The pronunciations of the vowels ё(yo), у(oo), ю(yu), и(i), and ы(y) are not affected by stress.
Study Resource: Guide to Russian vowel reduction
By: Anna Classing
The pronunciation of the Russian vowelsNo definition set for vowelsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. а, о, я, е, and э are reduced when they are used in an unstressedNo definition set for unstressedLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. syllableNo definition set for syllableLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.. This means that they are pronounced more neutrally, much like how you might pronounce the English word “an” more neutrally when you’re speaking quickly.
Important
The charts below will give you some generalizations to determine how to pronounce different Russian vowels when they are reduced.
а | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stress | Pronunciation | Examples | |
Stressed Syllable | [a] | август[AVgoost](August)мак[mak](poppy) | |
Unstressed | before the stressed syllable | like “u” in “undo” | гараж[gaRASH](garage) |
like “i” in “chip” | часы[chiSY](watch/clock) | ||
after the stressed syllable | like “a” in “pizza” | комната[KOMnata](room) | |
о | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stress | Pronunciation | Examples | |
Stressed Syllable | [o] | облако[OBlaka](cloud)дом[dom](house) | |
Unstressed | before the stressed syllable | like “u” in “undo” | опять[aPYAT](again)молоток[malaTOK](hammer) |
after the stressed syllable | like “a” in “pizza” | облако[OBlaka](cloud) | |
я | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stress | Pronunciation | Examples | |
Stressed Syllable | [ya] | яблоко[YABlaka](apple)рядом[RYAdam](near) | |
Unstressed | before the stressed syllable | [yi] | енот[yiNOT](racoon)ремень[riMYEN](belt) |
after the stressed syllable | like “ya” in “papaya” | армия[ARmiya](army)дыня[DYnya](melon) | |
е | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stress | Pronunciation | Examples | |
Stressed Syllable | [ye] | если[YESli](if)мел[myel](chalk) | |
Unstressed | before the stressed syllable | [yi] | язык[yiZYK](language/tongue)рядовой[ridaVOY](private (in the army)) |
after the stressed syllable | like “i” in “animal” | море[MOri](sea) | |
э | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stress | Pronunciation | Examples | |
Stressed Syllable | [e] | эхо[Ekha](echo)мэр[mer](mayor) | |
Unstressed | before the stressed syllable | [i] | этаж[iTASH](floor (of a building)) |
after the stressed syllable | [e] | алоэ[aLOe](aloe (vera)) | |
