea
– Салата (Salata) – Salad
– Суп (Sup) – Soup
– Мяса (Miasa) – Meat
– Рыба (Ryba) – Fish
– Гародніна (Harodnina) – Vegetables
– Фрукты (Frukty) – Fruits
Common Phrases in Restaurants
Here are some useful phrases for when you are dining out:
– Я хацеў бы замовіць… (Ja chacieŭ by zamović…) – I would like to order…
– Ці ёсць у вас меню на англійскай? (Ci jest u vas meniu na anglijskaj?) – Do you have a menu in English?
– Колькі гэта каштуе? (Kołki heta kaštuje?) – How much does this cost?
– Рахунак, калі ласка (Rachunak, kali laska) – The bill, please
Transportation
Navigating a new city can be challenging without knowing the local transportation vocabulary. Here are some essential words and phrases:
– Аўтобус (Aŭtobus) – Bus
– Цягнік (Ciahnik) – Train
– Метро (Metro) – Metro
– Трамвай (Tramvaj) – Tram
– Таксі (Taksi) – Taxi
– Аэрапорт (Aeraport) – Airport
– Вакзал (Vakzał) – Station
– Квіток (Kvitok) – Ticket
– Куды? (Kudy?) – Where to?
– Калі? (Kali?) – When?
Common Phrases for Transportation
– Мне патрэбен квіток да… (Mnie patreben kvitok da…) – I need a ticket to…
– Колькі каштуе квіток? (Kołki kaštuje kvitok?) – How much is a ticket?
– Дзе знаходзіцца станцыя метро? (Dzie znachodzicca stancyja metro?) – Where is the metro station?
Weather and Seasons
Talking about the weather is a common conversation topic. Here are some words related to weather and seasons:
– Сонца (Sonca) – Sun
– Дождж (Doždž) – Rain
– Снег (Snieh) – Snow
– Вецер (Viecier) – Wind
– Цёплы (Ciopy) – Warm
– Халодны (Chalodny) – Cold
– Лета (Lieta) – Summer
– Восень (Vosień) – Autumn
– Зіма (Zima) – Winter
– Вясна (Viasna) – Spring
Common Phrases about Weather
– Якое надвор’е сёння? (Jakoje nadvor’e siodnia?) – What’s the weather like today?
– Цёпла сёння (Ciopła siodnia) – It’s warm today
– Халодна сёння (Chalodna siodnia) – It’s cold today
– Ідзе дождж (Idzie doždž) – It’s raining
Family and Relationships
Talking about family and relationships is essential in building personal connections. Here are some key terms:
– Маці (Maci) – Mother
– Бацька (Baćka) – Father
– Брат (Brat) – Brother
– Сястра (Siostra) – Sister
– Сын (Syn) – Son
– Дачка (Dačka) – Daughter
– Сябра (Siabra) – Friend
– Муж (Muž) – Husband
– Жонка (Žonka) – Wife
Common Phrases about Family
– У мяне ёсць брат і сястра (U mianie jest brat i siostra) – I have a brother and a sister
– Гэта мой муж (Heta moj muž) – This is my husband
– Гэта мая жонка (Heta maja žonka) – This is my wife
Shopping and Clothing
When shopping, it’s helpful to know the names of various items and how to ask for what you need. Here are some common terms:
– Крама (Krama) – Store
– Рынак (Rynak) – Market
– Грошы (Hrošy) – Money
– Цана (Cana) – Price
– Кашуля (Kašulia) – Shirt
– Штаны (Štany) – Pants
– Абутак (Abutak) – Shoes
– Сукенка (Sukenka) – Dress
– Куртка (Kurtka) – Jacket
Common Phrases for Shopping
– Колькі гэта каштуе? (Kołki heta kaštuje?) – How much does this cost?
– Ці можна прымерыць? (Ci možna primeryć?) – Can I try this on?
– Я хачу купіць гэта (Ja chachu kupić heta) – I want to buy this
Health and Emergencies
Knowing how to communicate in case of health issues or emergencies is crucial. Here are some important words and phrases:
– Доктар (Doktar) – Doctor
– Бальніца (Baĺnica) – Hospital
– Аптэка (Apteka) – Pharmacy
– Хвароба (Chvaroba) – Illness
– Боль (Boĺ) – Pain
– Ці можаце дапамагчы? (Ci možacie dapamahi?) – Can you help?
– Мне дрэнна (Mnie drenna) – I feel sick
– Выклічце хуткую дапамогу! (Vykličcie chutkuju dapamohu!) – Call an ambulance!
Time and Dates
Being able to talk about time and dates is essential for making appointments and plans. Here are some key terms:
– Гадзіна (Hadzina) – Hour
– Хвіліна (Chvilina) – Minute
– Секунда (Sekunda) – Second
– Раніца (Ranica) – Morning
– Дзень (Dzień) – Day
– Вечар (Viečar) – Evening
– Ноч (Noč) – Night
– Сёння (Siodnia) – Today
– Заўтра (Zaŭtra) – Tomorrow
– Учора (Učora) – Yesterday
Common Phrases about Time
– Колькі зараз гадзін? (Kołki zaraz hadzin?) – What time is it now?
– Зараз… (Zaraz…) – It is… (used when telling the time)
– Мы сустрэнемся ў… (My sustreniemsia u…) – We will meet at…
Common Verbs
Verbs are the backbone of any language. Here are some common Belarusian verbs that you will find useful:
– Быць (Być) – To be
– Мець (Mieć) – To have
– Ісці (Isci) – To go
– Ехаць (Echać) – To travel
– Гаварыць (Havaryć) – To speak
– Чытаць (Čytać) – To read
– Пісаць (Pisać) – To write
– Рабіць (Rabić) – To do/make
– Есці (Jesci) – To eat
– Піць (Pić) – To drink
Conclusion
Reaching the A2 level in Belarusian means you have a solid foundation in the language and can handle everyday conversations with relative ease. The vocabulary covered in this article spans various aspects of daily life, from greetings and basic phrases to more specific terms related to food, transportation, weather, family, and more.
Remember that language learning is a gradual process, and regular practice is key to improvement. Try to use these words and phrases in your daily conversations, whether you are practicing with a language partner, a tutor, or even by yourself. With consistent effort, you will continue to build your Belarusian vocabulary and become more confident in your language skills.
