Learning Belarusian can be an enriching experience, especially as you reach the B2 level. This stage represents an upper-intermediate proficiency where you can understand the main ideas of complex texts, interact with a degree of fluency, and produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects. To help you advance in your language journey, we have compiled a list of essential Belarusian words and phrases that are crucial for B2 level learners. This list will not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your ability to engage in more nuanced conversations and understand intricate texts.
Everyday Vocabulary
At the B2 level, it’s important to have a solid grasp of everyday vocabulary that allows you to navigate daily life comfortably. Here are some key words and phrases:
1. **Крама** (krama) – Shop
2. **Рынак** (rynok) – Market
3. **Спажывец** (spazhyvets) – Consumer
4. **Пакупнік** (pakupnik) – Buyer
5. **Купляць** (kupliats) – To buy
6. **Прадукты** (pradukty) – Groceries
7. **Грошы** (groshy) – Money
8. **Кошык** (koshyk) – Basket
9. **Вітрына** (vitryna) – Display window
10. **Касір** (kasir) – Cashier
Example Sentences
– Я пайду ў **краму** купіць **прадукты**. (I will go to the shop to buy groceries.)
– На **рынку** шмат **пакупнікоў**. (There are many buyers at the market.)
– **Касір** дасць вам здачу. (The cashier will give you change.)
Work and Business Vocabulary
For those interested in business or professional contexts, these words will prove invaluable:
1. **Праца** (pratsa) – Work
2. **Супрацоўнік** (supratsounik) – Employee
3. **Кіраўнік** (kirawnik) – Manager
4. **Каманда** (kamanda) – Team
5. **Сустрэча** (sustreecha) – Meeting
6. **Праект** (praekt) – Project
7. **Даклад** (daklad) – Report
8. **Пагадненне** (pahadnenne) – Agreement
9. **Фірма** (firma) – Company
10. **Кантракт** (kantrakt) – Contract
Example Sentences
– Я працую ў вялікай **фірме**. (I work in a large company.)
– Мы маем важную **сустрэчу** заўтра. (We have an important meeting tomorrow.)
– Мой **кіраўнік** задаволены маім **дакладам**. (My manager is satisfied with my report.)
Education and Learning Vocabulary
If you are studying or interested in academic topics, these words are essential:
1. **Універсітэт** (universitet) – University
2. **Студэнт** (student) – Student
3. **Выкладчык** (vykładčyk) – Lecturer
4. **Навучанне** (navučannie) – Learning
5. **Вучэбная праграма** (vučebnaja pragrama) – Curriculum
6. **Экзамен** (ekzamen) – Exam
7. **Адукацыя** (adukacyja) – Education
8. **Дыплом** (diplom) – Diploma
9. **Стыпендыя** (stypendyja) – Scholarship
10. **Бібліятэка** (bibliateka) – Library
Example Sentences
– Я вучуся ў **універсітэце**. (I study at the university.)
– Мы маем шмат **экзаменаў** у канцы семестра. (We have many exams at the end of the semester.)
– **Выкладчык** растлумачыў новую тэму вельмі добра. (The lecturer explained the new topic very well.)
Health and Wellness Vocabulary
Understanding and discussing health is crucial. Here are some important words:
1. **Лекар** (lekar) – Doctor
2. **Медыцына** (medycyna) – Medicine
3. **Хвароба** (chvaroba) – Illness
4. **Прызначэнне** (pryznachenne) – Appointment
5. **Аптэка** (apteka) – Pharmacy
6. **Лячэнне** (liachenne) – Treatment
7. **Сімптом** (simptom) – Symptom
8. **Рэцэпт** (retsept) – Prescription
9. **Бальніца** (balnitsa) – Hospital
10. **Здароўе** (zdarouje) – Health
Example Sentences
– Мне трэба пайсці да **лекара**. (I need to go to the doctor.)
– У яго сур’ёзная **хвароба**. (He has a serious illness.)
– Я атрымаў **рэцэпт** у **аптэцы**. (I received a prescription at the pharmacy.)
Society and Politics Vocabulary
For those interested in societal and political discussions, these words are essential:
1. **Урад** (urad) – Government
2. **Заканадаўства** (zakanaŭdawstva) – Legislation
3. **Выбары** (vybary) – Elections
4. **Кандыдат** (kandydat) – Candidate
5. **Грамадства** (hramadstva) – Society
6. **Палітыка** (palityka) – Politics
7. **Парламент** (parlament) – Parliament
8. **Дэмакратыя** (demakratyja) – Democracy
9. **Правы чалавека** (pravy čalaveka) – Human rights
10. **Свабода** (svaboda) – Freedom
Example Sentences
– **Выбары** адбудуцца ў наступным месяцы. (The elections will take place next month.)
– У нашай краіне дзейнічае **дэмакратыя**. (Our country practices democracy.)
– **Урад** прыняў новае **заканадаўства**. (The government passed new legislation.)
Culture and Entertainment Vocabulary
For those who enjoy cultural and entertainment activities, these words are useful:
1. **Тэатр** (teatr) – Theater
2. **Канцэрт** (kanserts) – Concert
3. **Кіно** (kino) – Cinema
4. **Выстава** (vystava) – Exhibition
5. **Мастацтва** (mastactva) – Art
6. **Літаратура** (literatura) – Literature
7. **Музыка** (muzyka) – Music
8. **Фестываль** (festyval) – Festival
9. **Кніга** (kniga) – Book
10. **Мастак** (mastak) – Artist
Example Sentences
– Мы пайшлі ў **тэатр** на новы спектакль. (We went to the theater to see the new play.)
– На гэтым тыдні праходзіць **фестываль** музыкі. (This week there is a music festival.)
– Я люблю чытаць **літаратуру** розных краін. (I love reading literature from different countries.)
Advanced Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs add depth to your language skills. Here are some advanced ones:
1. **Выдатны** (vydatny) – Excellent
2. **Цудоўны** (tsudouny) – Wonderful
3. **Інтрыгуючы** (intryhuyuchy) – Intriguing
4. **Важны** (vazhny) – Important
5. **Дэталёвы** (detalovy) – Detailed
6. **Паслядоўны** (pasliadouny) – Consistent
7. **Нягледзячы** (niahledziac) – Despite
8. **Звычайна** (zvyčajna) – Usually
9. **Відавочна** (vidavochna) – Obviously
10. **Акуратна** (akuratna) – Neatly
Example Sentences
– Гэта быў **выдатны** выступ. (It was an excellent performance.)
– **Цудоўнае** надвор’е сёння. (The weather is wonderful today.)
– **Нягледзячы** на цяжкасці, ён дасягнуў поспеху. (Despite the difficulties, he succeeded.)
Complex Sentences and Conjunctions
Understanding and using complex sentences is a key aspect of achieving B2 level proficiency. Here are some conjunctions and phrases that will help you construct more complex sentences:
1. **Таму што** (tamu što) – Because
2. **Хоць** (choć) – Although
3. **Каб** (kab) – In order to
4. **Нягледзячы на тое, што** (niahledziac na toje, što) – Despite the fact that
5. **У той час як** (u toj čas jak) – While
6. **Пакуль** (pakul) – As long as
7. **Пасля таго, як** (paslia taho, jak) – After
8. **Перад тым, як** (pierad tym, jak) – Before
9. **З таго часу, як** (z taho času, jak) – Since
10. **Да таго часу, як** (da taho času, jak) – Until
Example Sentences
– Я пайду ў парк, **каб** адпачыць. (I will go to the park in order to relax.)
– **Нягледзячы на тое, што** ішоў дождж, мы пайшлі на экскурсію. (Despite the fact that it was raining, we went on the excursion.)
– Мы пачакаем, **пакуль** усе прыйдуць. (We will wait as long as everyone arrives.)
Expressions and Idioms
To sound more natural and fluent, it’s useful to learn some common expressions and idioms:
1. **Як дзве кроплі вады** (jak dve kropli vady) – Like two peas in a pod
2. **Рабіць з мухи слана** (rabit z mukhi slana) – To make a mountain out of a molehill
3. **Злавіць зайца** (zlavits zajtsa) – To catch a lucky break
4. **Сем разоў адмерай, адзін раз адрэж** (sem razou admeraj, adzin raz adrezh) – Measure seven times, cut once
5. **На сваім месцы** (na svayim mescy) – In the right place
6. **Як рыба ў вадзе** (jak ryba u vade) – Like a fish in water
7. **Узяць сябе ў рукі** (uzjats syabe u ruki) – To pull oneself together
8. **Глядзець праз пальцы** (hladziacs praz palcy) – To turn a blind eye
9. **Павесіць нос** (pavesits nos) – To be down in the dumps
10. **Прызвычаіцца да** (pryzvyčaićsa da) – To get used to
Example Sentences
– Яны падобныя **як дзве кроплі вады**. (They are like two peas in a pod.)
– Не **рабі з мухи слана**. (Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.)
– Ён **як рыба ў вадзе** на новай працы. (He is like a fish in water at his new job.)
Conclusion
Reaching a B2 level in Belarusian is a significant achievement, and mastering these words and phrases will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively. By incorporating this vocabulary into your daily practice, you will not only expand your linguistic repertoire but also gain confidence in your conversational skills. Remember, consistency is key in language learning, so keep practicing, and soon you will find yourself speaking Belarusian with greater fluency and ease. Happy learning!