Learn Russian Vocabulary Words and Phrases | How to ask 'What is this?' in Russian

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VOCABULARY USED IN THIS LESSON

* Note: Don't pronounce the middle 'о' in яблоки
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What is this? (literally: what this?)

что это?

Pronounced:

shto Et-a

Audio:

(Lena)

What is this? What is the nature of this? (literally: what this such?; see note in column ->)

что это такое?

Pronounced:

shto Et-a ta-kOy-eh

Audio:

(Lena)

Audio:

(Irina)

And this? (in a shop, pointing to something else)

и это?

Pronounced:

ee-YE-ta

Audio:

(Lena)

It is a potato / It is an orange

это картошка / апельсин

Pronounced:

Et-a kar-tOsh-ka / Et-ap-el-sIn

Audio:

(Lena)

Audio:

(Lena)

These are apples

это яблоки

Pronounced:

Et-a YA-bl-ki

Audio:

(Lena)

What is this?

There are two common ways of saying 'What is this?' in Russian.

It's difficult to get a definitive answer on the difference between these two phrases, but it seems that you use,

что это?

when you simply want a brief explanation of something you see. It's a quick, short phrase, more casual and informal.

and then,

что это такое?

when you are focused on something and want a bit more explanation. Shows your interest in something.

Apparently "что это такое?" is a better phrase to use in Russian shops when you are not sure what something is / does.