Before you can speak or read Russian, you need to know its alphabet. Russian uses the Cyrillic script, which has 33 letters. At first glance, it might look intimidating, but it's more familiar than you think.

Think of the letters in three groups: those that look and sound like English letters, those that look like English letters but sound completely different, and those that are totally new. Let's break them down.

Let's start with the easy ones. These five letters look almost identical to their English counterparts and make the same sounds. You already know them!

There's also Е е, which usually sounds like 'ye' in 'yes'. It's a close cousin to the English 'E'.

Now for the tricksters. These letters look like English letters, but they represent completely different sounds. These are often called 'false friends', and it's important to memorize their true Russian sounds to avoid confusion.

For example, the Russian word for 'nose' is нос. Looking at it, an English speaker might say "hoss," but it's actually pronounced "nos."

Finally, we have the letters that are unique to Cyrillic. These don't have English look-alikes, but many of their sounds are straightforward. The best way to learn them is through simple practice and association.

Three remaining letters don't fit neatly into the groups above. Two of them don't even make sounds!

The last one is the vowel Ы. It has no direct English equivalent. To make the sound, start to say 'ee' (like in 'see'), but pull your tongue back in your mouth. It's a sound that feels like it comes from the back of your throat.

Now, let's review what you've learned about these letters.

Ready to test your knowledge?

Learning a new alphabet takes time and practice. Don't worry about getting every sound perfect right away. With a little repetition, you'll be reading Russian in no time.