Learning Belarusian, a beautiful and melodious East Slavic language, can be a rewarding experience. Whether you are planning to visit Belarus, have Belarusian friends, or simply want to expand your linguistic repertoire, starting with basic vocabulary is essential. The A1 level of language proficiency is the beginner stage and is crucial for building a strong foundation. This article will introduce you to essential Belarusian words and phrases that you need to know at the A1 level.

Greetings and Basic Phrases

When learning any language, greetings and basic phrases are the first things you should master. These words and phrases will help you in everyday interactions and make you feel more comfortable in Belarusian-speaking environments.

1. Прывітанне (Pryvitannie) – Hello
2. Добры дзень (Dobry dzień) – Good day
3. Добры вечар (Dobry viečar) – Good evening
4. Добрай раніцы (Dobray ranytsy) – Good morning
5. Дабранач (Dabranach) – Good night
6. Як справы? (Yak spravy?) – How are you?
7. Дзякуй (Dziakuj) – Thank you
8. Калі ласка (Kali laska) – Please/You’re welcome
9. Так (Tak) – Yes
10. Не (Nie) – No

Introducing Yourself and Others

Knowing how to introduce yourself and ask for someone’s name is a crucial part of basic communication. Here are some phrases to help you start conversations in Belarusian.

1. Мяне завуць… (Mianie zavut’s…) – My name is…
2. Як вас завуць? (Yak vas zavut’s?) – What is your name?
3. Я з… (Ja z…) – I am from…
4. Я жыву ў… (Ja žyvu u…) – I live in…
5. Гэта мой сябар (Heta moy siabar) – This is my friend (male)
6. Гэта мая сяброўка (Heta maya siabrouka) – This is my friend (female)

Numbers

Understanding numbers is essential for a wide range of everyday activities such as shopping, telling time, and giving your age. Here are the numbers from one to ten in Belarusian.

1. Адзін (Adzin) – One
2. Два (Dva) – Two
3. Тры (Try) – Three
4. Чатыры (Čatyry) – Four
5. Пяць (Piat’) – Five
6. Шэсць (Šesć) – Six
7. Сем (Siem) – Seven
8. Восем (Vosiem) – Eight
9. Дзевяць (Dzieviat’) – Nine
10. Дзесяць (Dzieśiać) – Ten

Days of the Week

Days of the week are another fundamental set of words to learn. They are useful for making plans and understanding schedules.

1. Панядзелак (Paniadzielak) – Monday
2. Аўторак (Aŭtorak) – Tuesday
3. Серада (Sierada) – Wednesday
4. Чацвер (Čaćvier) – Thursday
5. Пятніца (Piatnica) – Friday
6. Субота (Subota) – Saturday
7. Нядзеля (Niadziela) – Sunday

Common Verbs

Verbs are the action words in any language. Learning a few common verbs will help you express yourself more clearly. Here are some of the most frequently used verbs in Belarusian.

1. Быць (Być) – To be
2. Мець (Mieć) – To have
3. Рабіць (Rabic’) – To do/make
4. Ісці (Isci) – To go
5. Гаварыць (Havaryć) – To speak
6. Чытаць (Čytać) – To read
7. Пісаць (Pisać) – To write
8. Слухаць (Sluchać) – To listen
9. Глядзець (Hliadziieć) – To watch
10. Любіць (Liubić) – To love

Basic Nouns

Nouns are the building blocks of any language. Here are some basic nouns that you will frequently encounter in Belarusian.

1. Чалавек (Čalaviek) – Person
2. Дом (Dom) – House
3. Кніга (Kniha) – Book
4. Машына (Mašina) – Car
5. Школа (Škola) – School
6. Горад (Horad) – City
7. Ежа (Ježa) – Food
8. Вада (Vada) – Water
9. Рука (Ruka) – Hand
10. Сябра (Siabra) – Friend

Adjectives

Adjectives help us describe nouns, making our speech more vivid and precise. Here are some basic adjectives in Belarusian.

1. Добры (Dobry) – Good
2. Дрэнны (Drenny) – Bad
3. Вялікі (Vialiki) – Big
4. Малы (Maly) – Small
5. Цікавы (Cikavy) – Interesting
6. Сумны (Sumny) – Sad
7. Весёлы (Viesioły) – Happy
8. Карысны (Karysny) – Useful
9. Цяжкі (Ciažki) – Difficult
10. Лёгкі (Liohki) – Easy

Basic Questions

Asking questions is a crucial aspect of communication. Here are some basic question words and phrases in Belarusian.

1. Што? (Što?) – What?
2. Хто? (Khto?) – Who?
3. Калі? (Kali?) – When?
4. Дзе? (Dzie?) – Where?
5. Чаму? (Čamu?) – Why?
6. Як? (Yak?) – How?
7. Колькі? (Koĺki?) – How much/many?

Food and Drink

When visiting a new country, knowing the words for common foods and drinks can be very helpful. Here are some basic food and drink-related words in Belarusian.

1. Хлеб (Khleb) – Bread
2. Малако (Malako) – Milk
3. Сок (Sok) – Juice
4. Суп (Sup) – Soup
5. Мяса (Miaso) – Meat
6. Рыба (Ryba) – Fish
7. Салата (Salata) – Salad
8. Яблык (Jablyk) – Apple
9. Арэх (Ariech) – Nut
10. Торт (Tort) – Cake

Family Members

Knowing the terms for family members is important, especially in a culture that values family relationships. Here are some basic family-related words in Belarusian.

1. Маці (Maci) – Mother
2. Бацька (Baćka) – Father
3. Брат (Brat) – Brother
4. Сястра (Siastra) – Sister
5. Сын (Syn) – Son
6. Дачка (Dačka) – Daughter
7. Бабуля (Babulia) – Grandmother
8. Дзед (Dzied) – Grandfather
9. Цётка (Ciotka) – Aunt
10. Дзядзька (Dziadziaka) – Uncle

Colors

Colors are another basic yet essential part of vocabulary. Here are some common colors in Belarusian.

1. Чырвоны (Čyrvony) – Red
2. Сіні (Sini) – Blue
3. Зялёны (Zialiony) – Green
4. Жоўты (Žoŭty) – Yellow
5. Белы (Biely) – White
6. Чорны (Čorny) – Black
7. Аранжавы (Aranžavy) – Orange
8. Фіялетавы (Fialetavy) – Purple
9. Ружовы (Ruźovy) – Pink
10. Шэры (Šery) – Gray

Weather

Talking about the weather is a common conversation starter. Here are some basic weather-related words in Belarusian.

1. Сонца (Sonca) – Sun
2. Дождж (Doždž) – Rain
3. Снег (Snieh) – Snow
4. Вецер (Viecer) – Wind
5. Цёплы (Ciopły) – Warm
6. Халодны (Khalodny) – Cold
7. Ціха (Ciha) – Calm
8. Спёка (Spiołka) – Heat
9. Маланка (Malanka) – Lightning
10. Гром (Hrom) – Thunder

Common Expressions

Finally, here are some common expressions that will help you sound more natural in conversations.

1. Прабачце (Prabachte) – Excuse me/Sorry
2. Не разумею (Nie razumieju) – I don’t understand
3. Колькі гэта каштуе? (Koĺki heta kaštuje?) – How much does this cost?
4. Дзе туалет? (Dzie tualiet?) – Where is the toilet?
5. Я не ведаю (Ja nie viedaju) – I don’t know
6. Можна? (Možna?) – May I?
7. Вы гаворыце па-англійску? (Vy havorycie pa-anhlijsku?) – Do you speak English?
8. Будзьце здаровы (Budźcie zdarovy) – Bless you (when someone sneezes)
9. Будзьце ласкавы (Budźcie laskavy) – Please (formal)
10. Да пабачэння (Da pabačennia) – Goodbye

Learning these essential Belarusian words and phrases will give you a solid foundation for your language journey. Practice them regularly, and don’t be afraid to use them in conversations. Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and the more you immerse yourself in the language, the more comfortable you will become. Happy learning!