Getting around
Метро
Осторожно, двери закрываются.
The doors are closing.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Minsk
Belarus
Minsk is a rebuilt capital of broad avenues, a river, and a skyline set after the old town was lost.
How the language is used
Russian and Belarusian are both official. In the city, Russian is the one you hear more in shops and on the street.
In this city
- Language
- Russian
- Also heard
- Mostly Russian
- A local word
- Дзякуй — Thank you.
- Writing
- Cyrillic
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Кафе
Адзін кавы, калі ласка.
One coffee, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Крама
Здравствуйте.
Hello.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Вуліца
Дзякуй.
Thank you.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Russian and Belarusian are both official. On the street you hear Russian more often.
Around Independence Avenue, Nemiga, Trajeckaje, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Minsk can run on four lines: “Осторожно, двери закрываются.”, “Адзін кавы, калі ласка.”, “Здравствуйте.”, and “Дзякуй.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in Cyrillic.
- With strangers and at the counter you use вы. Ты is for people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Minsk, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Дзякуй. It means Thank you..
Places you can see
- Independence Square — A vast central square by the church and the government buildings.
- Island of Tears — A memorial island in the Svislach, reached by a short footbridge.
- National Library — A diamond-shaped library building standing outside the old grid.
Food
Draniki potato pancakes, machanka, and kolduny. The names are Belarusian even on a Russian menu.
Getting around
A metro runs under very wide avenues. Stop names may appear in Russian.
Daily life
You will mostly hear Russian. Belarusian still shows up on official titles and some signs.
A few everyday phrases
Russian
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Здравствуйте | Zdravstvuyte | Hello |
| Спасибо | Spasibo | Thank you |
| Доброе утро | Dobroye utro | Good morning |
| Меня зовут… | Menya zovut… | My name is… |
