Learning Belarusian can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. As you progress to the B2 level, your vocabulary needs to expand significantly to handle more complex topics and conversations. To help you on your journey, we’ve compiled a list of 50 essential words that you need to know at this intermediate level. These words will not only enhance your vocabulary but also improve your understanding of Belarusian culture and daily life.

Nouns

1. Сябра (Syabra) – Friend
– Having a good vocabulary around social relationships is crucial. “Сябра” is a word you’ll use often when talking about your friends.

2. Сям’я (Syam’ya) – Family
– Family is a central theme in many conversations. Knowing this word will help you discuss your relatives and family life.

3. Горад (Horad) – City
– Whether you’re traveling or describing your hometown, “Горад” is a fundamental noun to know.

4. Школа (Shkola) – School
– Education is a common topic, and “Школа” is a word you’ll frequently encounter.

5. Праца (Pratsa) – Work
– Work is a central part of life, and this word will help you discuss your job or profession.

6. Кніга (Kniga) – Book
– As a language learner, you’ll likely discuss books, making this word quite useful.

7. Час (Chas) – Time
– Time is an essential concept in any language, and “Час” will help you talk about your schedule and plans.

8. Слова (Slova) – Word
– Discussing language itself will often require the use of this word.

9. Дзіця (Dzyetsya) – Child
– Whether you’re talking about family or education, “Дзіця” is a crucial word to know.

10. Ежа (Yeza) – Food
– Food is a universal topic, and “Ежа” will come in handy in many conversations.

Verbs

11. Гаварыць (Havaryts’) – To speak
– This verb is essential for any language learner. You’ll use it to describe the act of speaking or conversing.

12. Чытаць (Chytats’) – To read
– Reading is a key part of language learning, and this verb will be important in your studies.

13. Пісаць (Pisats’) – To write
– Writing is another fundamental skill, making this verb essential.

14. Есці (Yestsi) – To eat
– You’ll use this verb when discussing meals and food.

15. Піць (Pits’) – To drink
– This verb will come in handy when talking about beverages.

16. Бачыць (Bachyts’) – To see
– Describing what you see is crucial in many conversations.

17. Чуць (Chuts’) – To hear
– This verb is essential for discussing sounds and listening.

18. Робіць (Robits’) – To do/make
– A versatile verb that you’ll use in various contexts.

19. Хадзіць (Khadzits’) – To go/walk
– Whether you’re talking about travel or daily activities, this verb is important.

20. Думаць (Dumats’) – To think
– Discussing thoughts and opinions will often require this verb.

Adjectives

21. Вялікі (Vyalyki) – Big
– Size is a common descriptor in any language, and “Вялікі” is essential.

22. Маленькі (Malen’ki) – Small
– The counterpart to “Вялікі,” this adjective is equally important.

23. Добры (Dobry) – Good
– You’ll use this adjective frequently to describe positive qualities.

24. Дрэнны (Drenny) – Bad
– Knowing how to describe negative qualities is equally important.

25. Цікавы (Tsikavy) – Interesting
– This adjective will help you express your thoughts on various topics.

26. Сумны (Sumny) – Sad
– Emotions are a key part of any language, and “Сумны” is essential for discussing feelings.

27. Шчаслівы (Shchaslivy) – Happy
– The counterpart to “Сумны,” this adjective is crucial for describing positive emotions.

28. Лёгкі (Lyohki) – Easy
– Describing the difficulty of tasks or subjects often requires this adjective.

29. Цяжкі (Tsiazki) – Difficult
– The counterpart to “Лёгкі,” this adjective is essential for discussing challenges.

30. Стары (Stary) – Old
– Whether describing people or objects, this adjective is frequently used.

Adverbs

31. Хутка (Khutka) – Quickly
– Speed is a common concept in many conversations, making this adverb useful.

32. Павольна (Pavol’na) – Slowly
– The counterpart to “Хутка,” this adverb is equally important.

33. Часта (Chasta) – Often
– Frequency is a key part of any language, and “Часта” is essential for discussing how often something happens.

34. Рэдка (Redka) – Rarely
– The counterpart to “Часта,” this adverb is crucial for discussing infrequent events.

35. Тут (Tut) – Here
– Location is a common topic, and “Тут” is essential for describing where things are.

36. Там (Tam) – There
– The counterpart to “Тут,” this adverb is equally important.

37. Зараз (Zaraz) – Now
– Time is a fundamental concept, and “Зараз” is crucial for discussing the present moment.

38. Потым (Potym) – Later
– The counterpart to “Зараз,” this adverb is essential for discussing future events.

39. Добра (Dobra) – Well
– This adverb is frequently used to describe how something is done.

40. Дрэнна (Drenna) – Badly
– The counterpart to “Добра,” this adverb is equally important.

Conjunctions and Prepositions

41. І (I) – And
– This conjunction is fundamental for connecting ideas and sentences.

42. Але (Ale) – But
– Contrasting ideas is a common part of any conversation, making this conjunction essential.

43. Ці (Tsi) – Or
– Offering choices or alternatives often requires this conjunction.

44. Таму што (Tamu shcho) – Because
– Explaining reasons and causes is a key part of any language, making this conjunction crucial.

45. З (Z) – With
– This preposition is essential for describing relationships and associations.

46. Без (Bez) – Without
– The counterpart to “З,” this preposition is equally important.

47. На (Na) – On
– Location is a common topic, and this preposition is crucial for describing where things are.

48. Пад (Pad) – Under
– The counterpart to “На,” this preposition is essential for describing spatial relationships.

49. Перад (Perad) – Before
– Time is a fundamental concept, and this preposition is crucial for discussing events in relation to each other.

50. Пасля (Paslya) – After
– The counterpart to “Перад,” this preposition is essential for discussing sequences of events.

Conclusion

Expanding your vocabulary at the B2 level is crucial for achieving fluency in Belarusian. These 50 essential words cover a wide range of topics and concepts that you will encounter in daily conversations, as well as in more complex discussions. By incorporating these words into your vocabulary, you’ll be better prepared to express yourself accurately and effectively in Belarusian. Remember to practice using these words in sentences and conversations to reinforce your learning and build your confidence. Happy learning!